Questions and issues with Magic pie 3

[keru]

Hi,
I have the following setup:
- trident trikes Spike
- 12s 8Ah LiPos from Hobby King
- Golden Motor Magic Pie 3 20inches bought from goldenmotor.ca

I'm trying to install lights, reading online got me to think the light voltage was the same as the battery, so I got a 12v light and was planning on trying to convert the battery voltage using a wallwart like I read some do here. But it seems to be 5v, should I just connect my converter to the batteries directly ? or is there any suggestion ?

I'm trying different voltages for the battery. I was running with 10s battery, but tried with a 7s. First I tried keeping the settings at 36V. I was expecting it to trigger the LVC, but it didn't. Is it normal ? If there is a low voltage cutoff, anybody knows at what value they stop ?

The 'Light switch' on the throttle doesn't seem to cut or activate the power from the lights wire (or either do anything), it always stays at 5V. Do I have to re-wire something to get the switch to work ? I tried to program the motor to allow the reverse but the switch doesn't either do anything.

And this week I discovered another issue, the motor does a short squeaking noise when I start, even when turning the throttle really slowly. It also does this noise when I apply the e-brake. When the motor turns there is not this. I looked if the axle was grinding the rear dropout, but it seems fine. And when trying to turn the wheel by hand or only pedaling it doesn't make the noise. Anybody has a clue from where it could come ? Should I be worried ? I rode the trike in winter, with salt all over the roads. I washed the bike, I just didn't open the motor to look inside.

Thanks for the help.

 

[parajared]

Your motor can make a zing zing zing zing noise that gets faster and faster as the wheel spins; this is caused by something touching the plate on the inside of your motor and can be a major issue if it's a phase wire or a winding. Google "why crystalyte H series royally sucks" for more info on stuff rubbing on the inside of your motor . This could also be nothing at all, it could be something like your derailer touching the side of the motor plate; to me it sounds like something is rubbing.

Lipo batteries are thankfully super-duper easy to rig up to lights as there is no need for converters, BECs, UBECs or anything of the sort if you just plug your lights directly into a balance tap. Don't forget to balance charge when you are done riding.
If you bust out your volt meter you will find that you have access to 3.7 volts, 7.4, 11.1, 14.8 ect... so long as you don't pull more energy than is capable down those tiny 20 ga wires you will be fine.

A switch that doesn't switch anything on or off is either broken or needs to be wired correctly.

 

[keru]

The noise is more a 1/2 second 'squiiish' when I accelerate after a full stop, or when I brake. It seems pretty easy to open, I guess I'll check to make sure.

Ah thanks a lot for the tip about using the balance tap, I don't know why I didn't think about it, it's so simple ! I always balance charge anyway, so that shouldn't be an issue.

For the switch, that's what I guessed, just not sure how to check if it has been wired for something else, but I'll see more when I open the motor.

Thanks again!

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

About the noise...that is normal for this motor.

 

[keru]

Ah good to know, thanks.
Is it normal it wasn't doing that for the first few 300km? Do you know where it's coming from ?

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

I had it from the first time when using.
The motor will produce more sound when more amps is apply to the motor.
It's a big motor so easy to hear sound when motor is running....

 

[keru]

Yeah I hear motor sound when using it and it's fine, but this noise is just from stop to start during 0.5second and same thing when activating the e-brake.
The noise is kind of like those squeaky breaks http://youtu.be/9CAlqxXv_I8?t=17s is that the same noise you get ?

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

No squeaky sounds like car brakes.
But if is that you problem, you should check the bearings.

Because this motor has no rubbing problem with windings and motor covers...

 

[keru]

Ah ok thanks a lot, I'll check that soon.

 

[keru]

So I didn't open the motor yet, but I saw what's making the noise.
It seems that the internal controller rotates when accelerating or braking, I'll have to open it to see why now ... I hope it can hold meanwhile.