sourcing a 48v20ah or High C 48v 15ah for $450 shipped.

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Rochester, NY.
This thread was..."need guidance, 48v 15ah 700w battery match-up". Well, now that I got that cleared up, I changed the thread title to reflect what the thread has become.

As even larger batteries become available, maybe the price will come down into my range for the 48/20's .


Hello all. I'm another newbie to the scene. Ultimately I'm trying to convert my Giant Rincon to electric, for under $650 US. I have a good sized hill to tackle on the way to work everyday. (Behind Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. I weigh about 235lbs.

I want a top speed of around 20mph. The Bike has a 135mm drop out (rear) and a 7 gear cassette. 26" whl.

I found a Lipo, water bottle type battery (48v 12ah 700w) delivered for $319.

I need to find a suitable rear wheel kit... I looked at 48v 1000watt kits, but they suggest no less than a 17ah battery. So is it a 500w/ kit I need?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance and nice to meet everybody..

My spec's.

Desired max speed on level ground. mph or kph: 25mph
Desired max range at what cruising speed. mph or kph 25 miles at 15 to18 mph willing to assist motor when comfortable.
Preferred bike wheel size, or wheel size of bike you want to convert. Most common kits are for 26" wheels. 26" 135mm dropout. Entry level Mountain Bike. not 700c
Brake type of motor wheel. Disc or not. Common / average rim caliper brakes, not disc.
Rider weight. 235lbs
Terrain. Exp: mostly flat, some short hills under 20% grade, 5 days a week ,a short commute 4 miles one way. One 1/10th mile 20% grade hill to tackle on the way.
Maybe twice a month I'd like to go 25 miles in one stretch. Mostly flat. Slight ups and downs. Elevation drops consistently on the way to destination. about 100ft. Pavement and paved trails.

Budget. $650
 
500 W should be enough for 20 MPH on flat ground, but you might be underwhelmed by its performance going up your hill. But a motor that can run 500 W continuous should be good for 1000 W for a couple minutes, so that might be OK on the hill.

On the other hand, a 1000 W motor will do better on the hill, and you can always dial it back to lower power to go 20 MPH where it’s flat.

As for the battery, LiPo that size should be fine at 1000 W, and since most of the time you’ll be drawing much less than that, there’s no problem as far as discharge rate. But the other question is how far it can take you. How far is your route?

Can you can provide links to the battery and motors you’re looking at?
 
Thank you so much for the guidance... My every day route consists of about 8 miles round trip. I could probably recharge at work.

But... I do have another trip in mind, about once a week of about 25 miles one way. Mostly Flat. I can recharge there. I would be assisting the motor where possible.

Here's the battery link... http://www.dhgate.com/product/hot-sale-rechargeable-48v-12ah-electric-bicycle/206969192.html#s1-0-1|615017570

I wonder why one ebay ad for 48v 1000w rear wheel kits say to not use anything under a 17ah battery?
Now I cant find the exact listing.

Most ad's are pretty vauge about the required battery other than it supplying 48v.
I'm thinking of going with this one, since it has a twist throttle...http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-48V-1000W-26-Rear-Wheel-Electric-Bike-Bicycle-Motor-Conversion-Kit-eBike/281199914680?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D174fed78a99a4f9cb0c4a1db50a2be48%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D321701675946&rt=nc
 
I don't think that battery is suitable. The listing mentions a 15A BMS. You need about 25A. You should get one of the flat black bottle batteries with Sony, Panasonic or Samsung cells.

https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-battery/684-48v116ah-bottle-09-panasonic-battery-charger-battery.html
 
Hey man thanks for that link! I could get that battery and a 48v 1000w rear whl kit for 652.50.. Thats $2.50 over budget, I think I can handle that. The Batt doesn't look as trendy as a bottle battery but I can get over that.

I like that everything will be coming from one source too. If I down grade to 10AH I save $110 leaving room for some accessories like a little digital info gizmo. How much extra will the 1.7 AH get me? is it worth the extra?

And... do you know how those batteries mount to the frame?

Lastly, how long does this vender take to ship items?
 
That battery is only good for a controller that draws less than 20A. It doesn't matter if it's a 250W motor or a 5000W motor. The controller is what draws power from the battery, not the motor. Don't know what kit you bought, but most 48V 1000W motor kits come with controllers with 26-30A draw. A 48V 1000W kit will sure do the job, but it will quickly kill such a weak battery pack. That battery is made fro the 15A controllers that come with 250W motors.

Nope, that bmsbattery battery sucks too. You need something with at least a 30A continuous output. And there's 2 ways to get it. Either higher capacity , or higher C rates. A 5ah 20C pack is rated for 100A. That's one reason I use rc lipo.
 
