My First Electric Bike Project.... Couple of questions

[MyPC8MyBrain]

Hi guys, have a couple of questions that maybe you can answer better than an outright guess or two that I might be making.

Here is the motor I bought off of ebay, i think i got a pretty good deal. It's a skyhawk 48v 500w front hub motor.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150206022938

My daily commute is a little over 10 miles if i take the shorter route, but... has almost 1000' of climbing on the round trip. 650' on the last 2 miles of the way in to work and 350' in the last mile or so on the way home.
Here's a profile http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2819455

I'm thinking about these LiFePO4 batteries to save weight, space, and because a lot of rides are below freezing here.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220192080361

Here are my questions:
Should I get the 48v 15AH or if i can get away with the 10AH kit and still have the umph to get up the hill to home ? I'm thinking 15AH

Im debating between 2 donor bikes...
A]Cannondale touring road bike... would require changing to flat bar setup, replacing shifters and brake levers, and require building the hub into a 700cm wheel.
B] Full suspension GT mtn bike. Currently has disc brakes, so would require trying to get rotor on the SkyHawk motor or switching the front brake back to v-brakes. Mounting the rack might be fun too. I'm kind of leaning toward this bike.

Thanks for any input you can provide !!
Don

 

[Ypedal]

1st Welcome to the forum ! 8)

48v 15ah is plenty of capacity, but it's ability to dish out the required amps is the question that remains answering.

As soon as you start climbing hills the motor will draw more amps.. do you know if that controller is a 20 or a 40 amp version.. ?

About the frame.. the disk brakes may be a pain to install depending on many factors.. does the frame have mounts for V brakes ?

( have to run.. be back with more shortly )

 

[MyPC8MyBrain]

Yeah, I believe the posts for the V-Brakes are still there since i did the disc conversion a while back. I probably have the brakes still too or can get some easily enough. It's a front hub install in case you missed that. We'll try rear on the next upgrade.

No idea on the amp output of the controller... It should be here in the next couple of days if it doesn't get bound up in customs. I guess we'll know then.

I'm not adverse to upgrading . Maybe even get one of those fancy schmancy regenerative controllers if I have to. Like most hobbies... these things start out simple enough, then go straight to the fun zone. LOL... if i have a 48v battery, only one more gets me to 96V hahaha funny how these things go.

 

[Ypedal]

Oh i know all about that aspect..!!!!!

 

[Johnbear]

I have the 36v skyhawk front wheel brushless kit, It is in a box at this moment. The controller on it is only 17A, It is a good motor if you like to pedal. I decided I like rear wheels better so I only used it a few times. I may sell this kit in the spring. It is practically new.

 

[Johnbear]

The 48v should be alot more powerful than the 36v, I am curious how much amps it draws. I had asked a while back but the seller did not know. If it is similar to the 37v it does not draw too much current. The 48v should give you some good speed. In retrospect I wish I had bought the 48v kit.

 

[swade]

Another thing worth considering -- would you be able to charge while at work? That might easily get you into the 10ah pack.

 

[MyPC8MyBrain]

I suppose i could charge at work, but I think I would like to avoid that.
I would have to remove batteries and haul them inside to my cubilce.

I envision the batteries staying on the bike while charging at home.
Mostly because I lazy I think

Don