36 Volts Through A 24 Volt Motor?

grouchyolfart · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 10:41 PM

Okay, so I've been reading other forums also.

Being that I didn't sign up for any of them, I thought I'd ask here.

Someone has a "24 volt" brushed hub motor like the ones we've been using. According to the thread, some have been using up to 48+ volt battery packs with the 24 volt hub. This particular person is running a 36 volt SLA pack with his 24 volt hub.

So my question is, what do I need to do to be able to run a 36 volt battery pack with my 24 volt hub motor? Seems the hub motor runs fine with the higher voltage, but was wondering about the controller and throttle. Do I need to change these out for 36 volt units? Will it work with a 48 volt controller and throttle? These guys are getting up to 10 mph more speed by using bigger battery packs and I thought the option sounded pretty good. If it's workable, I'm going to switch motors and put the hub on my bike.

OzzyU812 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 11:15 PM

It seems too risky for me to try it. I'd to 36v change the entire system to 36v.
48v controller wont work for anything less than 48v. Because when the controller sees there is not enough voltage it shuts down to protect batteries. Is my understanding. I accidentally blew my 24v controller I was thinking I could by a 48v one for future upgrades but it don't work that way.

deacon · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 12:07 AM

I ran a 36 volt battery pack through a 24 volt motor and it burned the wiring up. I did the same on a hub and it wouldnt do anything. the controller shut it down.

deacon · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 11:21 AM

I went out to test ride my improved 350 slow pusher bike and it won't go. The electric motor is frozen. Probably too much heat from trying to run pulling hills with not much help from me. I'm trying to decide now what to do.

I would love to pick up a 500 watt motor for my fast pusher setup. Then move the 350 from it to the slow pusher. Then move all that to a full size bike. Try to cut down on the problems associated with not enough pedal help from me as well. I have a 350 watt controller on the way so I guess I will rig it for the slow bike and get a larger one for the fast bike.

Back to ebay I suppose.

grouchyolfart · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Okay. So being that the motor can handle 36 volts, it'd be a good idea to change out the controller and throttle to 36 volt units as well. Makes sense to me. OR........just keep things simple and quit messing around with what ain't broke.

.....which makes even more sense.

Thanks fellas.

ZnsaneRyder · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

I went out to test ride my improved 350 slow pusher bike and it won't go. The electric motor is frozen. Probably too much heat from trying to run pulling hills with not much help from me. I'm trying to decide now what to do.

I would love to pick up a 500 watt motor for my fast pusher setup. Then move the 350 from it to the slow pusher. Then move all that to a full size bike. Try to cut down on the problems associated with not enough pedal help from me as well. I have a 350 watt controller on the way so I guess I will rig it for the slow bike and get a larger one for the fast bike.

Back to ebay I suppose.

I find that amazing that with only 350 watts you are able to pull hills so well, even if you did burn it out. A small gas engine struggles a bit, but even having more HP. Gotta love the torque of the electric motors!

It must be a very neat bike pusher. I wish I had electric on mine, but I gotta find a better source for batteries and a motor.

Have you considered mounting a temp probe on the motor to monitor temperature?

OzzyU812 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZnsaneRyder

I find that amazing that with only 350 watts you are able to pull hills so well, even if you did burn it out. A small gas engine struggles a bit, but even having more HP. Gotta love the torque of the electric motors!

It must be a very neat bike pusher. I wish I had electric on mine, but I gotta find a better source for batteries and a motor.

Have you considered mounting a temp probe on the motor to monitor temperature?

Electric motors don't have power curve. It more like a plateau. Its at max power all the time. You decide how how much power to give it with controller. Unlike gas to have to stay in the rpm's sweet spot.

deacon · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 06:25 AM

the day before I burned out the slow pusher motor I had two 350 watt motors and pushers one slow one fast. Just before I burned up the motor I ordered a 350watt controller on line. It was cheap on ebay.

Then the motor blew giving me an excuse to get a 450 watt motor on ebay so now I have a 350 watt fast pusher and a 350 watt controller on the way. But I also have a 450 motor on the way. So now I guess I will get a bigger controller and just move the 350 watt motor to the old wheel.

I have a lot of bike parts laying around at the moment, so I'm going to build a couple of pure pedal bikes for my grandson and me to ride on the bike trail. My wife wants me to get a bike carrier for the car so she can drive us to the trail. She is all hot for me to teach him about life for some reason. Probably because his mom and dad are turning him into a materialistic wimp. Since he is too small to ride a real bike his education will have to wait. LOL.

Hysteresis · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 09:24 AM

As a rule of thumb if you double the voltage of your motor you are cutting it's operating lifetime in half. Motors do have power curves, found this on google it's a good tutorial on some DC motor characteristics.

D.C. Motor Torque/Speed Curve Tutorial:::Understanding Motor Characteristics

deacon · #10 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 08:24 PM

I have to buy a new controller for the hub motor and I'm going to bite the bullet when I do and put a 36volt controller on the hub. I can get one on ebay and its the same price as the 24 volt. It might take me a while to get around to it, but I'm going to give it a shot I think.