Steve here from Seattle WA, USA. AKA secret squirrell.
Thanks for the excellent forum everyone I have been reading threads and have been learning a ton. I have a Felt cruiser bike with a wilderness energy front hub kit on it and have been really enjoying it and learning a lot about other electric kits and bikes while learning about my bike. I picked it up recently in a creative bike swap for a custom built BMX bike I had.
I'm just saying hi for now. I am currently researching new and more efficient batteries and throttle/charger/controller options for my bd36 motor. Presently, from what I can tell, my current setup is a 450w/600w peak brushed front hub motor running 36volts through 3 12v/12ah SLA batteries running in parallel.
My charger just decided to quit on me, which has likely ruined my aging SLA batteries, and as I already snapped the thumb tab off my throttle controller and wanted to upgrade to a cruise control capable throttle body I am thinking replace that at the same time. I will also be slightly upgrading my rear rack system with heavier duty mounting hardware as my frame was not provided rack bolt eyelets on the seatstays, and uses inferior clamps at present.
Anyway, enough about that. I should say though, that I use my bike regularly to commute to work at a bike shop in Kent, WA, about 24 miles away- luckily on a flattish route. Until my charger quit, I was just making it with a little juice left at the end of my ride having pedaled a fair bit and using low throttle input to conserve power. I would love to hear about NImH batteries and Lithiums as well, but I do enjoy the power the SLA's deliver, just hate the weight. Suggestions as to possible upgrades to my system gratefully received!
Thanks for the excellent forum everyone I have been reading threads and have been learning a ton. I have a Felt cruiser bike with a wilderness energy front hub kit on it and have been really enjoying it and learning a lot about other electric kits and bikes while learning about my bike. I picked it up recently in a creative bike swap for a custom built BMX bike I had.
I'm just saying hi for now. I am currently researching new and more efficient batteries and throttle/charger/controller options for my bd36 motor. Presently, from what I can tell, my current setup is a 450w/600w peak brushed front hub motor running 36volts through 3 12v/12ah SLA batteries running in parallel.
My charger just decided to quit on me, which has likely ruined my aging SLA batteries, and as I already snapped the thumb tab off my throttle controller and wanted to upgrade to a cruise control capable throttle body I am thinking replace that at the same time. I will also be slightly upgrading my rear rack system with heavier duty mounting hardware as my frame was not provided rack bolt eyelets on the seatstays, and uses inferior clamps at present.
Anyway, enough about that. I should say though, that I use my bike regularly to commute to work at a bike shop in Kent, WA, about 24 miles away- luckily on a flattish route. Until my charger quit, I was just making it with a little juice left at the end of my ride having pedaled a fair bit and using low throttle input to conserve power. I would love to hear about NImH batteries and Lithiums as well, but I do enjoy the power the SLA's deliver, just hate the weight. Suggestions as to possible upgrades to my system gratefully received!