I thought you were looking at a 500w system. The BMSB battery is OK up to about 25A as long as you don't use that much current all the time. Its rated at 20A. If you want a 1000w system, you need a battery that can give 25A or more continuous. You won't get a bottle battery that would be happy with that.
 
And again thank you for all the advice. I would be guessing totally wrong if it wasn't for all this.

So I need to up my battery standards but that means I'm probably going to be over a $650 budget can anyone point me towards a suitable battery for around $300. Or the forum on how to assemble one?
 
First, read this.
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=66302
Then go back and add pertinent info to first post. If you don't need a lot of range, you could use a cheap 5ah $75 battery pack rated for 100A output.
 
Ok, will do, as soon as I tyoe this... I did read that thread and thought I had covered it all, but re-reading I missed some thing's...
 
Welcome to the forum. Are you talking about Mt Vernon Av? If so it looks like that hits 10% grade right where it passes the building, but stays at 8% or less for the rest of the road (I checked on MapMyRide.com). Most 350w motors can handle that if you're pedaling hard as well. Not for long, but that's a short street. If you don't have t go far, a low output battery might work out.

How far do you need to go? How's your electronic and mechanical skills? Building a workable battery can be tricky, and if you're starting from scratch without the tools and supplies needed, it might not be cheap. But there may be alternitives based on how far you need to go that will fit your budget.
 
As I filled in my information, something occured to me based on the above battery suggestion..

My most typicial use is of short range, but I'll need some juice for a hill that would otherwise keep me too lazy to ride up. So "you could use a cheap 5ah $75 battery pack rated for 100A output".

This will get going on budget and get me by daily, and for my once in a while 25 mile journey...I can save my pennies and get a 48v 20ah ect. battery with enough rated amps. 25 or 30 soon enough.

So, ok, there's a good start... Would you, Wesnewell, have a handy dandy link for just such a place to score this type of battery for about this price?

This means I can invest a little more in a quality kit. Advertising has got me thinking of the Magic Pie 4 kit.


And yes.... Mt.Vernon ave! thanks! I'm a diy guy,, if it has instructions I can build it. electric or mechanical. (Its that Hemlock Lake water)

Monroe and Goodman, to 1560 Mt Hope Ave. (college town / strong hosp area.) about 4 miles. then home later. i can charge at work
 
Please fill in your location. I don't know if you're my next door neighbor or on the other side of the world.
 
3 of these in series. Or 2 6s packs in series.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18631__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack_USA_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=16207
I wouldn't waste my money on a MP kit. The standard 48V 1000W kits are just as good. I've got over 4 years and 15K miles on mine.
 
Since you only need 8 miles round trip, there are a number of options. $650 is about the cost of a decent battery alone, but since that's your entire budget, there are cheap options.

The first depends on just how much electrical experience you have. RC Lipo packs. Two 6S packs would get you to work with power to spare at 20mph. However, they are dangerous, and aren't a good option for charging safely at work. Four 6s packs would get you their and back, allowing you to charge at home where the packs can be safely charged in a place where the potential fire won't endanger anything valuable. There is a lot to read about lipo, and a lot to understand, but someone with the proper skills can use them successfully.

The second option is a cheap end pack like one of these: http://stores.ebay.com/sunthing28/LiFePO4-battery-/_i.html?_fsub=2328193016 Don't expect quality or long service life from them, but they're safe to charge unattended and a 36 volt 10AH pack would meet your basic needs, a 48 volt 10AH pack would do it and be more fun.

The third option is Lead Acid batteries. 36v 10AH worth of Lead would weigh close to 30 pounds and have a life expectancy of probably the whole summer, but it would get you started and get you to work. They can also be charged safely, and the chargers are cheap enough you could leave one at work
 
Thank you. So...what I'm understanding ....for my trip, I could probably feel some assistance up that short 8 to 10% (+a gully in the park just passed there if I forge straight ahead) with a 48v battery (one of the ones that only puts out 15A). That will work with a 350w wheel kit... and stay within my budget.

I think I found a 48v battery with a 20A discharge rate that suggests it's for a 1000w bike kit... that fits my budget.... will it work? plz advise... http://www.dhgate.com/product/48v-1000w-electric-bicycle-48v-15ah-battery/215271275.html#s1-0-1|1182480926 I did some deeper into the spec's reading and now I'm confused in one place it says 20A and one place it says 15A as the raterd discharge current.
There's also this one... http://www.dhgate.com/product/48v-15ah-lithium-batteries-with-high-magnification/206577481.html#s1-11-1|1182480926

Or lastly, I need to do some reading ...graduate from Lipo school, and wire up some turnigy batteries, and have the power I want within my budget.

If I go with the first option, 350w, would you go with a geared hub, or DD?

