Previous in Forum: How many mega-wats of storage?   Next in Forum: hdd partion not shown in my computer
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
8 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
oddog
Associate

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Alberta-Canada
Posts: 39
Good Answers: 1

electric gocart controler

10/18/2008 11:35 PM

Hi I'm a newby to this site and electrical is not my forte. A coworker is planing to make an electric gocart for his kids using a car starter and a car battery gelcell. He asked about a throtle control I sugested a controller from an electric pallet jack or small forklift .Would this work or is there a better option for a budget toy ? I should also state his oldest is 9 so a settable max pwr. is a needed option. Thanks all

__________________
 for best results keep the rubber side down
Register to Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
ozzb
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Old Salt Hobbies - CNC - New Member United States - US - Statue of Liberty - New Member

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rosedale, Maryland USA
Posts: 5197
Good Answers: 266
#1

Re: electric gocart controler

10/19/2008 7:40 PM

Company called Curtis makes controllers for pallet trucks and golf carts.

__________________
 Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty, pristine body but rather to come sliding in sideways, all used up and exclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!"
Register to Reply
Tim in Mexico
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Anywhere I may be at the time
Posts: 661
Good Answers: 16
#2

Re: electric gocart controler

10/19/2008 11:44 PM

I don't think a single gel cell will support much riding with a standard high torque car starter.

However I do not have the training to work a formula in order to estimate the run time, this is merely practical experience.

Hopefully another member will be able to narrow this down a little.

Yes, a controler for a DC powered Pallet Jack will work. I am only questioning the run or play time before recharging.
Register to Reply
2
Neil Kwyrer
Power-User

Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 408
Good Answers: 5
#3

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 3:46 AM

The best option is to buy readymade toy cars, scooters etc (made in China)- these are good quality using state of art dc PM motors with PWM controllers- if your friend desires "do it yourself" assembly, there are places where can buy s/h motors, controllers,SLA etc. A car starter motor is not suitable- too high current drain, & not intended for use more than say 20 secs- overheat/failure would occur.
Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
No more Good Answers. Go to first "Almost" Good Answer
mfdo
Active Contributor

Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 13
#4

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 6:27 AM

starter motor is desingned to run for a short time and consumes lot of current. I can itroduce you battery powered screw driver drill for job. It has a gear system run with a small DC motor and easily can be coupled.
Register to Reply
gdevine
Power-User

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Globaly - very close to the southern most point of Canada
Posts: 445
Good Answers: 12
#5

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 8:39 AM

A friend in high school did this. Not sure what he used for a controller. But he did say it was VERY fast and he could easily spin the tires. But it did not last very long at all.

If you are going for a go-cart sized drag car then it will work great!!

__________________
 -why bother doing it wrong when it will be anyway.......
Register to Reply
ronseto
Guru
Technical Fields - Technical Writing - New Member Engineering Fields - Marine Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Vancleave, Ms about 30 miles inland from Biloxi and the coast
Posts: 3197
Good Answers: 106
#6

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 9:42 AM

Hi, newby, Go to this site for all the parts you need.

http://electricscooterparts.com/

__________________
 Mr.Ron from South Ms.
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
No more "Almost" Good Answers.
wtupp
Participant

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1
#7

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 11:18 AM

Try a medical equipment supply store.

We have used equipment that is not suitable for elderly folk'z , but will work fine

for your purpose.

http://www.tupperhomehealthcare.com/
Register to Reply
Snave
Power-User

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: S. California, USA
Posts: 279
Good Answers: 12
#8

Re: electric gocart controler

10/20/2008 11:44 AM

Another reason a starter motor is not suitable, is that the bearings are not selected to provide many service hours.
Register to Reply
Register to Reply
Have a Different Question?
8 comments

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

gdevine (1); mfdo (1); Neil Kwyrer (1); ozzb (1); ronseto (1); Snave (1); Tim in Mexico (1); wtupp (1)

Previous in Forum: How many mega-wats of storage?   Next in Forum: hdd partion not shown in my computer

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Forum
General Discussion:
Go

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (68 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement