Question about coasting

[MarkMyWords]

So I'm looking into building a board, and I was wondering if the motor has resistance when off. I know most motors do, but I'm not familiar with ESCs and if they have a setting for this. I'd like to be able to ride the board like a regular board with an occasional boost from the motor. This would be much like a freewheel on a bike, where the motor would "pedal" occasionally but mostly coast. Does a default setup work like this, or does the motor have resistance when it's not turned on?

 

[sl33py]

You will always have more resistance with motors vs a regular skateboard.

A 9mm belt will have less resistance than a 15mm belt.
A hub drive setup will have less resistance than a belt geared motormount.

How tight you tension a belt will make a difference too in how easily it rolls.

 

[Ianhill]

I can see what your getting at and its the regenative braking and yes you can turn this effect off on most programmable ESC, but as mentioned it will never roll like a true skateboard due to the extra mass of the motor and belts rotating etc.

 

[maxchilton]

So I'm looking into building a board, and I was wondering if the motor has resistance when off. I know most motors do, but I'm not familiar with ESCs and if they have a setting for this. I'd like to be able to ride the board like a regular board with an occasional boost from the motor. This would be much like a freewheel on a bike, where the motor would "pedal" occasionally but mostly coast. Does a default setup work like this, or does the motor have resistance when it's not turned on?

Yes, the motor, belts and gears all have resistance. No, esc's do not have a setting that eliminates drag. You can put one-way bearing inside one of the gear pulleys which allows you to freewheel when you're off power and coast like a regular board. The only drawback is no brakes from the motor, you'll need to stop with your feet.

 

[MarkMyWords]

So I'm looking into building a board, and I was wondering if the motor has resistance when off. I know most motors do, but I'm not familiar with ESCs and if they have a setting for this. I'd like to be able to ride the board like a regular board with an occasional boost from the motor. This would be much like a freewheel on a bike, where the motor would "pedal" occasionally but mostly coast. Does a default setup work like this, or does the motor have resistance when it's not turned on?

Yes, the motor, belts and gears all have resistance. No, esc's do not have a setting that eliminates drag. You can put one-way bearing inside one of the gear pulleys which allows you to freewheel when you're off power and coast like a regular board. The only drawback is no brakes from the motor, you'll need to stop with your feet.

Thanks, this is what I was looking for. Now to decide if I want coasting or breaks...

 

[Sharkface]

If you roll with the VESC then you can use coasting time to just regen the batteries some. I would highly highly recommend brakes if this board will involve riding where other riders or cars are at. Knowing that I am going 20mph but can slow that down pretty quick to stay safe is nice. Especially when the bus in front of me stops to let riders off. Riding through San Francisco traffic is probably not what you will be doing though.

If anything, get a VESC, so you can just do it all and not have to worry about the problems that come with a car ESC.

 

[erwincoumans]

I find a hub drive to be closest to regular skateboard when coasting, so if smooth coasting is your goal, contact Pediglide.

With more advanced encoders in motors, (V)ESC software could me modified to compensate for friction, cogging etc, but that needs significant work. Such compensation (and for example gravity compensation in robotic arms) is common in robotics motor controllers, which VESC can become with more work.