Powabyke x-6 Vs X-24 Vs Powacycle Salisbury Vs Something Else?

[Rad]

That's interesting Al. How much did you pay for the battery and how are you going to fit it to the bike?

 

[chandlerweb]

I'm fitting a 20Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) set bought off eBay. That will give a far better range- three times or more and last longer (check out a few of the eBay ads for the claims).
The connectors used by powabyke are standard connectors available for a few pounds at Maplin so will be an easy fit. Apart from more capacity the batteries also give more charge cycles so should last far longer than the other types.

I just completed the purchase but have everything else in place for when it is received. Should only be a few weeks now.....

Sounds fascinating! Would be interested to hear how you intend to fix it to the bike and perhaps some pics, if you'd be kind enough to oblige!

 

[alsmith]

I paid around $470 including UPS shipping (bidding rather than buy now so saved a bit) for the 36V 20Ah battery.

I got a small top box off eBay to fit it into, fits straight onto the standard rack. I had to add another refllector- the original is hidden by the strangely shaped box- it's not flat on the bottom so hangs over the back a little. It leaves some space between the seat and the box for a bit of luggage though. Since buying off eBay I've seen the same one for more money and with other names including Raleigh.
It's like this on eBay

The standard battery cable has been re-routed and fed through a hole drilled into the base of the top box (I drilled it large enough to feed the connector through rather than remove the connector from the cable and feeding the cable through a smaller hole. Maplin sell blanking and cable plugs to seal the hole to stop water ingress, I ended up using a blanking one but need to redo one, the first attempt works but could be improved.) Maybe removing the plug would have been better but this was easier.

I got XLR connectors (Maplin) which are the battery connection ones on the standard battery and wiring to fit onto the LiFePO4 when it arrives leaving the X-Byke bits as standard so I can use the standard battery if needed.

I'll post some pics when the battery arrives and it's all fitted.

 

[chandlerweb]

Thanks, alsmith, I look forward to seeing them. Is this the sort of battery you ordered? This says its for 400-800W motors so do you think it would cause problems on the 250W Powabyke hub motor?

 

[alsmith]

Thanks, alsmith, I look forward to seeing them. Is this the sort of battery you ordered? This says its for 400-800W motors so do you think it would cause problems on the 250W Powabyke hub motor?

Yes. The motor draws the current it needs via the controller circuitry not the battery pushing out all it can all the time. If you look through various supplier ads they all have different suggested powers for the same capacity.

 

[Rad]

Definitely post some pics Al. Sounds really interesting.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Are these batteries being used with electric bikes at present?

 

[flecc]

Are these batteries being used with electric bikes at present?

They briefly appeared in a tiny size only on a Sun e-bike a year ago, but it vanished just as quickly. Manufacturers have been investigating using them since mid 2006 but the reliability of mass produced ones is only now starting to get near acceptability.

eZee are first of the well known manufacturers now with a LiFePO4 option, but it shows the disadvantages of this type which are lower capacity for a given bulk and weight.

The eZee one in the same case for example is 8 Ah instead of their normal 10 Ah, and it will be a bit heavier than their 3.3 kilo Li-poly battery and 20% dearer.
.

 

[wotwozere]

Hi

How far can you go on a 20amp battery
Flecc you are a genias, did you have encycolpedic for breakfast.

thx

Bob

 

[flecc]

Hi

How far can you go on a 20amp battery
Flecc you are a genias, did you have encycolpedic for breakfast.

thx

Bob

No Bob, I just have an excellent memory, aided by a methodical filing system.

The range in any given cirumstance with 20 Ah depends on the bike and the efficiency of the battery type, a Wisper 905se with their large 14 Ah battery can reach 40 miles, so with 20 Ah it might reach 57 miles for example.
.

 

[torrent99]

No Bob, I just have an excellent memory, aided by a methodical filing system.

The range in any given cirumstance with 20 Ah depends on the bike and the efficiency of the battery type, a Wisper 905se with their large 14 Ah battery can reach 40 miles, so with 20 Ah it might reach 57 miles for example.
.

To throw some more real numbers in, I have a Wisper 905SE and currently run it in London rush hour traffic, flat terrain on mostly throttle only. I reckon on just less than 1ah a mile (=30-36WH). I weigh (cough) about 90kg.

Terrain, traffic conditions and of course how much effort YOU put in will all make a difference.