Use this when U don't want to create a short lived topic.

[fechter]

Good work. 8)

How warm does the controller get? It really shouldn't be getting too hot, but it does need some air to prevent heat buildup. If the FETs are switching too slow, they could be wasting a bit of power. On the other hand, just the voltage regulator gives off quite a bit of heat, so some cooling is necessary.

It would be nice to know what the current limit is. If your batteries are weak, it's not advisable to increase it. If you got some better batteries, then it sound like you could crank it up

Top speed is a function of voltage, but you can get there much quicker with more current. EVgrin is a function of current squared.

 

[flip_normal]

Hi fechter, thanks for the compliment. I wouldn't say the controller is getting excessively hot, I can just about keep my hand on it for about 15 secs after a full 15 mile run. The caps are all rated for 105degC so its well below that. I'd just like to keep it as cool as possible since heat stress will always reduce lifespan of components.

A Cycle Analyst is top of my wish list for the xmas stocking so we'll have to wait till then to get a reading on the current draw. The plan is definitely to increase battery voltage My thinking at the moment is tending towards ~66v from 20s LiFePO4. The flat discharge curve and smaller voltage sag should get the scoot to much more where I'd like it to be. That said I'd have to have closer look at the controller to see if it'll take it without going fizz, bang, pop or something Some of the caps in the controller are rated at 63v, some at 50v, one 25v and another at 12v. I may end up putting together a higher voltage Clite type controller with the rest of my FETs using plans from another ES member here in the UK. Then get the range from 15 miles up to ~50 and I'll have a really useful moped, especially if I can figure out how to rig up a method of getting at least a decent partial charge (~80%) in less then an hour whilst out and about, then balance off the cells when doing a full charge when back home. From what I've read here good quality LiFePO4 cells will stay in balance for a few charges without any problems. What do you think of this as a method of providing 36v for the on the fly charging. There's a 36v version of this psu which should be able to put out 13-14 amps, so if I split the pack into 10s sub packs for charging on the fly then am I right in thinking this could work? Maybe the overvolt cut-off could also terminate charge?

This is how my ideas are developing but just for now I'm happy to scoot about town as it is. Even though the moped is bright red the total absence of motor noise when up to speed makes this a very stealthy machine indeed, I just have to ride it as I would a bicycle and assume that at any moment a pedestrian could step out into the road in front of me which is exactly what I'm used to on my pedal bikes anyhow.

I'm really enjoying riding this moped but I wouldn't recommend it to any one who wasn't prepared to sort out potential controller problems and be aware of the limited 15 mile range. The guy who sold it to me gave me a good deal and when I bought it the plan was always to use it as a platform for further developments. The dealer emailed me today asking me if I could fix another controller he's got which isn't working. I advised him that considering the amount of time it took me (over 6 hours) and the cost of the replacement components (£45) and their scarcity then he'd be better off contacting the Chinese manufacturer and resolving the issues with them. They've already said they've had a problem with the controller and have introduced a new one (for more money).

 

[Lessss]

Woohoo, snow/ice on the ground and the first electric bike foot-ski trip home from work.

 

[Lessss]

new type of circuit

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/processors/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207403582&pgno=1&queryText=&isPrev=

 

[TylerDurden]

new type of circuit

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/processors/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207403582&pgno=1&queryText=&isPrev=

John Connor commented on Apr 30, 2008 10:33:12 PM
This is the beginning of SkyNet. Soon the T101 model will be developed, based on this design.

No future.

:lol:

 

[Link]

Oh weird, LULZ. I just found out about the memristors from my Wii the other day.

 

[TylerDurden]

bump

 

[Lock]

new type of circuit
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/processors/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207403582&pgno=1&queryText=&isPrev=

WOW!
Tks for the link Lessss

"Electronic theorists have been using the wrong pair of variables all these years -- voltage and charge. The missing part of electronic theory was that the fundamental pair of variables is flux and charge. The situation is analogous to what is called "Aristotle's Law of Motion, which was wrong, because he said that force must be proportional to velocity. That misled people for 2000 years until Newton came along and pointed out that Aristotle was using the wrong variables. Newton said that force is proportional to acceleration -- the change in velocity. This is exactly the situation with electronic circuit theory today. All electronic text books have been teaching using the wrong variables -- voltage and charge--explaining away inaccuracies as anomalies. What they should have been teaching is the relationship between changes in voltage, or flux, and charge." - Professor Leon Chua

 

[deardancer3]

FYI: Los Angeles has to deal with bicycle traffic, considers allowing bikes on sidewalks.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-wehobikes8-2008jul08,0,3488550,full.story

Good article to hear the debate from differnt perspectives, and note the current state of legality for bikes on sidewalks in LA county.

