Re: Tips?

[Mike Shipway <mshipway@speakeasy.net>]

Michael Witham wrote:
> 
> Dear all:
>    .... I would like to buy a moped with a messed up motor and convert it. 
> Do you guys have any tips? Should I go for 24V, 36V, or 48V system? 
> This vehicle would be for warm weather only and should be capable of all but highway speed (I'd get eaten up arond here otherwise, these drivers are crazy!).

Where are you located in the world, what kind of climate?
What is the top speed you are really after?

I've got a purpose made electric scooter (styled like a small Vespa).
I ride it in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA (near Washington, DC).
The roads are mostly 25-30mph limits with gentle hills.
On the faster roads I ride on the sidewalks when there is much traffic
(most of the time)

It is 24 volt, 2 hp permanent magnet 24vdc motor, has a top speed of 30
mph for the 1st 3rd of it's charge and settles to a top speed of 25 mph
until the pack is depleted.  
I get about 10 miles on 20 kg (45 lb) of lead, in the form of 2 hawker
Genesis 26ah absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, at full throttle. 
Farther if I drive slower and gentler.
I am using 24-36 volt, 275 amp Curtis 1204 controller from
http://www.golftechind.com , which was smallest they had.
This is way bigger than I need, but at $130, was close in price to much
smaller controllers and will never overheat.


> Last, Is there anything I should do to it in the offseasson? Thanks guys!
When I lived in Minnesota, there where retrofit kits for using minibikes
in the snow.
A ski on the front wheel, chains or snowmobile treads on the rear.

-Mad Mike-