For the 48v 1000w route...a typical ebike kit costs from 250 to 285. So 285 - 650 = $365.. So I basically have $365 to $390 for a 48v battery thats capable of a 25A to 30A discharge rate. ... with free shipping,lol. Those Turnigys could probably do it but I'm going to have to go to "school" .... searching youtube for how-to's now ..
 
Keep in mind when you buy one of these ultra cheap batteries, you're buying a box of mystery from a foreign country, if things go wrong, you have no real recourse. It's a gamble, and this forum is full of horror stories of people getting burned. But it does work out more often than not, and there are plenty of people with cheap batteries who are happy with them. I should have given that warning when I linked the one from Sunthing18, as there have been mostly successful orders, but a few disasters by members of this forum with them. (forum search says a lot: endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=sunthing )
the DHgate seller is an unknown. He/she might be great, or a swindler. So which life motto do you live by, "Fortune favors the bold", or "The second mouse gets the cheese"? :mrgreen:

But yeah, they will meet your needs, and either sources' 48V 15AH battery would run the 1000w DD, which would be better than the 350w.
 
How about this kit ... looks like it will suit me...http://www.ebay.com/itm/48V-500W-26-Rear-Direct-Drive-ebike-Ebikeling-Electric-Bicycle-Kit-/141292845602?fromMakeTrack=true

looks like this should be enough battery and I'll only be $7 over budget. Shipping is free and within the USA. I dont see anything about a BMS though? Should I be weary of this thing? not as pretty as other solutions but looks like a lot of amp for the buck. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-Bicycle-Bike-E-bike-48V-20AH-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Scooter/221708454164?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Db2c943e2d2924806a2e08163132a3163%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D221708453933&rt=nc



I thinkafter all, I'm after simply getting the most power assist I can for my buck $650. (trying to beat storm e-bike)
 
You can get a 48V 1000W kit cheaper than that. take your pick.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&ghostText=&_sacat=0&_nkw=48v+1000w+rear&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1
Get 6 of these for 10ah 12s. $150.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18631__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack_USA_Warehouse_.html
Get a 12s bms like this or similar. $25 for 20-40A option
https://bmsbattery.com/bmspcm/330-smart-bms-513-cells-in-series-bms-pcm.html
And then a 50.4V charger.
This will meet and exceed all your requirements for about $500 or less.
 
Now That, leaves room for a trip computer... thanks for those links... looks like the direction I'm heading... I'm going to search "wiring turnigy batteries" in the forum and see what I find, any quick links you can share?
 
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39666
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-15-to-120V-Waterproof-Red-LED-Panel-Meter-DC-Digital-Voltmeter-Two-wire-NIGH/141365876290
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUCA-Cycling-Bike-Bicycle-Cycle-Computer-Odometer-Speedometer-Waterproof-/271816222521
 
Ok...so I'm now going to be a 48v camper with 1000w available at the hub. Good (ie; got that ebay kit on the way)

Loved the link for the digital readout I owe ya for all this help.

Thanks for the topic link. I think I can make it through a homemade battery project. gonna get well read on that though....

The hang up seems to be sourcing the 54v DC charger
 
Wesnewell how would he propertly charge the battery ? Please include this every time you quote battery price. Plus a charging station for lipo noobs like a barbeque. Not for in house or garage. Read up on lipo. Or utube lipo fires.
 
I just think you would be better off with a plug and play battery. They come with bms and charger. Plus shipping. Shipping with some places can be high or my be asked for more money after order.
Do you have experience with hobby lipo and wiring it needs or bms ?
650.00 is low. My be able at 900~1,000usd.
I mean you want the bike to last.
Their is a point of going to cheap on a wish.
Wesnewell does have a link for a cheap motor kit.
Lipo shouldn't be your first battery. I mean wiring a bms ?
 
Bulk charging Lipo is very much NOT something a novice should do. While being a DIY guy may give you the ability to learn Lipo and use them, trying to bulk charge needs a whole nother level of understanding of Lipo, electrical engineering, and battery chemestry. That's not the place to start from. Having a BMS does not make that safe.

You need a dedicated Lipo charger, or more likely, several of them. If you discharge 2 packs in parallel, you can charge them in parallel as well, so you could do 2 packs at a time through a single charger. If you go with the 4 pack configuration, you could charge each pack in a little over an hour a piece with a charger like this: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...AC_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html.
you could charge 2 at a time in a bit over 2 hours to simplify things, but you'll be happier with at least 2 chargers, as that means less time sitting and watching them charge.

If you go for 6 packs of 4s, you would probably want a 3rd charger to simplify things. that would reduce your charge time by 50% but run you another ~$40.

There are other charger options, but the iMax B6 have a good reputation.
 
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