good motor?

[dabruno]

hey... new here and i was thinking of building an electric go kart just to mess around with, could you direct me to a good place to start motor wise and motor controls. also im not an aspiring mechanic or anything so keep it simple and any tip or hints would be well appreciated.
thanks
DABRUNO

 

[Qmavam]

hey... new here and i was thinking of building an electric go kart just to mess around with, could you direct me to a good place to start motor wise and motor controls. also im not an aspiring mechanic or anything so keep it simple and any tip or hints would be well appreciated.
thanks
DABRUNO

Hey dabruno,
Motor, Are you going new or used?
Plenty of new to be found with a google search.
Used, plenty of golf cart motors or a low voltage
industial dc motors.
Batteries, do plan on using lead acid or you going high tech?
Decide on a system voltage, (may depend on the motor you get)
If you go above 48Volts the controllers get more expensive.
Controller manufactuers, Alltrax, Curtis, and more.
You will need either a potbox or hall device connected to
your throttle to control the motor speed controller.
Get a solenoid to energize the controller system and
an emergency button to shutdown if the controller shorts.
You probably want amp and volt meters on the cart.
Even if you are a good scrounger expect to spend more than
$700.00.
Here's a video of the kart my son and I put together about
a year ago. It's in rebuild now, (progressing slowly :-( )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MKjbXltAew

I'll look around for the schematic I used and post it.
Mike

 

[dabruno]

i was thinking used...
would this motor be good its new and cheap for electric scooters
" 1000W Motor - 48 Volts with Mounting Bracket (Style: MY1020-B)
Motor Parts - 106175
Shipping Weight: 11.0 lbs.

MY1020-B 48 Volt, 1000 Watt, 3000 RPM, 27.6 Amp, permanent-magnet motor.
# 11 tooth sprocket for 8mm (T8F) chain
# 12 gauge power leads

Mounting bracket measures 4-3/4'' x 2-7/8'' with 4 mounting holes.

Mounting holes 4'' center to center across and 2-1/4'' center to center across.

Motor Dimensions: 4-1/4'' W x 6'' L not including shaft. 4-1/4'' W x 7'' L including shaft."
its on this webpage http://tncscooters.com/partsdb.php?type=ES

also, could the controllers and brakes and other parts on that site be used?
for the batteries, how many car batteries do i need to keep it running for a long time and how many volts can i push through a 48 volt motor?
i was also wondering, if you have seen the neuroticart II he put on a rubber band kind of thing instead of a chain... what is the benefit of that or should i just stick with a chain?

Thanks for all the help

 

[dabruno]

also, is there a formula for figuring out hp and whatnot.
and what is a good gear ratio for this size system?

 

[motor_head]

how many volts can i push through a 48 volt motor?

i'm not good with electric carts but i'd say keep it around 48

 

[Qmavam]

i was thinking used...
would this motor be good its new and cheap for electric scooters
" 1000W Motor - 48 Volts with Mounting Bracket (Style: MY1020-B)
Motor Parts - 106175
Shipping Weight: 11.0 lbs.

MY1020-B 48 Volt, 1000 Watt, 3000 RPM, 27.6 Amp, permanent-magnet motor.

Small correction, the (-B ) is a 35.6 amp motor.

also, could the controllers and brakes and other parts on that site be used?

They may be a little light duty as they are for scooters, but
if you kart is built light and you don't overload it with batteries.
Note, each car battery can weigh 35LBS.

for the batteries, how many car batteries do i need to keep it running for a long time and how many volts can i push through a 48 volt motor?

I'd stick with 48 Volts that is not a heavy duty motor.
The more amp hours of batteries the longer it will run.
You don't want anymore than 4 car batteries, they are heavy.
I would get a higher current controller because when you gun it from a stop,
the current goes higher than the 36.4 amps shown.
Maybe this kit, 48 - 60 V Controller (Model ZY-KK70)

i was also wondering, if you have seen the neuroticart II he put on a rubber band kind of thing instead of a chain... what is the benefit of that or should i just stick with a chain?

Thanks for all the help

I looked into that for my kart, but it would cost a couple hundred dollars so
I stuck with chain, yours would be cheaper, it
doesn't need to be as heavy duty mine. I would prefer the chain over chain.
Here are a couple of pulley and belt companies.
http://www.martinsprocket.com/2001/SecKa.pdf#J2
http://www.sdp-si.com/
Mike

 

[Qmavam]

also, is there a formula for figuring out hp and whatnot.
and what is a good gear ratio for this size system?

There are 746 watts in one HP, so your 1000watt motor
is about 1-1/3 HP. (minus any inefficiency)
I would pick a top speed say 20MPH, then find the circumference of your tire. Find how many rotations/hr it takes to to go 20mph.
Then calculate the ratio using your motors max RPM. The units need to be finagled. If you need help let me know. But I need tire
circumference and motor rpm and max speed. Max speed will be limited by the HP of your motor. 20MPH is probably good, if all seems good you can change a sprocket later, to go faster.
Mike

 

[dabruno]

i was hoping of a top speed of 40 miles per hr with very high torque to do burnouts and drift and stuff... how do you suggest i accomplish this, i dont want to pay more than 200 for a motor... would going up to the 60volt motor on that site be any better? what are some other battery options, or are all the rest too expensive?

