New to E-Skateboards. Will My Board Work?

[stuxtruth]

I am completely new to the e-skateboard world. I am looking to build my first battery powered skateboard. My brother in law gave me his long board (that I know nothing about) and I want to motorize it. I am a third year mechanical engineering student and this will help me to get around school very well. I've been researching how to do this for several days. My questions are:

1. Will I be able to use the board that I currently have to do the conversion?
2. I don't think the Bear trucks are very popular for welding the motor mount to. I noticed that a lot of people use paris trucks. I was planning on getting this bracket and welding it at school.

http://diyelectricskateboard.com/product/welded-motor-mount-63mm-motor/

We have a plasma table that can accept drawings to cut out something like a motor mount but our machine is currently down. I haven't read anything about how far the bracket needs to be welded down the arm of the truck. It seems like this would be vital.

3. I'm 6'3" and 220 lbs. Ideally I would like to be able to go 20mph and have a decent amount of torque for speeding up. What motor should I look for in terms of kV?

I think that's enough questions for now. Here are some pictures of my board.

 

[lox897]

Your trucks could work welded. The wheels would have to be drilled through to mount a gear. I would change wheels to abec flywheels. The deck looks fine. Do you have hills where you live or where you want to ride? I'd say at least 8s and 190-236kv. Enertion's R-SPEC is a good motor. VESC is a good esc.

 

[torqueboards]

The welded option would work but because there's part of the truck in the way of the hanger. The bolt on wouldn't work.

 

[stuxtruth]

Thanks for the response guys. I think I am just going to go with the DIY Electric Skateboard Welded Motor Mount. My next question is will this motor be suited for me?

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18127__Turnigy_Aerodrive_SK3_6354_260kv_Brushless_Outrunner_Motor.html

It's one of the ones listed for that particular motor mount. Keep in mind that I am 220lbs.

 

[Sharkface]

What kind of hills are we talking here? Do you live in AZ where its flat and smooth as a road will normally be?

I think somebody mentioned trying to stay under ~230kv unless im mistaken?

I just got the Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 192kv to climb up some big ole hills here in Cali. the 149 could do it, but im gonna regear some due to frying that motor

 

[Vulthor]

In regards of Torqueboards experiences, seems going too low in kv didn't scale so much for hills, he recently recommend to go with 230~250 kv motors for good balance of torque and speed.

 

[torqueboards]

I think 230KV to 260KV is a nice sweet spot but that's IMO. In that range, you can easily gear up or gear down.

I tried my 170KV on 1:3 -> 12T/36T no go. Barely climbs any hills and this is on 8S/10S.. Switch to 16T/36T and I'm climbing hills again about 15-20 degree inclines.

So from it you can see that lowest KV and highest gearing doesn't always play out.

A friend also has a 260KV SK3 with about 12/36T gearing versus a SK3 149KV on 12/36T gearing on 10s... guess which one struggled up a hill and guess which one made it up. Mind you he's about 245 lbs or so.

149KV barely made it up.
260KV flew him up.

SO.. IMO Higher KV is better of course below 300KV (can't reduce that far and motors at this KV don't have much more) maybe even below 260KV. with a gearing from 1:2 to 1:3 and 83/90mm wheels.

So I would prefer a 230KV 16/36 setup on 10S/12S... Sure your top speed is pretty high and you don't need it.. but that lower torque does no benefit so you might as well have it so your top end is higher.

You'll also fly up 20 degree inclines like it's flat ground.

It makes perfect sense since
- lower KV motors have more resistance.
- higher KV motors have less resistance and have a quicker RPM.
- it's always easier going up a hill with more RPMs versus slower RPMs and more torque.

 

[stuxtruth]

Thanks torqueboards. Going to take your advice.