SLA Trike build

[Gypsy]

Hey fellas. I am trying to do a build for an elderly lady who wants a trike. She can't afford any Lithium based solutions but on a trike I can mount some SLAs. Anyone know what would be the most affordable motor, controller and battery for that. 24V or maybe 36v. She would be happy with some assist and 10 mph.

Thanks,

 

[Drunkskunk]

This: http://www.ebikekit.com/electric-tr.../e-trikekit-electric-tricycle-conversion-kit/ Its a 14mph 36v kit.
With some mobility chair SLA. 36V will be less hard on the SLA than 24v, so they should last longer.

 

[dogman dan]

Ditto, though not the cheapest kit, it's the one that is designed specifically for that application. The slow speed makes it much safer on delta trikes, as well as making affordable sla go farther.

If she hasn't bought a trike yet, these are on sale, two or three left. http://www.ebikekit.com/electric-trikes-complete-bike/

 

[Gypsy]

She already has the trike. It is basically a recumbent with 2 rear wheels. I think a QQ motor would work but I am not sure about the controller. Would any 36V controller work or will I need a special one for the SLA chemistry?

 

[dogman dan]

Sure, 36v is 36v. The controller won't care about chemistry of the battery. Yes, a smaller gear motor will work, and surely there are those kits out there cheaper than the EBK trike kit.

I'm not fishing for a sale here on this forum, but it is the best kit for adult trikes, slow yet still powerful, durable, and lots of more elderly and handicapped people love having reverse.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Here's why I suggested that trike kit over a cheaper geared motor.

You pointed out that this woman is elderly. So her being elderly is apparently a factor in your design consideratyions. Since I'm taking care of an elderly person and aware of some of their needs, I put one factor above the others. Reliability. it needs to work every time, from the time they leave, until the time they arrive home. No issues, no hiccups, and certyianly no breakdowns that would leave them in a bad situation. If the elderly person I know was stuck on the side of the road on a 100 degree day, it would be a life threatening situation.

10mph is slow. there are some slow geared kits, but they tend to be gutless. Assuming this person may need the full benefit of the motor sometimes, a motor designed for slow operation is a better idea, and there aren't many slow wound motors available anymore. The trike kit is about it. it has the added advantage of only 1 moving part.

Reverse. Because backing up and trying again solves many problems that a younger, more able bodied person would just get off the bike and push, pull, or life to solve.

And last I recommended the mobility scooter SLA for reliability. there are plenty of Ebike SLA out there, and they have the reliability of a paper boat in hurricane. Something designed to push an mobility scooter or electric wheelchair is going to be more reliable.