I got a project Ebike (edit: it's a 200Kg electric motorcycle) a few months ago, ran poorly (range and torque), but it worked. Then I didn't have access to it for a couple of months, and the battery died (LiFePo4 80V, every cell reading <2V and most <1V).
I decided to redo most of the powertrain. New battery (24S1P 25AH LiFePo4 with room to expand up to 4P), new BMS (100amp 17-24S Ant BMS from ICGOGOGO on AliExpress. Not recommended), new DC-DC controller (2 Generic 150W modules from Amazon) and redoing most of the wiring (it was a crow's nest of patchwork repairs by some drunken monkeys with access to lots of electrical tape). Keeping the existing charger because it was almost new when I got the bike (<6months old)
So far it's been going well. I want to start testing the new setup, but I'm worried I'm too novice for this controller, a Sevcon Dragon8. From what I read, it's a pretty advanced one. With lots of bells and whistles and expensive diagnostic tools. I'm hesitant to hook it up, because if it's really above my league. Maybe I should just sell it off and buy something simpler that just does what I know I need (control my motor and make sure it doesn't catch on fire, basically).
So, am I over my head? On one hand, I know this controller works - I ran with with for a few months. On the other, this is my first EV project, and this controller has me anxious. Should I sell it and try to get a simpler one? Is there some place I can find documentation on it (all I can find is documentation for the Gen4, and they're not really compatible)?
I decided to redo most of the powertrain. New battery (24S1P 25AH LiFePo4 with room to expand up to 4P), new BMS (100amp 17-24S Ant BMS from ICGOGOGO on AliExpress. Not recommended), new DC-DC controller (2 Generic 150W modules from Amazon) and redoing most of the wiring (it was a crow's nest of patchwork repairs by some drunken monkeys with access to lots of electrical tape). Keeping the existing charger because it was almost new when I got the bike (<6months old)
So far it's been going well. I want to start testing the new setup, but I'm worried I'm too novice for this controller, a Sevcon Dragon8. From what I read, it's a pretty advanced one. With lots of bells and whistles and expensive diagnostic tools. I'm hesitant to hook it up, because if it's really above my league. Maybe I should just sell it off and buy something simpler that just does what I know I need (control my motor and make sure it doesn't catch on fire, basically).
So, am I over my head? On one hand, I know this controller works - I ran with with for a few months. On the other, this is my first EV project, and this controller has me anxious. Should I sell it and try to get a simpler one? Is there some place I can find documentation on it (all I can find is documentation for the Gen4, and they're not really compatible)?