Paul & Sabrina's cheap DIY 144v motor controller

[MPaulHolmes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofGCWrnhEg

[Tango Charlie]

Paul, I watched the whole thing. Even the part where they sang in the dark. Who you forgot to credit, by the way. Ha ha! Maybe it's just because it's late, but you make me laugh.

[hydroplasma]

Hi Paul and everyone else,

I was searching the net last Friday with great frustration looking for a circuit that may help be build a speed controller for an EV. Well look what I found, some great people from all over the world doing just that, so after many hours reading through your thread (brain a little fuzzy) and printing some of the circuit diagrams, I just have to build one of these.

I have a background in electronics and computers and currently working with off grid solar/wind power systems. I also have some excess power that I would like to dispose of by charging EV batteries.

Would be great if I could catch up with some of the Aussies in this thread regarding bulk purchases and possible sourcing of locally made components.

Again great work by all and Paul you are an inspiration to us (God Bless)

Andrew

[MPaulHolmes]

Hey Hydroplasma! You should PM mcudogs. He's the MAN (and he's from Australia).

[squiggles]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

Hey Hydroplasma! You should PM mcudogs. He's the MAN (and he's from Australia).

Yes, and take a look at the forum at The Australian Electric Vehicle Asn: Open Source DC controller where a few aussies have been discussing P&S's great job.

[Hondo]

Paul, forgive me, I am jealous of your cnc mill. Great job mounting the motors and making it all work. You now have something that can really start making you some $ if you want. I started my business in my garage 10 years ago and haven't looked back since. Anyway, great video!! I know how rewarding it is when you get a machine to do something for you that used to be a pain. Just make sure you pay it well and offer it health insurance and a 401K to keep it happy!!!

Hondo

[GrahamMc]

Still Here and Lurking...

Hey, I am still inundated by the new house never-ending-project list, but if you are getting to a place where the controller is ready to go and selling kits, still would not mind lining one up for a winter build.

The house I moved into is on a small series of lakes that only allow electric trolling motors to be used. I wonder if I build a 500A trolling motor and take my wife water-skiing in electric silence if I will be booted from the home-owners association?

[LouMan]

Hey paul,

WOW what a ride! I ran across your project last week looking for a cheaper or open source controller I could do myself & guess what? seems all roads lead to you! hahaha
I spent the last week reading this entire thread & man what dedication and friendship this thread created, I'm proud i found it. I hope to be ordering the boards and cpu in a couple days, but I don't know why your store is charging me out of state taxes?
but for all the hard work you have put in it I don't mine.
I was wondering will you post the pcb123 cad file *.123 if that's what you used? seems I read it somewhere, I've got some ideas and options I want to try.
there were plenty of time's while reading this thread I wanted to jump in and lend a hand but that time had already past, but that was then and this is now I don't know were I can help but buy some of your parts and help you make a little back for all your hard work.
well thanks and expect a order in a couple days.
by they way you could make a best seller by putting this whole thread in a book and name it something like "The Long Road To Open Source EV" maybe have a contest on a name?
thanks again for all your hard work and your commitment to open source.

[TheSGC]

EV Components just cashed my check for my Synkro, so it should be coming soon. Now I am in college with the semester starting tomorrow and my account just got emptied, oh well.

A feature that I would like to see on the Revolt is a current sensor on the battery side so you can limit the battery current to keep the abuse low on the floodies. Maybe it can be done in the software, but a hardware limit would be nice.

I am slowly working on a full BMS, so maybe it would be nice to have some sort of universal interface on the controller to add things like BMS input if the batteries are getting low or abused.

[MPaulHolmes]

Hey Lou! Blame Sabrina! hahaha I have no idea what goes on with taxes. She tried to explain it to me one day, and I got bored. I guess I'll ask her about it. You are supposed to charge the person the tax rate of the place they are from I think, but I'm not sure. I believe that was what I was told by her after she talked to the washington state government people.

Does anyone know if you are only supposed to charge people tax if they are from the state you are from? As a side note, I had no idea how unfriendly Washington state is to small businesses.

I'm going to do a google search right now........ OK, I'm back. Why do taxes have to be so complicated. I learned nothing from my reading. Does anyone have an online shop? How does it work!?

another video soon. hehe