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Messages - Noleander

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1
General Discussion / Re: Over-volting brushed DC motor
« on: May 23, 2013, 02:34:21 AM »
I've done some reading on advancing the brushes and I now doubt I'll be doing it. My experience tells me that I don't need to, unless I were to increase the voltage even higher. I read an article that was very well written on another forum that explains the loss of torque that would happen (about 2% for every degree of advance) were I to advance the timing. My motor doesn't actually experience a high enough voltage under most conditions (usually half throttle and less) to necessitate the advancing of the brushes.

I blow compressed air into the brush-area once a week and there doesn't seem to be much dust building up even after holding the throttle wide open for longer periods, so I think even brush wear isn't exaggerated much compared to the rated 72 volts. I will catch some video of the brushes under various throttle positions and review it to be sure, but I can look down and see the brushes while riding (at night, the arcing is visible)- yeah, not so safe, but I only do it when I can see for miles and nobody's around me.


2
Electric Motorcycle Events / Re: Is anyone interested in developing racing motorcycles as a business?
« on: May 18, 2013, 05:00:01 AM »
Have you put up a kickstarter page? There are other funding platforms out there too.

3
General Discussion / Re: Over-volting brushed DC motor
« on: May 14, 2013, 12:49:57 PM »
I plan on advancing the brushes, though the motor doesn't seem to mind my current setup-no excessive arcing or heat. As long as I don't go full throttle, the arcing is minimal and I don't get enough range to heat up the motor  enough to get into trouble. Since I rarely go WOT, I feel pretty safe about using the motor as is. I just want to know the over-volting process well enough to speak from my own experience rather what I theorize would happen.

I have also given some thought to the brushes- Helwig claims to make brushes that work better, but after reading their product sheets, I didn't read anything about them that made them seem all that special, though I have read accounts of people switching OEM brushes for Helwigs and experiencing greater motor efficiency (more range).

I have some extra LiFePO4 cells that I can use to test higher voltages on my bike, of course after advancing the brushes.

Thanks for the replies and links

4
General Discussion / Re: Promoting electric motorcycles
« on: May 11, 2013, 11:57:34 AM »
I think promoting electric motorcycles would be easier if there were a club comprised of riding members, who come together to tackle specific problems (like the need for promoting EVs) and do fundraising for special purpose charities. I am in the beginning stages of starting such a club, I call it the E.M.C^2 (electric motorcycle club squared). I don't know if I can post a link here, but if anyone wants for info, pm me for info. A big event that I think would attract tons of good media coverage is a Sturgis ride. It would be quite a feat getting motorcycles that could make any kind of journey like that, but even if a small group of riders were to be able to accomplish it, through the use of range-extending trailers to be towed behind the bikes and quick charges, I'm sure it would make headlines and really help people get over the range anxiety idea.

5
General Discussion / Re: Motorcycle reliability
« on: May 11, 2013, 08:30:13 AM »
I own a converted electric motorcycle and have had problems only with controllers. I knew a guy with a Brammo Enteria and it had several problems, at least two of which caused the bike to not be ride-worthy. When I was a newbie to EVs, I was given the impression that EVs would be far more reliable than ICE vehicles, given that they seem much less complex, that is, until you consider the possible complexity and newness of the software and hardware integration in them. I have a Soliton Jr. that I thought would have performed (reliability-wise) much better than the four Kelly controllers that I have owned, but my new Soliton failed after 3 months due to internal soldering issues. I think we'll notice similar occurrences because these companies are struggling to reach or maintain profitability and they don't have much experience manufacturing, but if they last another few years, I think they'll gain the profitability while making more reliable parts. They don't really have much a choice in this matter. The Soliton failure it nearly cemented the idea that I could not get a reliable electric vehicle. I have had battery failures (Thunder-Sky), controller failures (Kelly and Soliton) and the only reliable part has been the motor.
I would like to own one of the Zero bikes, but I can't bring myself to pay for something that I consider likely to fail. My converted bike performs almost as well, except for the range,and cost much less than half.

6
General Discussion / Over-volting brushed DC motor
« on: May 11, 2013, 08:14:27 AM »
Hello everyone, I am new to these forums, so I thought I'd introduce myself and my EV.
I converted my 1985 Honda Interceptor VF700F back in 2010 and have been regularly making changes to increase its performance. Below is a list of the currently installed parts:
K91-4003 Advanced motor- 5:1 gear ratio currently, but performed well enough at 3.84:1 ratio
Soliton Jr. (yes, I know it's a big controller for a motorcycle)
36*CALB 40Ah cells, configured 36s1p
Elcon 1500 charger
JLD404 intelligent Ah meter with shunt - interfaced with the Elcon to shut off charger @ 123 volts to protect cells; this is my method of battery management, which works fine so long as I don't discharge at over ~325 amps pack current.
No DC/DC, just using 4*40Ah Thunder-sky cells that failed miserably as a traction pack because they were built so poorly-they work fine at very low (<1C) discharge/charge rates.

City range (45mph): 33 miles-ish (142 calculated wh/mile
Highway range (63mph average): 26 miles-ish (180 calculated wh/mile while on a trip with 2out of 6 miles up a 4% grade @ 65mph)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 7.783s best time yet with 5:1 gear ratio
Top speed: 80mph, limited by motor RPM, with 3.84:1 gear ratio, I hit 87 mph in 14.5 seconds!
I thought I would get more range, but I am pretty throttle happy and don't even need 20 miles range.

I am thinking about upping the voltage to find out how high I can take this little DC motor without hurting it; the highest pack voltage I have fed it thus far is 120 from my current pack. I don't have any over-speeding protection other than my calculation for motor speed vs mph, which limits me to 80mph, but I won't hit those speeds for long (if at all), because I've read that those max motor RPMs are supposed to be for short periods. I also blow out the brush area once a week to avoid brush dust causing conductivity where it doesn't belong.

I can do a burnout, which is pretty cool, but the bike to way to heavy for a wheelie.

I would like to hear from others who have over-volted their motors.


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