2017 - El Moto

[Functional Artist]

Hopefully this second one goes that smoothly

Step 1.)
I melted (2) more solder blobs
...where the Lima bean was mounted

Step 2.)
I gripped the second jumper with a clamp
…pressed (1) end of it to (1) of the solder blobs
…& then, used the soldering iron to solder them together

Step 3.)
I pressed the other end of the jumper to the second blob
…& soldered them together too

Boom!, I think we did it

Now, I just gotta reinstall this yellow wire
…& put the ends back on

 

[Functional Artist]

Lets "fire this thing up" & see if it works

Took 'er out to the bike, plugged the AC input plug into an extension cord & turned the switch on

The red & green lights lit up
…& No Magic Smoke

Before connecting it to the bike, I flipped the balance monitor on to get an initial voltage reading
...43V is showing on the Tri-Quad
…& 21.6V is showing on both of the balance monitors

Then, I plugged the DC output plug into the charge port on the bike
…& both red lights, on the charger, lit up

Now, lets see how long this takes
…& to what voltage the battery pack gets charged back up to

 

[Functional Artist]

I recorded the voltage of the battery pack before starting
mulit-meter: 43V
balance monitor: 21.6V / 21.6V

I connected the Yewi UY-600 charger @ 4:45pm
...both red lights lit up but, the fan was not on

I didn't want to turn the circuit breaker on, to get a reading from the Tri-Quad
...or keep messing with the MM
...so, I just took hourly voltage readings from the balance monitor

1 hour 5:45pm 22.8V / 22.8V 2 red lights & yes the fan is on
2 hours 6:45pm 23.8 V/ 23.8V 2 red lights & yes the fan is on
3 hours 7:45pm 24.3V / 24.3V 2 red lights & no the fan is off
4 hours 8:45pm 24.4V / 24.4V 2 red lights & no the fan is off
5 hours 9:45 pm 24.4V / 24.4V 1 red light & 1 green light & no fan

Unhooked the charger, turned the circuit breaker on
...& got 49.7V from the Tri-Quad

Hmmm, it should be topped off @ 49V (but, who knows how accurate these Chinese meters are?)

So, I waited an hour & took more readings (rested voltage)

6 hours ~11:00 pm

Tri-Quad: 49.7V
Balance monitor: 24.4V / 24.4V

The next morning I took some more readings (overnight rested voltage)
16 hours ~9:00am

Tri-Quad: 49.8V
Balance monitor: 24.4V / 24.4V (48.8V total)
Multi-meter: 50.6V
Wow!, (3) different Chinese meters with (3) different readings

 

[Functional Artist]

Design flaw:
I can't really see the Amp/Volt meter too good while riding
...the digits are too small
…& it's angled down a little, too "flat" also

That's what R & D is all about

The next Tri-Quad (or what ever meter I come up with)
...will have bigger digits (like the ones on the Balance Monitor)
…& be angled back a little bit too

I want to see what this thing is doing
...but, its kinda hard to watch the meters & drive/ride

So, to gather some data, I set up the camera, to record the dash board, while I took a little ride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2V2Sv97wc&index=40&list=PLoL6eIYWPO_nZYYAumnkE7RowDoBCsuCh

I also finally got the historical license plate in the mail

I folded the registration up (expiration date 2050)
...put it in the plastic bag from the BMV that the plate came in (to protect it, I need it to last a long time)
...& tucked it under the "papers protector flap" under the seat

Gettin' closer to bein' legal

 

[landuse]

Very cool

 

[Functional Artist]

That ride was fun, after reviewing the data, it looks like the voltage sag was usually ~1V but, also I saw ~2V drop several times too

If you look closely @ ~3:00, I saw the Amps hit ~500A

I didn't do top speed or "really long pulls" yet
I am kinda taking my time
I am still getting a "feel" for her

I set up the camera & did some more testing, after charging, of course

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ZaYSVmUN0

 

[Functional Artist]

Everything seems to be working well.

