Max speed with just battery

[Lightning P38]

The manual for my kit says the max speed for me would be 20 mph. Does that mean with just the 36 volt 10 amp battery and 500 watt geared hub motor, and me not pedaling? As my max speed with just the motor is 13 mph on level ground. Does that sound a little weak? The battery is charged to 41 volts.

thx

 

[ElevenAD]

13mph on level ground! yes thats slow for a 500watt geared hub motor, maybe go into your settings and make sure the top speed is not restricted,

 

[Lightning P38]

13mph on level ground! yes thats slow for a 500watt geared hub motor, maybe go into your settings and make sure the top speed is not restricted,

My top speed is set to 50 kph. So I am thinking there may be other power settings I need to adjust, as 13 mph is about 60% of 20 mph. The throttle response is kinda weak from a dead start too. There is no kick when you start out, and it accelerates kinda slow too.

i test rode an ebike 20 years ago that had more snap than this kit.

 

[6zfshdb]

Check to make sure your controller is set for the proper wheel diameter.

 

[Alex M]

With motor only - some bikes have max speed on throttle (no pedaling) much lower than max speed on PAS.

Post the bike info, some controllers/displays can be hacked or there are more settings to adjust - yes, wheel diameter, somebody has just beat me to it.

I believe "max speed" in specs refers to max speed on PAS for an average fit person. At the max PAS rider's muscle input is insignificant, compared to motor input.

 

[rich c]

You know you will get much better responses if you send a message to the company. They are very responsive and can tell you how to reprogram in minutes. Also look at their youtube page, lots of programming info there. On here, everyone is guessing since we have no idea what the settings are in your controller. Alec is very good at helping with issues like this. More help on their Facebook page too.

 

[Lightning P38]

With motor only - some bikes have max speed on throttle (no pedaling) much lower than max speed on PAS.

Post the bike info, some controllers/displays can be hacked or there are more settings to adjust - yes, wheel diameter, somebody has just beat me to it.

I believe "max speed" in specs refers to max speed on PAS for an average fit person. At the max PAS rider's muscle input is insignificant, compared to motor input.

Thanks guys.....
The wheel size is set to 700c, which is correct. The kit is from Electric Bike Technologies, Croydon, PA.

There is a pas scaling setting, and the manual says to input a lower number to go faster at a slower cadence. So I need to bump that setting down and see if it affects the motor speed when I am not pedaling, as well as when I am pedaling. Weather will be good on Sunday for a ride.

There is also a current limit setting that I checked, as it can reduce motor wattage. The default setting is 20 and will not go higher, but can go lower to reduce motor power...dont want to do that.

I will have to get a pic of the controller to post, as I did not see any id info on it.

 

[Lightning P38]

You know you will get much better responses if you send a message to the company. They are very responsive and can tell you how to reprogram in minutes. Also look at their youtube page, lots of programming info there. On here, everyone is guessing since we have no idea what the settings are in your controller. Alec is very good at helping with issues like this. More help on their Facebook page too.

Rich, you are correct. Good to know Alec is the one to talk with, thanks. I have learned a lot reviewing their excellent videos.

I did call the company on why my display For the battery gauge was blank. Unfortunately she was unable to help me, as she thought I had a 48 volt system, and it turns out I had a 36 volt system that they no longer sell. I figured out the voltage setting was the problem, and fixed it.

I bought my kit for $1,200 from my recumbent bike maker in Lompoc, CA, without knowing the specs of the system last year. Their recumbents are the best made and fastest bikes made. Mine is 20 years old now. They get their kits from Ebikekit.com. So I trusted they would only sell a good bike kit, and I could avoid the time needed to research companies, batteries, motors, etc.

I received the kit with no keys, missing special rack bolts, and last but not least The wrong size wheel. I dont know if the bike maker messed up or the ebikekit.com people messed up the order....dealing with two companies is problematic too.

Ebikekit has been very timely in shipping my missing parts....very responsive. The wheel had to go back to the retail bike maker for correction.

I will call Alec next week after my weekend ride to see about any unresolved issues.

Thanks again for his name!

 

[Lightning P38]

With motor only - some bikes have max speed on throttle (no pedaling) much lower than max speed on PAS.

