Wheelie Popping Ride-on Drink Cooler: SLA + BrushedPM

[StephensEngineering]

I've got one of the more interesting things on this forum. It's a ride on drink cooler I call the tranzilla. The TranZilla was built in early 2008 and has been through a huge amount amount of repairs and design changes. The base design was made from my old gas powered scooter. The motor was a 300w brushed electric scooter motor, and the cooler is removable and you can insert a boombox that has an AUX input. The boombox also has strobe lights on the outside and on the inside, so the light shines through the logo on the boombox. The cooler was lacking attention and motor strength around 2014, and that’s when I found someone selling some new electronic components.

Earlier in 2014 I acquired some rather expensive PMW motor controllers and dual >500 watt motors with gearboxes for the TranZilla. I also remade most of the chassis to accommodate these huge motors, chopped off extra steel that was from the old chassis, and welded on a wheelie bar. I had a mockup wiring system to test the motors, and with a curb climb from a standstill, was able to calculate 62ft/lbs of torque going into the rear wheels. I’ve had issues getting the PMW controllers working properly.

I upgraded to 36volts so now I three "12" volt SLA Batteries, which actually are more like 14 volts. These are the general batteries you find on eBay.

I've got some sort of issue with the old 24v PWMs after diagnostics (strange issue when I was doing testing on 24v), so I'm currently looking at the Kelly KDS36200e or KDS48200e. I have 3 "12"v 22Ah SLA batteries. Problem is, they have an extra cell in them so they really supply 14.5v each at full charge. Would it be safe to get the 36 volt controller? Or do I need the 48 volt controller?

Also, how do I charge these batteries now? My system actually puts out 40-45 volts so a standard 36v scooter charger may not work.

 

[StephensEngineering]

Also, there's pics on StephensEngineering.net/projects if you want to see what I'm working with

 

[amberwolf]

I've got one of the more interesting things on this forum. It's a ride on drink cooler I call the tranzilla.

There's at least one other ride-on cooler on ES; by kmxtornado
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=70650&hilit=ride+cooler
Probalby not as highpowered as yours.

I have 3 "12"v 22Ah SLA batteries. Problem is, they have an extra cell in them so they really supply 14.5v each at full charge.

Never seen any SLA with other than the usual number of cells; it's pretty normal for these things to have a "surface charge" of up to a bit over 14v, depends on your charger and what mode it uses. Most of them specify the charge rates for different modes on the side of the battery itself.

When they actually get down to 11-12v resting they are pretty close to discharged; at least that's about as far as I'd recommend taking them under these kinds of loads.

I suspect your voltmeter's battery is actually running low so it is reading voltages/etc incorrectly (usually high). You can either change the battery or try with a different meter.

Would it be safe to get the 36 volt controller?

Like batteries, most controllers are rated for a nominal voltage, not a max. So a 36v is often for 3 sla in series. What it's actual max is you would have to ask the specfic vendor or manufacturer, or you'd have to open it up after you get it to see what the limits of the parts inside are. (caps, fets, regulators, etc).

They also usually have an LVC setup for the battery voltage they're intended for, so if you use a controller for 48v on a 36v system, it may not even allow it to operate at all even at full charge, or it might start but as soon as load is applied so battery voltage sags it then cuts off trying to protect the "dead 48v battery" that is really a fully charged 36v.

Sometimes you can change or defeat this, but that'd be up to you to figure out once you got it; there's no consistent design or layout to just say "change this part here".

Also, how do I charge these batteries now? My system actually puts out 40-45 volts so a standard 36v scooter charger may not work.

If it is a 36v SLA charger, then it will charge a series of 3 "12v" SLA batteries.