Newbe here!!help me build my bike.

[sangesf]

It always gives me pause when someone starts asking about ebike builds, then starts asking basic questions like "what's mah?"...
If you have to ask that kind of question, you're not ready to go LiPo yet..
Like I said, read A LOT about batteries BEFORE you start ordering..

You need to decide how adept you are at learning new ideas/concepts, how mechanically and electrically inclined you are, what kind of care your battery/bike needs, what kind of range you need and then really want, etc, etc..

A lot goes into the choice...

What I tell a lot of people in my area, when they ask about ebikes, I tell them to go and buy a basic Wally world ezip for $350 and use that for a while, so that you get adept at working with ebikes and then when done.. Sell it on craigslist and use those funds along with whatever you've learned along the way and extra funds to buy what you ultimately want..
Above is just a suggestion I give to others locally..

 

[Mudduck]

Ok I think I'm going to do some more reading.It's alot to take in.I'm waiting for cellman to give me shipping prices.The lipo battery idea looks neat,but I think I'm going to keep my first bike simple.If I can get a good shipping quote from cellman and the price is right I'll go with a ping battery.The fire thing and the different ways to go with the lipo batterys just to much for right now.

 

[rui_fujino]

Well to be perfectly honest with u, I would do a lot of readings on lipo and make good investment on batteries which you will use for next 2 years. Its not so complicated as everyone makes out to be.
If you look up all the threads on ES you will know everything you need to know about it.
They are smaller lighter and high c rating. If you have any problems understanding then just write it here and we can help you understand it. We all learned them through mistakes and people telling them what's common sense.
Best f luck with your lipo experience.

 

[Jethro56]

Ok I think I'm going to do some more reading.It's alot to take in.I'm waiting for cellman to give me shipping prices.The lipo battery idea looks neat,but I think I'm going to keep my first bike simple.If I can get a good shipping quote from cellman and the price is right I'll go with a ping battery.The fire thing and the different ways to go with the lipo batterys just to much for right now.

It takes a little time for this to sink in. Give yourself some time.

 

[wesnewell]

Ok I think I'm going to do some more reading.It's alot to take in.I'm waiting for cellman to give me shipping prices.The lipo battery idea looks neat,but I think I'm going to keep my first bike simple.If I can get a good shipping quote from cellman and the price is right I'll go with a ping battery.The fire thing and the different ways to go with the lipo batterys just to much for right now.

Cellman doesn't sell ping batteries, Ping does. Cellman builds his own afaik. As for the fire dangers of lipo, they are greatly exaggerated. If you can afford a 10ah 48V A123 pack from cellman, it will serve you well, but I think they cost about $400 with charger. And forget a 10ah lifepo4 1C pack like Ping and others. They just don't have the power of lipo or an A123 pack. For the short range you want, lipo is the best choice imo.

 

[Jethro56]

Check these video's about batteries.

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=23105

 

[dogman dan]

Cellmans batteries would be a great choice for your commute. And possibly even cheaper for you than a ping, since you have an opportunity to charge every 7 miles. With the direct drive muxus motor, you only need 36v (12 cell battery) for 23 mph riding.

So this battery will suit your needs very well. http://www.emissions-free.com/catalog/i25.html
Plus a bit more for the charger, but still pretty cheap, and a lot better discharge rate than a ping. With a ping, you'd have to have at least a 15 ah battery because if the pings low c rate, and carry that size and weight around.

A bit more for 48v cellman in the same size would get you 27 mph riding.

If you went lipo, you'd find it awkward to charge at work, and again find yourself wanting to carry 15 ah. So in the end the cellman battery, for your ride, may end up the cheapest lightest smallest option for you.

This is the kit I was thinking of. http://www.emissions-free.com/catalog/i14.html

Checking current ping prices, you could shave off 15 bucks from the price by buying a 36v 15 ah ping. It would just barely have the power to do the 14 mile commute if you have lots of stops or steep hills. So that option would give you more range for other rides besides to to work. If you want longer range potential, and 27mph, the 48v 15 ah ping is still a great choice. I love mine. I can ride nearly 20 miles at 27 mph or 35 miles at 18 mph. So it's real versatile in different situations. But not cheaper than than the cellman pack that would fit your needs for just riding up to 10 miles per charge.

 

[Mudduck]

Thanks so much dogman,and everyone else.I'm still waiting for cellman to get back to me about shipping prices.I like the wheel kits he has,the batteries prices are pretty good too.I really like the lipo batteries but I think I better start off with something more straight forward..Do you have any idea how much he charges for shipping?

 

[wesnewell]

If you've got that kind of money to spend, get the 9.2ah 52v pack for $450. If not then the $130 12s2p lipo pack will get you more range and speed than the 9.2 ah 39v pack that cost $350. And you won't need to recharge at work with it. It will give you a 14 mile range with miles to spare.

 

[Mudduck]

I've been doing so much reading and you tubeing the last couple of days my head hurts..I hate to go back and fourth but I think I'm back to the lipo's again.I think I understand why westnell was saying I should go with the 48v 1000watt system.Six packs of the 14.4v 5ah lipo's 3 batteries hooked up in parallel gives me about 45v and 5ah's.Hook the two packs in series gives me about 48v 10ah.That should be more than enough for me.Now I understand how to charge them.My only question is that when you guys charge them do you leave them on you bike or do you charge them in the fire proof bag?

 

[rui_fujino]

I've been ...Now I understand how to charge them.My only question is that when you guys charge them do you leave them on you bike or do you charge them in the fire proof bag?

I bulk charge 20s2p lipo packs connected to battery medics with bike. But I keep the bike in garden house so it won't burn the house down.
I got my charger from BMSBattery.com where u can custom make your own battery charger for any chemistry!

