how waterproof are hub motors?

[steve_allen]

hi, I'm in the middle of converting a schwinn lowrider chopper to electric. i've welded the front end but I have no shed to store it in.

I'm used to motorbikes that live outdoors 24/7 and assumed hub motors were sealed, just wanted to check that getting a bit wet wont damage it.
Its off a phillips "energy" bike, brushed hub (with 2 wires).

cheers
Steve A

 

[flecc]

The hub motors are generally ok Steve, but it's the handlebar controls, controller boxes and wiring junction insulations that often let them down. Self amalgamating rubber tape (from Maplin) is good for sealing cable joins, silicone sealant for sealing large cable entry holes, and a wipe of vaseline over any still vulnerable points such as slightly gappy cable entries.

I'd recommend that you use a bike cover, but stopping well short of the ground so that natural airflow can dry out the bike anytime it's parked while still wet, to avoid condensation problems.
.

 

[giguana]

I was going to ask exactly this regarding going through lots of water while riding, thanks for the sealing tips. obviously you should have the control and batteries indoors, bikes age faster in the rain, I would never dream of keeping the hub outdoors! That said, if you have some kind of plank you can lean against the wall over the motor it should keep all the rain off.

 

[steve_allen]

cheers, i think I'm going to go for a motorbike throttle converted with a hall effect sensor for the switches as the cheap plastic throttle looks like it wouldn't last.

does the controller have to breathe to stay cool? or would sealing it in a big (almost) waterproof box be fine, i need some where to mount a voltmeter anyway.

 

[flecc]

I'd be nervous about sealing it in another box Steve, they can generate quite a lot of heat at times, and enclosed it could build up and precipitate failure.
.

 

[Capn_Phil68]

Hi Steve,

Just a quick note re waterproofing.

I recently bought a no name chinese bike and one of the first things I did was to seal it against water ingres.

Be careful when doing so as the people how made mine decided to hide a 4mm hole in the TOP of the controller housing under the battery rubber shock cushion. The upshot being that this combined with my waterproofing made a very effective bathing area for the controller and associated wiring!

I have just 'emptied' around 2/3 of a tea cup of mucky water!

Resealed again using a torch to id any other possibly compromised areas and as a backup sealed controller in a loose fitting plastic freezer bag.

Phil