Car engine starter project

[Scumm]

Stephen, if your electric go kart is for a full grown adult, I saw plans on another forum that called for two 750w electric scooter motors(a single 1000W for a child). I'm on my way out the door to work, but I'll try to post a link to that site later.

 

[stephenm2682]

i want something like this but he's only using one motor.

http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-freak/2007/07/neuroti-kart-home-made-electric-go-kart.html

 

[etard]

Oh, well this started out as putting a starter motor on a bicycle, and now for go-kart, but still the theory and weight would be relatively similar. If you want something super light you can actually use RC motors like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwODx028_Jw
These guys are smoking that clutch because their gear reduction is not sufficient for slow speed, but it goes pretty fast!

You could get away with using 2 RC motors, 2 controllers and 4 batteries all from www.hobbycity.com

But if you want to go cheap, get one of these motors:

http://tncscooters.com/partsdb.php?class_type=Motor Parts

 

[Jerryburger]

Now that's cool! I didn't think those little motors would work that well.

 

[stephenm2682]

any idea what rc motors they're using?

 

[kibble]

any idea what rc motors they're using?

It says on their comments that they are:

Turnigy 80-100A-180Kv

which would make them these: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5139 but on the page they say HXT.

But with a price tag of $150/each and not including the brushless controller

 

[stephenm2682]

Equivalent: 60-80cc Gas Engine...WoW


whats a brushless controller? that speed controller?

what speed controller would i need?

 

[ed1380]

yes its a type of controller for the motors they're using. starter motors are brushed motors or just common DC motors

 

[etard]

I don't think you want to use a starter motor. They are designed to be used at 12 volts and are only supposed to be used for a few seconds at a time. You might get away with a treadmill motor, or your best bet would be to hit up craigslist for a cheap electric scooter that the batteries have died on. That way you can salvage the motor, controller, throttle, power switch, sprocket, and if your lucky some batteries.

Brushless motors are AC induction motors that have 3 wires coming out of them and are much more efficient (read alot less heat that fries motors) than your common DC motor. Efficiency is important because things run cooler and more power gets to the pavement. Since you guys are running go-carts that are not used for transportation, you can actually get away with running 2 of the Bosch 36 volt toolpack batteries with 30 minute charger for $150 shipped. These will put out 10-15 minutes of high amperage fun followed by a 30 minute charge, get more and rotate out for constant fun. If you want to be cheap and run for 30 minutes get Lead Acid, but charge time will be more like 8 hours You will only save like $20 dollars anyway.

 

[stephenm2682]

surely the treadmill or scooter engine wouldn't have much power, anyone know the voltage?

 

[bigfootrules31]

i was looking on youtube and the guy said to take the starter apart and take the coggy thing off and just weld a sproket on there, i dont know what metal the shaft that the sproket will attach to is made of? will i also need to take the soleniod thing off?

 

[stephenm2682]

http://www.diygokarts.com/engine/car-starter-motor-conversion.html

 

[bigfootrules31]

i took her all apart and couldnt get the cog thing off the shaft. how ever i know of a old wrecked corolla that i might be able to get the flywheel off so i could just have the motor drive that

 

[stephenm2682]

bigfoot, are you planning on using it on a go-kart?
what voltage does a car starter have?

 

[stephenm2682]

how much power does a car starter have?

 

[zabac70]

From 800 W for small cars and upwards for bigger cars, depending of size of engine (all the car starters are 12 volts , for big trucks usualy 24 V).

 

[stephenm2682]

are'nt most of the electric go karts 12v they just use more batteries for extra volts??

 

[stephenm2682]

sorry forgot about the post above that says not to use them.

 

[ed1380]

yeah putting batteries is series adds the volts together.

 

[stephenm2682]

but how would it affect a 12v motor?