Hello, and help. Controller question

beamerboyle

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 28, 2009
6
0
Bakewell
First post so hope i don't break t&cs, have had a quick scan through.

I bought my ebike about 3 months ago as local parking was getting privatised and the country life and local advantages wouldn't apply to the army of new traffic wardens. Also it ment we could go down to one car. The bike is vary similar to a 905 (looks the same) just a cheep copy.

work and local pub are kind enough to let me charge the battery .

apart from the shipped brakes being a little pants, upgraded to shimano deore pretty fast, they are 10 time better than the cable discs.

anyway to the point, alot of my journy to work can be off road. Is there a controller out there and is it legal to have say a 750w motor, limited to 200w / 15mph on road but unlimited off road? or am i just being stupid?

Cheers Norm
 

Tiberius

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 9, 2007
919
1
Somerset
Is there a controller out there and is it legal to have say a 750w motor, limited to 200w / 15mph on road but unlimited off road?
Hi Norm, and welcome.

This is not an easy question. The rules say "....fitted with a motor of not more than 250 W....power...." So on one interpretation that would rule out having a more powerful motor and turning it down.

But the definition of "power" in the regulations is not clear - it says "continuous rated" power, and many people interpret this as meaning that a significantly higher peak power is allowed.

Quite a few bikes on the UK market do have motor/controller/battery setups that will deliver 750 W peak and there is a feature in the controller that limits the speed. Sometimes it is fairly easy to de-restrict them. I think the Wispers even come with a switch to do so.

Nick
 

beamerboyle

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 28, 2009
6
0
Bakewell
maybe i should have "folked" out for a wispa. sorry.

Hi Nick,

the law is a little gray but my understanding is a higher power motor can be fitted as long as it only runs at 200w on the road. I'd even go as far as to say yes 500w can be delived while setting off. As long as once the bike is moving it drops to 200, but wouldn't want to risk it, and can't really see the advantage.

I'd like to know which is a good controller for doing this, as i already have a bike. I can't find anywhere that stocks a good array of ebike/pedelec parts. can anyone suggest somewhere?

Cheers Norm
 

Tiberius

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 9, 2007
919
1
Somerset
... my understanding is a higher power motor can be fitted as long as it only runs at 200w on the road. I'd even go as far as to say yes 500w can be delived while setting off. As long as once the bike is moving it drops to 200, but wouldn't want to risk it, and can't really see the advantage.
Hi Norm,

If that's an official opinion, I'd be very interested in the source, as it simplifies things. Admittedly this is what many people are doing, but my reading of the actual words in the legislation suggests it would not be allowed. I don't think there has been a test case, and I don't think either side really wants a test case.

When you start off, most of the electrical power input to the motor ends up as heat rather than motive power out, so no-one would be bothered by the situation you describe.

Nick

PS. Why not post a pic of the bike, and tell us more about the specs and the range you are achieving?
 
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beamerboyle

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 28, 2009
6
0
Bakewell
it's not an official opinion. just my understanding of the law. Any offence on a pedelec would be classed as a driving offence so propably wouldn't go past magistrates.

All though they are clever people they cannot know every part of the law and there advisors are not top notch on gray areas, unless a trial case has ironed them out. To me "The maximum continuous power rating does not exceed 200W" does mean it can peak above 200w and doesn't state how long a peak is, obviously the 5 mins it takes to travel up that really big hill takes the biscuit as a peak. but you could try arguing it.

As long as you feel confident enough to go in with the relivent parts of the law printed off and delivering your understanding of the gray area, things should go ok. If not, your looking at riding with no tax/mot if you have a bike licence and riding without a licence if you don't, or on a bad day all three.

this is just my opinion and feelings. i can not be held responsible for anyone acting on my expressions.

At the end of the day i don't want a trial case either as it could make things a lot worse and less enjoyable. i just want to know where i can look at controllers and if anyone has done this. . . . How? :p

will take some pics now as the weathers good. brb

Cheers Norm
 

beamerboyle

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 28, 2009
6
0
Bakewell
and



200w motor, pedelec sensor, hand throtle over ride, NiMH 36v 10Ah battery, says it's good for 40 miles as for testing the 20 mile ride back from my local bike shop to work (pretty flat didn't make a dent on the battery) the 80m climb over 1.2km (first 300m is flat so 1 in 9 ish) from work to home can be done twice before performance starts to deteriorate, 5/6 before recharge is esential. Don't know how this perfroms against others but it keeps me happy.

hope this helps
 

Fecn

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 28, 2008
491
2
Warlingham, Surrey
anyway to the point, alot of my journy to work can be off road. Is there a controller out there and is it legal to have say a 750w motor, limited to 200w / 15mph on road but unlimited off road? or am i just being stupid?
The public highway, as defined by law, consists of any verge, footway, carriageway, bridleway or footpath that is maintained at public expense and over which the public has a right of way.

As such, you will probably find that your off-road route might well be covered by the same laws as regular roads. The only truly off-road routes are ones which the public does not have access to.
 

Tiberius

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 9, 2007
919
1
Somerset
The public highway, as defined by law, consists of any verge, footway, carriageway, bridleway or footpath that is maintained at public expense and over which the public has a right of way.

As such, you will probably find that your off-road route might well be covered by the same laws as regular roads. The only truly off-road routes are ones which the public does not have access to.
Hi Fecn,

Actually its worse than that - I know this to my cost. The legislation uses the word "road" and the Road Trafffic Act defines a "road" as anywhere the public has access. There doesn't have to be a right of way, and private land can be a "road".

Now combine this with the right to roam legislation and the only safe place is in the air. Ironically the laws on single seat, lightweight aircraft are being relaxed - below a certain weight, there are no regulations about the aircraft itself.

Nick
 

beamerboyle

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 28, 2009
6
0
Bakewell
through a friends fields which will get me higher than my house so easy coasting back down. such as at the end of a 12hr shift when cycling doesn't sound extreamly tempting.

Bikes arn't allowed on footpaths and we do not have a common law right to use bridleways because our right to cycle on them arises from the 1968 Act, which is contidional that we give way to pedestrians and horses. As such local authorities are not obliged to keep bridleway surfaces suitable for cycling. so the road will be easier.