E-scooters

[OzFab]

Well, this is a first, me in the electric section...

Anyhoo, for those who haven't been paying attention, I recently purchased 3 Samurai electric scooters. They all work & had chargers but, the batteries were dead.

After replacing one set of batteries (2x12v/7.2Ah) I had a go, only to find out that the motor is not too strong (the PO warned me that may be the case but, it didn't hurt to try...). The little princess has no trouble on it but, she weighs next to nothing...

So, after discovering that they only had 200w motors, I found & ordered a 350w motor, put it in & went for a spin. That didnt work, for two reasons:
1. The little princess had managed to run the batteries flat over the weekend &
2. I moved about 15 metres before I lost all power...

I diagnosed the problem as the controller; how? By using the controller from one of the other scooters (remember, I have three identical units)

Now, here's my question: Did I blow the controller by attempting to run the larger (almost twice the wattage) motor or was it just coincidence that it died just as I tried to run it?

 

[itsid]

I don't see any info about the max rating on the controller (I guess there is none)
but chances are it's indeed limited to 14 or 15A and a 350W can draw up to 20-22 Amps...
so possible, yes.

*shrugs*

If you can open it up somehow, we can see if it failed because of the motor or not (well most of the times you can tell by finding a burned out part... likely the MosFet)

'sid

 

[landuse]

I think I speak for the whole forum when I say that we definately need a pic of you on one of those scooters

 

[OzFab]

I don't see any info about the max rating on the controller (I guess there is none)
but chances are it's indeed limited to 14 or 15A and a 350W can draw up to 20-22 Amps...
so possible, yes.

*shrugs*

Ah, amperage, the one figure I didn't consider...

Ok so, given the figures, which of the following would you most likely recommend?

1 or 2

I'm leaning towards 2 because it has a higher rating than the motor (350-500w), whereas 1 starts at a lower rating (250-350w)

If you can open it up somehow, we can see if it failed because of the motor or not (well most of the times you can tell by finding a burned out part... likely the MosFet)

'sid

I opened it up, had a look but, nothing appeared to be damaged; then I reconnected it to the third unit, obviously, the wrong way because as soon as I turned the key, it smoked the wiring

 

[itsid]

well.. first.. your controller cannot be "overrated" so a 1000W controller will still work fine with a 350W motor.
in fact it'll run much cooler than a controller specifically rated at 350W.

So yes, the second makes more sense.. If you can find a YK model
yiyun(yinlun?..can't remember) which AFAIK is a subsidiary of UNITE which is the maker of the motor you have .. see where I'm going?

but both will work, and you should lean towards the 500W model.
but personally I'd choose the YK.

I'm almost sure at one point in time you'll want the 500W motor anyways
and that way you're at least prepared to do so.

'sid

 

[OzFab]

That's exactly what I thought you'd say; it's like putting a clutch rated at 20hp on a 5hp engine, you'll never hurt the clutch but, the other way around & it wouldn't last two minutes...

Thanks for the recommendation Oh, & the help

 

[OzFab]

New controller arrived a few days ago but, I've been to sick to do anything with it...

The one thing I do know is that all the plugs are different so, until I come up with a better idea (need a clear head for that...) I'll use a terminal block to make the connections...

 

[Joe-405]

Instead of the block why not use weather tite connectors ? They look way better and you can get them from 1 to about 10 wires in one and they are waterproof.

 

[OzFab]

I looked at them &, for the price, that's probably what I'll end up with but, I want to get this thing going yesterday...

 

[dcastillo]

I want to get this thing going yesterday...

In that case just use wire nuts and tie wraps like I did

 

[OzFab]

Well, it took me an hour & a half to reconnect EVERY WIRE (including the battery & motor wires, the plugs were reversed) but, it now works & carries my weight uphill easily... well, it struggles a little bit but, it gets there at a half decent speed...

Oh & just for fun, here's a vid of the little princess riding the unmodded scooter...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SlRL1Y5bwY&feature=youtu.be

UPDATE: I took it for a ride up a local hill, one it would have to traverse on a daily basis, & it really struggled; I'm currently on the search for a larger wheel sprocket;

current gearing is 11t motor & 65t wheel = 5.909:1
if I change the wheel sprocket for 80t I get 7.272:1

which I think will be ok, it currently does around 15kmh...

 

[OzFab]

80t wheel sprocket on its way from England (only place I could find one); let's see what arrives first, the sprocket or my DIYGK shirt...

 

[landuse]

80t wheel sprocket on its way from England (only place I could find one); let's see what arrives first, the sprocket or my DIYGK shirt...

It depends which is heavier. you might need 2 pidgeons for the heavier package

 

[OzFab]

True enough but, I'm still thinking the sprocket will get here first... based on experience...

 

[OzFab]

Well, I was wrong (there's a change ), my shirt arrived last Friday, the sprocket arrived today (Monday); close but, if you consider the shirt was sent on July 16 & I ordered the sprocket on July 28...

 

[landuse]

Ha. I am glad you got everything now though

 

[OzFab]

I suppose I should update this thread... about 8 months ago

After fitting the replacement 80t sprocket (good news, it bolted straight on the existing hub, no redrilling required) the scooter now pulls me up the hill I mentioned earlier with ease... so much so, I ordered another for the other working scooter which now, obviously, now has a bit more torque...

 

[Skalabala]

Put some 8s Lipo in it and you will be amazed how performance changes

 

[itsid]

yes.. you will be amazed... since it'd not change at all!
durability might change .. performance not at all ...

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Umm, what?