Kart Conversion issues

[scorn001]

An 1800w motor can move around easily move around a kart that big at 20mph?

Not sure. I definitely have my doubts. I'm looking at it as a fun experiment. If it works out to be too under-powered - and I expect that it will be, I'll explore my options. Move everything to a smaller kart or increase the power.

I've got the motor mounted and wiring pretty much complete - save the accelerator pedal. I'll be getting the batteries in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Bmr4Karts]

Not sure. I definitely have my doubts. I'm looking at it as a fun experiment. If it works out to be too under-powered - and I expect that it will be, I'll explore my options. Move everything to a smaller kart or increase the power.

I've got the motor mounted and wiring pretty much complete - save the accelerator pedal. I'll be getting the batteries in the next couple of weeks.

Yeah, I have my doubts as well. Would be good for a kids kart though. I now have a better understanding of what Watt power means as far as the conversion to mechanical movement. This forum, YouTube, Facebook, diy electric car and endless sphere have taught me a lot.

 

[Functional Artist]

You guys worry too much
...go have some fun!

Here is a first test ride video of the Damien kart with a Boma 48V 1,800W motor.

Spoiler Alert
...she zips right along
...especially in "high Gear"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2hGUzKdWd4

 

[scorn001]

Hah, I'm not worried, it will be fun, and I'll keep messing with it, I really think my kart might be significantly heavier that yours though. Plus I'm running some pretty aggressive knobbies with a live axle on unlevel dirt and 2-3" of grass. By my thinking, all of those things add lots of drag. If I were just on flat pavement, I think I might have a chance, but I really think I'm asking for much more from this motor.

I still want to see exactly what this type of power feels like, I know it's going to be different than gas with a centrifugal clutch. But this thing was originally powered with a 6.5hp motor, I know it isn't the same, but based on my (probably poor) calculations, @ 1800W, I'm going to be in the neighborhood of ~2.3hp. My thinking is that I'm going to need to be around 5KW to have around the same performance. That said, my girls probably won't be interested in going as fast as what the 6.5 hp gas motor would do.

I'll just have to see and decide from there. I have started looking at upgrading the power though, if I need. It looks like it might be possible to run that MY1020 1800W motor higher possibly with some mods? Amazon has this:

BLDC 72V 3000W Brushless Motor Kit with 24 Mosfet 50A Controller and Throttle for Electric Scooter E Bike Engine Motorcycle DIY Part Conversion Kit

Which makes me think I might be able to run this MY1020 motor @3KW with a better controller. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[sikbrik]

It's wired differently, not just a different controller. I went through the same thing with the 2000w. Knew it wouldn't be anything like the kid's 9hp race engine but that thing had no bottom end torque.
Does he miss doing 40+mph? Sure...but those moments were few and far between. He much prefers being able to mash the pedal and do instant donuts, with enough torque to nearly lift the front wheels.

Good luck! Upgrade to the 3kw setup later once everything is sorted and you've got a few miles on, or add a second 1800w setup!

 

[scorn001]

It's wired differently, not just a different controller. I went through the same thing with the 2000w. Knew it wouldn't be anything like the kid's 9hp race engine but that thing had no bottom end torque.
Does he miss doing 40+mph? Sure...but those moments were few and far between. He much prefers being able to mash the pedal and do instant donuts, with enough torque to nearly lift the front wheels.

Good luck! Upgrade to the 3kw setup later once everything is sorted and you've got a few miles on, or add a second 1800w setup!

Thank you for this. I'd really wanted to add a 2nd 1800W setup as an option, but from what I understood, this caused more problems than it solved when trying to get the motor speeds to match. People ending up with one motor dragging the other due to speed mis-match. Is this wrong?

 

[sikbrik]

Probably not wrong...I have no personal experience with the dual motor setup and it's my same fear but I think some flavor of Functional Artists Dingo had duals setup successfully.

 

[Functional Artist]

Probably not wrong...I have no personal experience with the dual motor setup and it's my same fear but I think some flavor of Functional Artists Dingo had duals setup successfully.

Nope, not the Dingo
...but, all of these had dual motors

Double Trouble (2015) had dual 24V 450W motors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRIKLdvGlTA&t=118s

The Zero kart (2016) had dual 36V 500W motors http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=36632
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rss3YOJPBFY&t=712s

!ARRIBA! (2017) has dual 48V 1,000W motors
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=37852
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC2EPqBMkJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9I5fhBZ1zo