 

[Qmavam]

i was hoping of a top speed of 40 miles per hr with very high torque to do burnouts and drift and stuff... how do you suggest i accomplish this, i dont want to pay more than 200 for a motor... would going up to the 60volt motor on that site be any better? what are some other battery options, or are all the rest too expensive?

I don't think you have enough hp for that. The motor on my kart is rated 2hp at 28 volts 65 amps, however, I'm running 48 volts,
when I floor the pedal the current goes over 250 amps.
The formula for watts is voltage X current = watts, so 48 times 250 = 12,000 watts. If you divide that 746 to get hp you get 16hp. If I have 80% efficiency I'm looking at 12 hp. Granted this is only a peak hp from a dead stop, and the current goes down as the kart picks up speed. The kart cruises comfortably at 25mph drawing 40 amps or about 2hp. The motor would not hold up if I geared it to go 80mph and made the motor constantly draw 140 amps. (numbers picked from air)
Regarding more hp, ya the more you have the easier it is to spin the wheels.
The lighter weight batteries are to much for me to spend, but some people are using them.
Mike

 

[dabruno]

so where can i go to get a motor for under 250$ and be able to go at least 30 lets say for now, and what kind of controls would i need?

 

[Qmavam]

so where can i go to get a motor for under 250$ and be able to go at least 30 lets say for now, and what kind of controls would i need?

I don't have a quick answer, I just got lucky, a welder, marine hydraulic repairman friend of mine had disassembled a military
lift of some kind and the motor seemed useless to him, an oddball
28 volt motor. I was asking everyone if they had or knew of any DC motors that I could get, he said I got that old one. Eureka, that's what I want.
Scrounge around, check motor repair shops, check metal scrapyards, small forklifts, golf cart motors are a source.
Here's one company that makes controllers;
http://www.alltraxinc.com/Products.html
Do you have a kart to work with yet?
Mike

 

[dabruno]

no im just trying to get all the parts and ideas first before i begin. thanks for the help.. i also wanted to knw what the benefits of the belt driven system are over the chain?
THANKS

 

[Qmavam]

no im just trying to get all the parts and ideas first before i begin. thanks for the help.. i also wanted to know what the benefits of the belt driven system are over the chain?
THANKS

Less noise, no messy grease.
Mike

 

[dabruno]

oh... thats no big deal ill just stick with the chain...
im going to be looking around at scrap yards for supplies so when i fid something ill get back to ya

 

[dabruno]

"Club Car 11.1 PEAK HP @ 5550 Rpms, 48 Volt, 24 Mph, (High Speed) DC Electric Motor

This is a DC Electric motor made by D&D Motor Systems which is rated at 11.1 Peak HP @ 5550 rpms for 48 volt Club Car series systems. The motor mounts via a 10 tooth female spline coupler used with the Graziano and Kawasaki axles. These axles were used in Club Car and older Yamahas. "

is that a good motor? i figured that im able to go to about 400 dollars for a motor so my options are opened up... whats the deal with rpm?? what is the ideal rpm for a go kart is it the higher the better? thanks

 

[dabruno]

"the controller offered on this page works with Club Car golf carts. The 1205-2xx series controllers are built by Curtis and are rated at 36V-48V, 350 Amps, and 0-5K ohms throttle input. Even though Club Car used various extensions on the Curtis part number, if your controller is listed as a 1205 followed by a dash and then a two, this is the one for your golf cart regardless of the last two digits.

Club Car Part Number: 1016674

Curtis Part Numbers: 1205-209, 1205-210"
and is this a good controller?

 

[Qmavam]

"Club Car 11.1 PEAK HP @ 5550 Rpms, 48 Volt, 24 Mph, (High Speed) DC Electric Motor

This is a DC Electric motor made by D&D Motor Systems which is rated at 11.1 Peak HP @ 5550 rpms for 48 volt Club Car series systems. The motor mounts via a 10 tooth female spline coupler used with the Graziano and Kawasaki axles. These axles were used in Club Car and older Yamahas. "

is that a good motor? i figured that im able to go to about 400 dollars for a motor so my options are opened up... whats the deal with rpm?? what is the ideal rpm for a go kart is it the higher the better? thanks

Hey dabruno,
I forgot to mention the spline thing with most golfcart motors.
You need a support for the motor shaft. The original Neurotikart at http://www.neurotikart.com/ shows how he did it. The rpm, I don't know if there is an ideal rpm, it will just require a higher sprocket ratio.
Mike

 

[Qmavam]

"the controller offered on this page works with Club Car golf carts. The 1205-2xx series controllers are built by Curtis and are rated at 36V-48V, 350 Amps, and 0-5K ohms throttle input. Even though Club Car used various extensions on the Curtis part number, if your controller is listed as a 1205 followed by a dash and then a two, this is the one for your golf cart regardless of the last two digits.

Club Car Part Number: 1016674

Curtis Part Numbers: 1205-209, 1205-210"
and is this a good controller?

I have no knowledge about Curtis controllers, but it worked on their golfcarts! You might be able to get some info on this forum,
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/
Scroll down the controllers.
Mike

 

[Qmavam]

Here's the schematic I used for my kart. Some of it will apply and some won't. The shunt/resistor circuit probably won't apply to yours. Should give you a good start on the wiring you need.

 

[oscaryu1]

Forklift motor + 100 or so volts.