I do not know how this would/could/should affect ebikes.

some excerpts:
"... bicyclists in West Hollywood have complained that traffic congestion and narrow roadways in some areas make it dangerous to ride in the street.

After learning that even some members of the Los Angeles County sheriff's bicycle detail were leery of riding in the street, city leaders spent more than a year studying the issue and polling residents and those who work and shop in the 2-square-mile town.

The survey showed that more than half of respondents ride their bikes on sidewalks, even though it is illegal. The idea of sharing the sidewalk between pedestrians and bicyclists was split, with 43.7% for coexistence and 52.7% against it."

Los Angeles County's bike law, which bans all sidewalk riding, also applied to West Hollywood. Santa Monica prohibits it too. Beverly Hills does not permit bikes on sidewalks in its business district.

Los Angeles, however, prohibits sidewalk riding only when it is done "in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property." Bikes are banned, however, on Ocean Front Walk between Marine Street and Via Marina in Venice.
---------

Feel free to start a seperate thread if one thinks it is warranted.

(My 1/2 Millon population city allows riding on the sidewalk with no problems. Guess it depends on a bunch of things though)

d

 

[Lessss]

I wonder how many batteries could fit in there?

 

[Lessss]

This isn't taking things too far is it? - - - - Is it?

 

[Lessss]

Amazon shipping rip off....
3 of them was about $300

Pic is a bit fuzzy. Item 33.21 Cargo box for bike.
shipping and handling 36.75
Import duty 19.45
Total 89.41 per Item.
I was going to order 3, it tripled everything to about $270
Needless to say I didn't order.

 

[TylerDurden]

This is a useless post to upload images. Disregard.
bsmeter


puns

 

[Mathurin]

Everting sphere:

[youtube]xaVJR60t4Zg[/youtube]

 

[Lessss]

Can someone translate this???

 

[TylerDurden]

Jinhua Nikang Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd is specialized in producing electric bicycle and electric tricycle. With dainty environment, its floor space of 25,308 square meters and building area of over 9,000 square meters, Jinhua Wuxing Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd owns modern process line and exact quality checkout equipment, therefore, our products had passed the certification of ISO9001: 2000 Quality System Certificate and sell well far to occident and Southeast Asia, etc.
　　 According to the managing principles of "Good Faith, Quality, Service, Innovation", we insist on existing with top-quality products and the first standard to service the costumers. The electric power cart of "Nikang" brand we manufactured, with its characters of attractive appearance, powerful motivity and reliable capability, is greatly favored by our clients. We are ready to establish friendly cooperation relationship with the new and former clients with our top-ranking technology and first-class service.
The electric power cart of "Nikang" brand is your optimal choice.

http://www.jhwuxing.com/china/default.asp

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[Lessss]

Diverted is on the CBC in 20 minutes. It's what happened in Canada on 9/11 with all the diverted US flights.

 

[Roy Von Rogers]

I would read this article before I imported anything from China

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/ ... kebiz.html

It's a few years old but is still helpful. Written by a bicycle industry insider.

That was some interesting reading, a real eye opener.

Roy

 

[TylerDurden]

Testing...

Carry-on...

 

[BLUESTREAK]

Why don't you pm JASON OVER AT (e-bikekit.com) and he can give you hints about buying,shipping and anything else, He is really a good guy and since this would not be in compatition with him I belive he would help you. hope so anyway.

 

[Lessss]

Argh... slow leak rear tube

Finally patch it, flat again the next day.
Patched again. Put it in shed leave overnight.
Go to use in the morning and Flat again. This time long RIP in the tube. Tire perfectly fine.
I rip the tube out slice it all the way round and expose he inside.
I see lots of very tiny holes here and there. Not all the way through the tube.

Looks like an old rubber band does. Eventually the band snaps. Well this tire ripped, same thing I guess.
I got the tube at zellers. Universal bike tubes.

Defective manufacturing - Old stock - -old stock dumped on Zellers cheap???

 

[Lessss]

Looking for these to buy. Please post links if you have located online. I can't find them anywhere!

 

[Lessss]

There was a real neat simple design of a trike on here shaped something like this. Can someone point me to it?

 

[Lessss]

found it
http://www.web.net/freedex/index.htm