electric bike

[mjbain]

I pick this bike because it was cheap an I can set up to pedal

36 volt electric hub motor thumb control cruse control

18 mph range not tested yet

[REdiculous]

Is this bike a rummage-sale find with a hub motor kit that you installed? Or is it an electric bike that you bought new? 36v, how many amps? What size/ah battery?

More info please.

[Norm]

Yep....more info and we like pics.

[REdiculous]

Norm, this may not be the best place to ask/answer but do you think you could give some details on your electric bike plans? If you're planning on using a treadmill motor then how are you going to control the speed and what are your plans for gearing the motor down?

[Norm]

simply a large  tricycle wheel in front

and one of the rear wheels friction beld drive

actually geared about right

to generate while I pedal the 10 speed sized

front wheel direct drive just like a tricycle wheel.....

for some reason I can't get the picture so will

refer you to ......

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/3/23/225230/317

something like this, the outer side of the belt

friction drive to one of the rear wheels

36 volts for motor but able to only switch to

either one of the 12 volt NiCads for charging..

at least that's the plan....pedaling is just a

little faster and easier on my legs than walking

....old age is starting to get to me !

[Norm]

Sorry mjbain, didn't really mean to hijack your

post but while I was waiting for more detail on

your 36 volt....18 mph bike 50 mile range between charges if you

do most of the pedaling ?

[REdiculous]

I'm not a fan of friction drives but love the DIY spirit. Are you planning any kind of speed control or no?

I read that with a hub motor and regen controller you can dip your tire in a fast stream to recharge your battery...pretty cool, even if the water might destroy the bearings (or worse).

I bet they'd work pretty well as windmills too, those hub motors. later

[Bruce S]

Norm;

 Is this the John-Deere Green one you're working on?

Bruce S

[Bruce S]

mjbain;

  Ditto on the hijack of the post.

So let's get some info for you as well...:-)

Okay, hub motors.. Nice units should last a long time if not over voltaged.

The 36 Volt unit is a good one, but you may have a few problems on overly steep/long hills. The problems aren't "REAL" problems per-se but because of the voltage and current use, the motor itself could slow down to a small crawl if you're trying to get it to go up some long or steep hills.

The 18mph range probably means a max speed of 18mph with the range being dependant on the battery Ahr rating and chemisrty.

If you're using SLAs then you'll need to bot run them down below 40% max at anyone time as this will make a very short life of them. 20% is a better discharge for them I told, but 40% should be okay sense they are heavy ~20lb/ea.

Do you have a wattage rating on the hub? should be something like 500watt , 450watt etc.

With that and the batteries you plan on using we can determine your true approximate distance.

Cheers

Bruce S