ZapGuy's Electric Bike

Z

ZapGuy

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I answered a craigslist ad for an electric mountain bike.

I call and find out that either the batteries, the charger, or the controller are shot. The motor should still work.

So I pick it up, bring it home, and I start poking at it.

GOT MOTOR?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29316210@N02/2861817990/" title="Motor by _ZapGuy_, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2861817990_1cef2e3053.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Motor" /></a>

Connected it to a 12v battery for a car Jumpstart pack, and it spins!

Can anyone identify this motor for me?

I was told it was "the 24v version of this Wilderness Energy kit:"

http://wildernessenergy.com/product...id=31&osCsid=8dd758d7eb61f76130f9d093a6ad890e

But I don't know if that means "24v batteries" or "24v motor" or "36v motor".

GOT JUICE?

When I first plugged the charger in to the batteries, nothing seemed to happen. I looked up some guides as to what the charger ought to do, and that confirmed no charging was going on.

I plugged the battery tender for my motorcycle into each 12v battery. That seemed to revive them. Now the charger pulses (I can see noise pulsing on my TV with clicks coming from the charger) and keeps the batteries charged.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29316210@N02/2860984937/" title="Pair of 12v Batteries by _ZapGuy_, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2860984937_ff44ec58b6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pair of 12v Batteries" /></a>

Battery details:
First Power
FP23230 (12v 12Ah/20Hr)
Sealed Lead Battery
They weigh about 7 pounds each!

GOT CONTROLS?
I tried to get any readings out of the controller or the thumb throttle, but my meter just stared back at me with nothing to say.

After some digging around in the garage, I came up with a replacement car horn button. It's about as crude as you can get, but I figured it would let me test things out. I wired it thru the keyswitch for some safety.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29316210@N02/2860985421/" title="Button and Keyswitch to Motor by _ZapGuy_, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2860985421_120f2732a0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Button and Keyswitch to Motor" /></a>

After an evening on the charger, I took it out for a spin.
There's just not enough there to get over the hills around my house.

:cool: Slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29316210@N02/sets/72157607317648219/show/





Questions:

Am I going to fry things by omitting the controller [using that horn button instead]?

Should I look for one more matching 12v FirstPower battery -- or would I be better off if I look for a totally different kind of 36v battery?

I know I'll need all new controls, and charger, for 36v.

Thanks for any information you can provide about this little project I've picked up!
 
I'm assuming you have the brushless version. I don't know too much about it but suggest you ask
here
about getting another controller and if you could add one or two batteries to run it as a 36V or 48V system. I believe it can be done if you order the right controller, and that motor at 48V has a lot more power and is a lot more fun to ride.
 
Thanks, skyl4rk.
I hadn't considered the jump to 48v....hmm.

Off to see what visforvoltage has to say....
 
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