 

[wesnewell]

Sometimes I charge them on the bike using the SLA charger that came with the kit. Sometimes I take 5 seconds to take it off and charge it in the house on my wooden computer desk using an RC charger. I'm not worried about fires, If I were I'd charge them in the fireplace I never use. The little 2A charger that comes with the kit will charge up to 60V, so you must monitor it if you use it and not go over 50V for a 12s pack. The best way to do this safely imo is to use a wall timer you can set to automatically shut off after the set time, but I never got around to buying one so I just use the timer in my head and monitor the voltage. Other options include a 48V PSU adjusted to 50V, or better, a charger like the ones bmsbattery sales set to 50V that will cut off at the set voltage. There's lots of ways to charge a battery pack. Just don't over charge it and check balance every now and then and you shouldn't have a problem. I've been real impressed with the Turnigy 4s hard case packs. I charge one for a friend almost daily that doesn't have a charger and I've never seen them go out of balance yet. He usually runs them down to 95% dod too.

 

[MikeFairbanks]

I like Jason's kits at ebikekit.com

I've done three builds using his kits, and so far so good.

I use SLA, which is fine if you put it in the frame of the bike. A lot of people don't like SLA, but for the cost it's hard to beat.

If you can afford it, get the most ready-to-roll kit you can afford for your first build. However, you can save money by pricing out various parts from different sources. If you take your time you can do it right and for a good price. Just don't be in a rush.

Good luck. We all were in the same spot. I took a LONG time to understand batteries. I have no idea why it took me so long to understand them, but it did. Now it all seems so much easier.

I can put a build together in a couple hours. In fact, I'm going to build one today: Schwinn Ranger, front wheel hub, 48 volt SLA, on a front suspension fork (steel).

Then I'm going to take it off road and see if I can beat my current commute time of 15-18 minutes. I think I can get it down to ten minutes if I go off road for part of the way.

Have fun, and be safe.

 

[dogman dan]

About $450, or less depending on shipping cost, for the cellman battery, but another $55 or so for the charger.

Lipo to go 14 miles would need to be at least 12s 10 ah. About $240 for 6s packs, mabye more including shipping from USA warehouse. Then you need a charger. It aint gonna be 50 bucks for lipo. More like $150 for a decent rig.

So not that different in price. Lipo will get you more range for the buck, but A123 will be hassle free and can charge safely nearly anywhere. Lipo WILL wear out much sooner than A123. But if you have less range, the cost per mile is the same.

My advice, make your first battery easy, and get the A123. Then later, if you want to add range for longer rides that aren't daily, adding lipo to your battery stash could make a ton of sense. Used less often, lipo will last plenty long, and can be charged the slow cheap way if not used daily. So lifepo4 now, lipo later for extra range.

 

[Mudduck]

The more I thought about the lipo's and the risk of fire,not only at charging but just sitting around..I was planning on leaving my car at work just in case bad weather or working late.I would have to leave my bike at work.I work for a natural gas company if I burn down the building I might get in a little trouble...ya think.I'm going to start with baby steps..I don't need a rocket ship..lol.Still waiting for cellman to get back to me..chinese new year no work untill feb 1st.I guess?

 

[wesnewell]

I see your point, so make sure no one ever leaves a cell phone, ipad, or any of the hundreds of devices that use lipo batteries at work. And make all your UPS's are not the new style with lithium battery packs.

 

[fattybarber]

I am in the same boat - "Newbie", I have read and read and read and am starting to get my head around all this electrical jargon (sort of) I have a Trisled tadpole trike it has good componentry a mixture of XTR 105 and Durace (this part of the equation I understand) It is an excellent trike, very sporty with a narrow track and it's very well made.
My commute is 22Ks or 13 miles one way - so 26 miles round trip. I have ridden it to work and back a few times and it's fine but after a 12 hour shift the hills on the way home when you are tired are a bitch, (tadpoles are great on the flat and "REALLY" fast down hill but the hills are much slower than a regular bike)
I do like to pedal so I am thinking geared would suite me better (freewheel) Lighter and cellmans MAC looks like it might do the trick. I am running 20 inch on the back so do I go 8T or 6T? ( I want about 20-25 miles an hour with me doing half the work hit the power on the hills)
In OZ we are restricted to 200W but as long as I don't fang along without pedaling I can't imagine any coppers will ever know. I believe hyena has 200 watt stickers available anyway.
I drive a truck so I wan't to know can I recharge from the 12 volt system in the truck at work ( cigarette lighter) if so what charger do I buy? Or can I get by leaving the bike all day and riding home on whats left of the battery? (The ride home is the more uphill part)
So based on all this what package do you recommend and what am I missing? ( Don't you just love forums)

Can't wait to start my build and will put lots of photo's up as I go

Will also post youtube as I am a bit of a video editing buff too


I would love to build a really fast velo later on but I know I have to start somewhere- Trisled do a the new Rotovelo which really makes sence to me COZ I am a garbo and it is made from a bin - (well sort of) LOL

Thankyou in advance and all info will be greatly appreciated

Carl

 

[Mudduck]

Thanks again to everyone!!I ordered a 350 watt geared front hub kit from Paul aka Cellman.he's makeing me a battery just for what I need..I gave him all my info.here's what I spent $175 for the hub the battery is a 39v 6.9 hr 123 battery $275 a 2amp charger for about $25.plus shipping cost's about $50-$60..I can't wait..pauls a first class guy!i really liked the lipo idea but the cost for the charger,the not sure what I'm doing thing,and the small chance of burning down my house..lol. This is just what I wanted a plug and play kit for the first bike.maybe next bike lipo's?I'll keep you all posted..I couldn't have done it with out you all...one last question do I need a torque arm for a 36v kit?Thanks again Matt