Farm Utility Vehicle

[forester2]

Won't there be considerable power loss w/ either a belt and pulley or chain and sprocket drive? Golf cart will also give a suspension system for a better ride.

 

[TomSr]

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas. I haven't posted since yesterday as I have been reading and studying various sites that some of you sent me to and there led me to others.

I think now that the treadmill motors may be to small. I think a golf cart will be to big. I want something about the size of my John Deere L145 riding lawn mower but longer and more utility. I think I want to be able to haul feed, fence post and wire, rabbit litter etc.

I am going to attempt to draw what I think I want to do and most it for more comments and ideas.

I also want to use as much from my farm as I can without buying something unless I have to.

JPR3 on the 6x6 sites converted a 6 wheeler to electric using sprocket and chain that he later changed to belt. I am thinking that is the way to go and one motor is a must to eliminate problems.

Again I am planning and thinking now so any and all thoughts and comments are good. I have thick skin and a hard head and sometimes I am slow so you have to say it more than once.

 

[Soundguy]

Sir
I am an electrician and have a similiar idea to build an electric garden tractor. The problem is the cost and design to build an electric controller. As stated above I would use an electric golf cart and rework the body, because it is only angle iron , sheet metal and a seat.
Craig Clayton

it's doable.. but why reinvent the wheel.

I've built a motor controller for an electric utility vehicle with a 5x5 circuit board I etched myself and a fist full of irfz40 mosfets... but there is comercial stuff already on the market.. no need to build a PWM to do the same job..

soundguy

 

[TomSr]

Ok, need some help here. I have 12 Monolite 12vfat75 batteries. They are 12v 75ah/8h to 1.75vpc @ 77F. how long will they last if I configure them to 48volts pulling 100amps. Now this question may show everyone how little I know about this. I am ask just a general answer we talking about 5 min. 1 hr 5 hrs or what or maybe I cannot even use them. They are telecom batteries.

 

[teg]

Peukert Number Battery Life Calculator

Use the calculator above but off hand, very rough guess, pulling a number out of my butt... 15-20 minutes give or take. Those need a perfect charge cycle. ...with a really good charger.

http://www.battery-usa.com/Catalog/12FAT75.pdf

Are these new batteries or were they used? They can be (don't know a better term then) destroyed... if you over charge them.

 

[TomSr]

Won't there be considerable power loss w/ either a belt and pulley or chain and sprocket drive? Golf cart will also give a suspension system for a better ride.

I dont think there will be much power loss. I dont think a direct drive is practical but what do I know, thats why I am asking so many questions.

 

[teg]

We have an '85 Voltswagon Rabbit (96 volts total) It's called the "Lead Sled". I only use 2nd gear around town. Electric motors have plenty of torque, if that is what you are worried about.

 

[TomSr]

We have an '85 Voltswagon Rabbit (96 volts total) It's called the "Lead Sled". I only use 2nd gear around town. Electric motors have plenty of torque, if that is what you are worried about.

What are the specs on the motor you are using.

 

[teg]

My motor is one that you would not want to use... at least not for this project. You'll need to size the motor for your vehicle... (I don't think you'll need one to do 60 mph) but here are the:

Motor details: Motor, Advanced DC #FB1-4001, 9.1", single shaft

The car: 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet