kikid
New member
Hey guys, is it good to use car starter(anlaser) to run go kart?
car starter for go kart
- Thread starter kikid
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Anlasser 
Anyways...
Some are powerfull enough (the bigger the engine it started, the higher the chance of a powerfull starter)
So it's at least not impossible
(it's been done and if you look at the front page you can see and download a pdf tutorial)
But, starter motors are not exactly MEANT to power a kart, not even meant to run for anything longer than a few seconds at a time.
So as a design-issue of that, they usually do not come with bearings but bushings,
and at speed, they might fail easier than a bearing.
Also they're built to keep as much dirt, dust and goo out as possible,
and that means they do not allow for much airflow and thus cooling, so they will get hot really fast (no problem if it runs for 10 secs and is allowed to cool down for 15mins... but under constant load it will turn into a problem really soon)
And not enough, they run on 12 Volts (truck starters on 24V) and to provide the power they do, they need serious amperages.
And that means two things for you: the controller you need to run the motor is really big and thus expensive and you need a contactor to not sparkweld the contacts due to the high amps.
Without modification they cannot run backwards, the case needs to be modified to be able to mount it to a kart properly, the internal wiring needs slight modifications, and in the end it might fail on you within a few minutes only because of the bushings and/or heat.
You can try to do some research to find a cone-less truck starter with ball bearings,
so the case mods are easy to do and you do need to worry about the shaft bearings.
with 24V similar powerfull starters need only half the Amperage and thus the controller is cheaper to to buy
So.. is it possible? Yes!
is it good? Well if you know what to do and have a starter laying around or see one very cheap (less than $30-$40) it's a fun project even if it fails in the end.
else it can get expensive in the end, and it might still fail (overheating is very tricky to deal with, sometimes close to impossible)
So not exactly 'good' I'd say
'sid
Anyways...
Some are powerfull enough (the bigger the engine it started, the higher the chance of a powerfull starter)
So it's at least not impossible
(it's been done and if you look at the front page you can see and download a pdf tutorial)
But, starter motors are not exactly MEANT to power a kart, not even meant to run for anything longer than a few seconds at a time.
So as a design-issue of that, they usually do not come with bearings but bushings,
and at speed, they might fail easier than a bearing.
Also they're built to keep as much dirt, dust and goo out as possible,
and that means they do not allow for much airflow and thus cooling, so they will get hot really fast (no problem if it runs for 10 secs and is allowed to cool down for 15mins... but under constant load it will turn into a problem really soon)
And not enough, they run on 12 Volts (truck starters on 24V) and to provide the power they do, they need serious amperages.
And that means two things for you: the controller you need to run the motor is really big and thus expensive and you need a contactor to not sparkweld the contacts due to the high amps.
Without modification they cannot run backwards, the case needs to be modified to be able to mount it to a kart properly, the internal wiring needs slight modifications, and in the end it might fail on you within a few minutes only because of the bushings and/or heat.
You can try to do some research to find a cone-less truck starter with ball bearings,
so the case mods are easy to do and you do need to worry about the shaft bearings.
with 24V similar powerfull starters need only half the Amperage and thus the controller is cheaper to to buy
So.. is it possible? Yes!
is it good? Well if you know what to do and have a starter laying around or see one very cheap (less than $30-$40) it's a fun project even if it fails in the end.
else it can get expensive in the end, and it might still fail (overheating is very tricky to deal with, sometimes close to impossible)
So not exactly 'good' I'd say
'sid
kikid
New member
Anlasser
Anyways...
Some are powerfull enough (the bigger the engine it started, the higher the chance of a powerfull starter)
So it's at least not impossible
(it's been done and if you look at the front page you can see and download a pdf tutorial)
But, starter motors are not exactly MEANT to power a kart, not even meant to run for anything longer than a few seconds at a time.
So as a design-issue of that, they usually do not come with bearings but bushings,
and at speed, they might fail easier than a bearing.
Also they're built to keep as much dirt, dust and goo out as possible,
and that means they do not allow for much airflow and thus cooling, so they will get hot really fast (no problem if it runs for 10 secs and is allowed to cool down for 15mins... but under constant load it will turn into a problem really soon)
And not enough, they run on 12 Volts (truck starters on 24V) and to provide the power they do, they need serious amperages.
And that means two things for you: the controller you need to run the motor is really big and thus expensive and you need a contactor to not sparkweld the contacts due to the high amps.
Without modification they cannot run backwards, the case needs to be modified to be able to mount it to a kart properly, the internal wiring needs slight modifications, and in the end it might fail on you within a few minutes only because of the bushings and/or heat.
You can try to do some research to find a cone-less truck starter with ball bearings,
so the case mods are easy to do and you do need to worry about the shaft bearings.
with 24V similar powerfull starters need only half the Amperage and thus the controller is cheaper to to buy
So.. is it possible? Yes!
is it good? Well if you know what to do and have a starter laying around or see one very cheap (less than $30-$40) it's a fun project even if it fails in the end.
else it can get expensive in the end, and it might still fail (overheating is very tricky to deal with, sometimes close to impossible)
So not exactly 'good' I'd say
'sid
Is it possible to make some cooler for that motor and make it able to run longer without overheating, and can i run it without controller, just a switch, i dont want to make throttle or Anything else, only switch to run motor
There are several ways to cool a motor of course, but none of those will be as efficient as you would want it to be I'm afraid, because of the case (thick walled, airflow restrictive etc.)
still better than uncooled, but not nearly good enough.
I'd suggest some cooling fins to the case and one or two large PC 12V fans to at least have a forced airflow on the outside of the case.
that's doable for a reasonable amount of money and will help at least a bit.
If you can open up the front and back of the motor enclosure (drilled holes) attached fan blades to have an additional INSIDE airflow would be the best thing to do, but that shouldn't be understimated in terms of difficulty
No controller means exactly that: no control.. no controller and no contactor could end up in a permanently engaged motor at full power...
Honestly... just don't, especially not if kids are anywhere near that thing.
'sid
still better than uncooled, but not nearly good enough.
I'd suggest some cooling fins to the case and one or two large PC 12V fans to at least have a forced airflow on the outside of the case.
that's doable for a reasonable amount of money and will help at least a bit.
If you can open up the front and back of the motor enclosure (drilled holes) attached fan blades to have an additional INSIDE airflow would be the best thing to do, but that shouldn't be understimated in terms of difficulty
No controller means exactly that: no control.. no controller and no contactor could end up in a permanently engaged motor at full power...
Honestly... just don't, especially not if kids are anywhere near that thing.
'sid
kikid
New member
I know that is problem with anlasser, but i will use it just to try how kart will work and until i find motor designed to run longer, an i want to make it simple so i wont use controller, i want only 1 speed, max speed, but i dont knos if maximum current constantly flows through motor can it make some damage to motor
I cannot stop you from trying, but I MUST at least warn you..
that is dangerous, even a small starter motor can get you in SERIOUS troubles if you cannot disengage the powersupply for some odd reason.
And I'm sorry, that's all I have to say.
'sid
that is dangerous, even a small starter motor can get you in SERIOUS troubles if you cannot disengage the powersupply for some odd reason.
And I'm sorry, that's all I have to say.
'sid
fowler
New member
This is an issue common to dump trucks when people are bleeding fuel systems
They run the starter too long and the contacts weld
A battery isolator wont work either as they will also weld
U need a quick way to rip the terminal off the battery
If u run max current your batterys wont last 4mins
U can try tuning smaller cable to the motor to induce resistance
But then your cables may melt
They run the starter too long and the contacts weld
A battery isolator wont work either as they will also weld
U need a quick way to rip the terminal off the battery
If u run max current your batterys wont last 4mins
U can try tuning smaller cable to the motor to induce resistance
But then your cables may melt
kikid
New member
I cannot stop you from trying, but I MUST at least warn you..
that is dangerous, even a small starter motor can get you in SERIOUS troubles if you cannot disengage the powersupply for some odd reason.
And I'm sorry, that's all I have to say.
'sid
Do You mean that if i wont be able to disengage it that motor wont stop running and i wont be able to stop the kart or you think that if i cant disengage from battery it could overheat and blow away?
fowler
New member
It means u wont be able to stop the motor
The little copper contacts dont like the constant high current and will melt together
The little copper contacts dont like the constant high current and will melt together
kikid
New member
Well I dont want to spend money and i want to make it simple, i would drive kart in my yard so i will never accelerate more than 1 -2 minutes
1-2 minutes is still long for a starter motor to run. You say you don't want a controller. The motor will be running wide open throttle for as long as you have he motor on, so you cannot say that you will only use it for a few minutes. It will be going full speed for the duration of your ride
At least make an accessible circuit break point for you to be able to disconnect it when it gets stuck in the on position.
As said here multiple times, starter motors are not meant to run longer than a couple seconds at a time.. even then they get hot and eventually burn up/wear out. The contacts/brushes can not take it for long periods of time.
As said here multiple times, starter motors are not meant to run longer than a couple seconds at a time.. even then they get hot and eventually burn up/wear out. The contacts/brushes can not take it for long periods of time.
dcastillo
New member
If using a starter you need a controller that can limit the current. Thats the only way the starter will last more then a few seconds without burning up.
just directly connecting a battery to it will run it at full power where a controller will use PMW
-Danny
just directly connecting a battery to it will run it at full power where a controller will use PMW
-Danny
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