Post the bike info, some controllers/displays can be hacked or there are more settings to adjust - yes, wheel diameter, somebody has just beat me to it.

I believe "max speed" in specs refers to max speed on PAS for an average fit person. At the max PAS rider's muscle input is insignificant, compared to motor input.

That may be the case, because on pas 2 or 3 I feel a lot stronger boost than just using the throttle. I am bumping up the pas to 4 or 5 on my next ride to see how much more of a punch there is when I pedal. I think you are right, as I went up a short hill in 4th gear when I usually go up it in 1st gear pedaling.

I am also changing a setting to apply more power when my cadence is a little slower.....have to check that out Sunday on my next ride.

I will post some pics the next time I remember to.

 

[rich c]

That may be the case, because on pas 2 or 3 I feel a lot stronger boost than just using the throttle. I am bumping up the pas to 4 or 5 on my next ride to see how much more of a punch there is when I pedal. I think you are right, as I went up a short hill in 4th gear when I usually go up it in 1st gear pedaling.

I am also changing a setting to apply more power when my cadence is a little slower.....have to check that out Sunday on my next ride.

I will post some pics the next time I remember to.

The throttle is definitely tied to PAS level. At level one you don't get much more than walk mode. Level 5 is full power. Of course I mentioned that I changed my setting to 1-9. When it was only 5 levels, I would get too much difference between each PAS number and my range would suffer since every step was 20%. With 9 settings, each step is around 11%. So usually cruise on level 4, so 44%. At 5 steps, I cruised on level 3 to get much throttle response. That was 60%. You'll also notice voltage sag with their system. You can cruise on level 3 with a full battery, but might need level 4 as the voltage drops off. It's a system that takes getting used to!

 

[Lightning P38]

The throttle is definitely tied to PAS level. At level one you don't get much more than walk mode. Level 5 is full power. Of course I mentioned that I changed my setting to 1-9. When it was only 5 levels, I would get too much difference between each PAS number and my range would suffer since every step was 20%. With 9 settings, each step is around 11%. So usually cruise on level 4, so 44%. At 5 steps, I cruised on level 3 to get much throttle response. That was 60%. You'll also notice voltage sag with their system. You can cruise on level 3 with a full battery, but might need level 4 as the voltage drops off. It's a system that takes getting used to!

I really appreciate your comments on your experience. I can adapt to the idiosyncrasies of the kit, as long as I can understand what they are. I have a much better understanding now. Sunday and Monday I will be running that battery down and charging it up!

Thanks much Rich. I lived in Waterloo, IA For 40 years. I bought my recumbent from Tyger Johnson in Rockford, which now has 17,500 miles on it. I have done the Tour of the Mississippi River from Quad Cities to Dubuque 4 or 5 times when I was younger. What a fabulous ride. Have ridden across Wisconsin and Michigan On 5 day tours. Rode western IL in a big loop and saw a canal and John Deeres home and original work site.

Here in the Pocono area, I need help getting up the big hills....they call them mountains....I have gotten tired of walking up the steep ones, and need a boost. I try to stay on the rail trails as no big hills then.

There is a short climb on a trail here I used to go up in granny before I added the kit. With pas set at 3, I could move up to the middle ring and third gear...wow...that was sweet!

Cant wait to try it on pas 5 and see what gear I can hit!

I am going to unplug the throttle so I can get correct odometer and mph readings while I coast down hills....with my 215 lb body, and 25 lb kit, and 28 lb bike I sink like a rock going down hills!

 

[Lightning P38]

With motor only - some bikes have max speed on throttle (no pedaling) much lower than max speed on PAS.

Post the bike info, some controllers/displays can be hacked or there are more settings to adjust - yes, wheel diameter, somebody has just beat me to it.

I believe "max speed" in specs refers to max speed on PAS for an average fit person. At the max PAS rider's muscle input is insignificant, compared to motor input.

This pic show the controller...not much info on the box. There are 4 wires coming out of the box, two at each end. It does not look like other controllers I have seen on EBR, as they seem to to have more wires and a different type of connector on the wires than my controller.

The pic of the display shows how big the numbers are....which I like for my old eyes. Is my display common to other kit brands Or no?

 

[Alex M]

I can't say about this particular kit but not all controllers tie max throttle output to PAS level.