I am kinda surprised about the 500A readings
...running thru a 150A circuit breaker
…& it not triggering

I have checked the temp (by hand) several times
…but, it was never (even) warm to the touch

So, I guess were OK
...I'll still keep an eye on it

The top speed seems to be right at 35 MPH
...which is ...Kool!
...it moves right along
...& the amp draw @ top speed seemed to only be ~20 - 30A on average

Here is more "good" data

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR-z-JpxI6c

 

[Quinc]

bad arse build!

 

[Functional Artist]

Volt Battery Pack update

The bike has been put away since mid October.

I have checked the battery pack every couple of weeks, just to be sure
...& the balance monitors have shown 24.3V in each half of the battery pack consistently.

Well, last week a Polar Vortex came thru the area (actually 1/2 of the frickin' country)
...& we saw a few days of -15 temps, with -30's wind chills.

I went out & checked 'er yesterday
...& I'm happy to report the balance monitors are both still showing 24.3V

So, our battery pack seems to be A OK

 

[landuse]

Volt Battery Pack update

The bike has been put away since mid October.

I have checked the battery pack every couple of weeks, just to be sure
...& the balance monitors have shown 24.3V in each half of the battery pack consistently.

Well, last week a Polar Vortex came thru the area (actually 1/2 of the frickin' country)
...& we saw a few days of -15 temps, with -30's wind chills.

I went out & checked 'er yesterday
...& I'm happy to report the balance monitors are both still showing 24.3V

So, our battery pack seems to be A OK

Thats awesome FA!!! You build it solid

 

[Functional Artist]

Since I converted this motorcycle to electric back in August of 2017, I've only put ~34 miles on it.

I think I put ~ 27 miles on 'er, test riding around a Wal-Mart parking lot @ 36V.
...& then it looks like I only put ~ 7 miles testing 'er riding around my neighborhood @ 48V SLA
...& also @ 45V Lithium.

Mainly, because I was NOT "legal". I didn't have a motorcycle license or the proper insurance coverage.

Last summer, I passed the written test & got my temporary riding permit, to practice
...but, it was so late in the year, I was reluctant to "pay" for insurance
…so, I just let 'er sit. (worked on other stuff)

Well, I this year I don't wanna "just let 'er sit"
...so, I just enrolled in a (3) day motorcycle training course. ($50.00)

We'll see how it goes.

 

[landuse]

Nice going! Do you still have to do a "drivers test' to actually get your licence?

 

[Functional Artist]

Nice going! Do you still have to do a "drivers test' to actually get your licence?

Thanks!

No, that's the best part
...as long as you pass the course, just take the "course passed" paperwork to the BMV & get the license.

IMO It's a great deal. I will learn "the right way"
…& the "drivers test" is included.

Plus, I would much rather take the final exam/riding test & be judged by the guy that actually taught me the course.

 

[Functional Artist]

I heard a commercial on the radio the other day that said Progressive Insurance insures motorcycles for as low as $75.00 per year.

I checked it out & if your bike is not financed (ya don't owe money)
...& you have a good driving record, yup $75.00 for the whole year.

So, now I am totally legal.

*The weather has been yucky so, I haven't took 'er out yet
...but, I did checked the battery pack & the meters still show 24.3V in in each side of the battery.

 

[Functional Artist]

Well, that was a little harder than I thought it was gonna be.

I quickly found that there is a lot more to "properly & safely" riding a motorcycle than most folks know/understand.

First, your NOT even supposed to mount a motorcycle without the:

Required Riding Gear
DOT approved helmet
Eye protection
Footwear
Full finger gloves
Long pants
Long sleeve shirt/jacket

Second, their really get into their acronyms

The class is called:
Ohio MORE Basic Riding Skills Course
Motorcycle
Ohio
Riding
Enhancement

This safe riding campaign is referred to as:
Ride SMART
Sober
Motorcycle-Endorsed
Alert
Right Gear
Trained

To start the bike your supposed to use the:
ONE-C (prestart routine)
On
Neutral
Engine cut-off switch
Clutch/Choke

Then, we learned about "Friction Zones"

The (4) basic steps for turning a motorcycle:
SLRP
Slow
Look
Roll
Press

A mental strategy for making sound judgments:
SIPDE
Scan
Identify
Predict
Decide
Execute

They taught us an effective strategy for successful cornering.
It's called a "Ready Set Go" sequence.
You get ready by gathering info, setting a plan & go-ing.

