Open Source DC Gokart Controller

Post by **Thalass** » Tue, 19 May 2009, 00:10

I've been looking at Paul and Sabrina's 144v dc controller recently. I thought a toned down version could be good for a 48v go kart. I also want to do a little toy kart for my daughter, similar to BJ's Big Red Car. My stepdad is a junk collector, and at some stage he acquired a little kid's pedal car frame that would be perfect. But of course something like this would be overkill for a little 12 or 24v toy

But I think it would be great for a full size gokart controller.

Post by **Taffy** » Wed, 20 May 2009, 01:24

There is one already out there, it was made by a uni and the open sourced its design. Cant remember who made it now though, will try and remember...
Paul's has advanced a little beyond simple and basic lol.

Post by **stuartri** » Tue, 07 Jul 2009, 02:04

May be worth looking at the following web site

http://www.robotpower.com/products/osmc_info.html

If you subscribe to the forum there are some very knowlegable people building controllers.

Regards Stuart

Post by **vetinavan** » Sun, 09 Aug 2009, 18:16

I modified an electric jeep for my kids. Uses 2 100 watt 24V scooter motors & 3 12 SLA batteries. I has 6 forward speeds & 2 reverse done very simply with half a dozen relays & some microswitches. No good for a car of course but works really well for the kids.
Can supply you the details if you are interested.

Post by **antiscab** » Sun, 09 Aug 2009, 22:11

welcome to the forum vetinavan.

a contactor controller is cheap and easy for low power.
however you have very poor control over torque, and only step-wise control over speed.

is the electric jeep you made for your kids on the EV album?

Matt

Post by **vetinavan** » Mon, 10 Aug 2009, 00:19

I realise all the limitations but the kids drive it mostly flat out anyway.
No, it is not on the album.
Neither is my latest project - a VW Polo EV.
Have started taking a few pics of the adaptor & coupling as I am maching them. Still aquiring parts.
Haven't got any pics of the kid's jeep but that can easily be rectified if I can find the camera.

Post by **antiscab** » Mon, 10 Aug 2009, 09:40

ah, i was hoping for more interesting conversions, kinda like otmars couch

definately recommend adding to the evalbum (even though i admit my own pages are both ridiculously out of date).

Matt

Post by **BjBlaster** » Tue, 11 Aug 2009, 06:47

I can't wait to build another one! The Big Red Car is still going strong, and I gave up on the Mk3 Big Blue Car for the time being as the frame is too heavy. I took the kids to school the other day in the BRC... What a blast! 24V is the future of school transportation! 48V would be awesome for big kids, but for the youngsters I think it's a tad of an overkill

How cool is Otmar's couch!

Post by **Thalass** » Tue, 18 Aug 2009, 07:06

Haha awesome!

Stuart: I've saved that link on my laptop. It has since died, of course, but I might be able to fix the laptop, maybe, so it's not the end of the world *cries*

Vetinavan: Is that one of the old metal Jeep pedalcars that they used to make? I vaguely remember my cousin had one of those when we were little, and I think my uncle converted it to electric just before they got rid of it for some reason. It was a nifty little machine! A relay based controller would be cheap. But in my head a little kids car would be practice for a full size one, so I want to try and build a proper PWM controller and all that.