Comments on: Long Distance Trip on My Ebike Workhorse

By: News & Events

News & Events — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Jerry,
Get yourself some 45a Anderson connectors 10g wire and a crimper at http://powerwerx.com. Replace your batteries’ output connectors with Andersons if they aren’t already Andersons. (When replacing battery output connectors only cut off one wire at a time. If you expose both wires at the same time you risk creating a dangerous spark.) Create a “serial connector” out of some more Anderson connectors like the ones I made here for SLA batteries: http://bikes-as-transportation.com/my-diy-sla-trip-batteries/ only yours will be for two batteries in serial rather than three. Connect one end of your serial connector to your controller and the other end to the two batteries. Of course be sure that your controller can handle 72v. If not purchase a beefier controller from http://ebikes.ca or suchlike. Also make sure your upgraded system has a new low voltage cutoff of 60v or so or you risk discharging your batteries too far and damaging them. A Cycle Analyst from ebikes.ca will enable you to set the LVC for your system. Good luck! Post a comment when you’re done and tell us how it went.

By: Jerry Parkos

Jerry Parkos — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:23:00 +0000

I am buying 2 36 volt 20 amp hour batteries to connect in series to make a 72 volt system like you used! just to be safe I would like to know how you did it? You wrote:
. This year I upgraded my bike to use two 36-volt LiFePo4 batteries in series (for 720 watt-hours),

By: admin

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:04:40 +0000

Nice work! Have you been able to use the solar panel to charge as much power as you use on a bike tour?

By: Clive

Clive — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:56:36 +0000

Bummer about the motor

I really like your posts, insightful philosophy and DIY info – Fantastic thanks keep it up!

I’ve just started to publish info on our own touring adventures with our e-bikes (website above) and I’m currently building a solar charging trailer – the design has 3*60w panels on a bob style trailer giving 180w. Enough I hope for self sufficiency with charging time (lunch, breaks etc) off the bike.

Keep up the great work!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:07:48 +0000

If you don’t live in a hilly area you might not need an electric motor or maybe a hub motor kit would be less expensive than a Stokemonkey. Ithaca is quite hilly.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:26:56 +0000

Fantastic to come across your site! I’m considering an electric Big Dummy and it looks like I’ll be spending some more time snooping around here. Keep up the fine work!

By: Ed Hunter

Ed Hunter — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:26:25 +0000

It might be worth adding a geared hub motor (with controller) to your front wheel for your longer trips. The geared hub motors free wheel so they don’t add drag and are light weight and use smaller controllers yet are still quite efficient. Plus they are small and not so noticeable. Use Anderson connectors so you can connect to any of your batteries. I think your idea of using SLA batteries as a trip extender is a good one. You may have to replace them for next years trip but, the prices look good. Except for your breakdown the trip looked like a lot of fun. Thanks.

By: Bike Forth » Blog Archive » My DIY SLA Trip Batteries

Bike Forth » Blog Archive » My DIY SLA Trip Batteries — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 03:13:54 +0000

[...] shop talk blog post intended for do-it-yourselfers. For my recent 240-mile journey I created what I call my “trip batteries”—batteries that I can attach to my bike to [...]

By: Mark Stosberg

Mark Stosberg — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:31:25 +0000

Epic. You are a trail blazer.

Thanks for sharing the highs, lows and photos from the adventure.

By: David

David — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:51:51 +0000

What an ordeal!
Too bad about the motor but the luxurious Hotel must have relieved your aching muscles.
Looks like a pretty wide load on that little car.