There was a lot more taught during this (16) hr. course
...but those are some/most of the "main points"

* Oh ya,
Yup, I passed the course

** Now we can get on with testing (safely & legally)
First up, lithium battery range

 

[landuse]

Congrats on passing the test!!!

 

[Functional Artist]

I finally took the bike out today, for the first time this year (legally)

* I am not gonna bore you guys by posting every time I take the bike out.
...maybe just when milestones are reached (100 miles, 250 miles etc.) or with testing results & data .

First, I got my gear on (helmet, gloves, glasses, jacket & boots)
…got the bike out
...& then, did a pretrip inspection.

Everything was fine except, I noticed that the tail light & brake light were not working.

Checkin' around, the fuse was fine & the plug was connected properly

WTF
...never had a problem before .

Well, I already have my gear on
…& have the bike out

So, I figured I'm just gonna ride up & down my street
...not out in traffic or nuthin'

I started off @ 34.9 (electrical) miles on the bike
...& 49.5V in the battery pack
…& 24.3V in each side.
(24.3V + 24.3V = 48.6V not 49.5) huh (calibration issue?)

Hey, I noticed that after hitting a couple of bumps the tail light began working
…& the brake light too
(must be a bulb to socket connection issue, gonna have to look into that)

I rode 'er around for ~20 min
…when I parked 'er the trip meter was up to 48.7 mi.
…& the Volt meter was down to 43.7V
…& 21.4V in each side.
(21.4V + 21.4V = 42.8V not 43.7V) yup (looks like a calibration issue)

It started gettin' dark so, I didn't max 'er out
...but, it looks like I put ~14 miles on 'er
...& only dropped the voltage in the battery pack down ~5.8V

When I got back I simply plugged the charger in
...so, she'll be ready for the next trip.

 

[landuse]

Thanks for the update!

 

[Functional Artist]

100 electrical miles

Just passed the 100 (electrical) mile mark

Got ~27 miles on 'er during this last ride
…& then, the low voltage "shut off" kicked in

So, in this (45V 47AH) configuration, I seem to have a ~25 range
...probably stick to ~20 miles (~10 miles each way) just to be safe.

While I was out, I stopped by the "club" (ACA - American Cannabis Association)


* A while back, (before I got banned) some of the guys on ElMoto (the electric motorcycle forum) were concerned about my chain routing/set up.

1.) They told me that my 10 tooth drive sprocket was too small
…& will wear prematurely
(~15 tooth drive sprocket is usually the minimum size sprocket that they recommend)

2.) They also didn't like where I mounted my "idler" sprocket
...to help route the chain around the swing arm
(they said, my chain did not "wrap" around the drive sprocket enough)

So, for the record, @ the 100 miles mark, there does NOT seem to be ANY wear on the drive sprocket
...the idler sprocket
...or on the driven sprocket either.

Didn't even hardly seem to wear any of the paint off

 

[Functional Artist]

200+ electrical miles

I have now put over 200 miles on 'er since the conversion to electrical.

First observation:
She has some Wicked Acceleration
...like 0 to top speed almost instantly (~few seconds)
I "walk away" from most cars, from a red light
...but, they catch up quickly
Second observation:
Love the smooth "power band"
...no clutchin' or shiftin'........just go


So, on my last ride, I recorded a "pretty much" full "20 mile ride" video, to record some data on:
...the acceleration
...Amp draw
...Voltage levels as the ride progresses
...the Top Speed @ different voltages (as the battery pack depleted)
...& the Voltage drop, while under different loads (acceleration, crusin', up hill etc.)

The video was ~45 min long. I edited it down & sped up some sections to shorten it (~20 min)
...but, still record/show most of the readings.

* I also did some up hill/full throttle runs
...but, the data seemed "inconclusive" to me

The Amp meter didn't/don't seem to read very constantly (any more)
...mainly just upon "hard acceleration"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szjp2mA2HOA