New member from Norway

[ian928]

Hello,

I am a new member from Norway. I have made a electric go-kart for my youngest son from a pedal car using a mall scooter rear axle. I found a controller on Ebay compolete with throttle pedal, and converted the mall scooters "electric hand brake" to a mechanical brake using part from a caliper also bought on Ebay. It has a ignition with key, reverse switch and onboard charger. It works surprisingly well, and my 3-year old son is driving it every day!

I have bought an old Tony Kart and a Shelby Cobra body that I want to build for my oldest son who is 7. I will ask questions about this in another thread.

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum! That is a really cool little pedal kart conversion

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Welcome!!

 

[itsid]

it's a cute little type 35 you have there

but allow me to ask:
this thing is quite small (compared to the power extender laying on the floor)
it's what, 1m long 55cm wide?

where did you put the batteries?
I hope their not in the driver's compartement and there was still enough room for a small batpack in the boot.
but since the power lead is likely connected to the charger on the other end
I'm a bit concerned

3yo kids, live wires (terminals) close to their restless legs...
not a fan.. not a fan at all!

'sid

 

[ian928]

it's a cute little type 35 you have there

but allow me to ask:
this thing is quite small (compared to the power extender laying on the floor)
it's what, 1m long 55cm wide?

where did you put the batteries?
I hope their not in the driver's compartement and there was still enough room for a small batpack in the boot.
but since the power lead is likely connected to the charger on the other end
I'm a bit concerned

3yo kids, live wires (terminals) close to their restless legs...
not a fan.. not a fan at all!

'sid

Hmmm... you are right, the batteries (and everything else really) are up front. I did not want to put more weight to the rear end as there is where the seat are.

Maybe I don't understand, what are you afraid of? Electrical shock or fire? I don't believe 24V is enough to go through the body? As for fire, I use two closed 12V batteries in series with a 30A fuse between them. I have also taped over the connections to the batteries, both to keep them from falling off and to protect them.

 

[itsid]

both.
24V is considered not piercing for dry skin, true..
but you know that dry skin is something we not necessarily have as human beings.
a bit of a sweaty day in the summer (I know I know.. Norway and such.. still not impossible, is it?)
a spilled beverage (kids and such)
or a wash of unexpected rain (Well..northern Europe and such)
And there goes the perfectly dry skin.
wet skin and 24V is dangerous

If you expose your kid to those terminals... touch them yourself first!
(In fact don't!)

Instead go and buy some hollow-chamber plates [hohlkammerplatte] (10mm thick should be more than enough)
and make a seperated compartement for the batteries and a sure divider for your kid's legs and the batteries/wires
they're easy to cut, easy to bend and they're most of all very durable and waterproof

taping the terminals is like putting a warning sign on it...
you want no sign, you want a locked door!

'sid

 

[ian928]

I did some reading and you are correct, in worst case it is possible to be hurt by 24V! I did not know that! I agree a divider between the child and the batteries would be best, but there is also wires going to the ignition lock and reverse switch in the dasboard. I guess the divider could go underneath the bonnet and attach to the dasboard.

Thank you for the warning! I do not know the type of plate you are talking about though?

---------- Post added at 07:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 PM ----------

Just some extra information about using a mall scooter rear Axle. I am running it with the standard 24V but with bigger wheels. It is fast enough for my 3YO son although he complains when his bigger brother outrun him. I downloaded a speedometer app on my phone and put it in his pocket. It came up with a top speed of 12km/h, I think that is plenty. Especially when he put the steering Wheel at full lock at full speed��

 

[itsid]

the wiring for the ignition switch and such is usually 5V with little to no real current involved (50-150mA) as is the throttle signal (5V no noteworthy currents)
good connections are enough to protect your kid.

And yes.. I was afraid you don't know (lost in translation) .. that's why I put the german term in square brackets
(to give you a fighting chance of googling for a picture )
here's an example (clear 16mm.. but you get the idea I guess)

the stuff you can roof a carport with or a greenhouse..

'sid

 

[RobertD]

That's why I put the german term in square brackets
(to give you a fighting chance of googling for a picture )

Yeah in Texas I call that "double wall poly". Very good for insulation.

I didn't know that about 24 Volt, either! Good advice 'sid.

 

[oliviadavid]

Welcome aboard, this is a cool kart