Beefing up a childs electric car...
Discussion
Hi,
I have a 12v electric car for my boys and I'd like to beef up the power a little. I currently doesn't cope too well with even moderate inclines.
So... I have no idea where to start really. I guess changing the motors for 24v would do the trick but they'd probably make the car unusable/too powerful. I think the car has a motor on each wheel but if not, I guess adding motors to undriven wheels will do the trick too.
I guess what I'm after is some ideas from you engineering geniuses!
Cheers!
Phil.
I have a 12v electric car for my boys and I'd like to beef up the power a little. I currently doesn't cope too well with even moderate inclines.
So... I have no idea where to start really. I guess changing the motors for 24v would do the trick but they'd probably make the car unusable/too powerful. I think the car has a motor on each wheel but if not, I guess adding motors to undriven wheels will do the trick too.
I guess what I'm after is some ideas from you engineering geniuses!
Cheers!
Phil.
Landlord said:
Hi,
I have a 12v electric car for my boys and I'd like to beef up the power a little. I currently doesn't cope too well with even moderate inclines.
So... I have no idea where to start really. I guess changing the motors for 24v would do the trick but they'd probably make the car unusable/too powerful. I think the car has a motor on each wheel but if not, I guess adding motors to undriven wheels will do the trick too.
I guess what I'm after is some ideas from you engineering geniuses!
Cheers!
Phil.
Put a Briggs and Stratton in it!I have a 12v electric car for my boys and I'd like to beef up the power a little. I currently doesn't cope too well with even moderate inclines.
So... I have no idea where to start really. I guess changing the motors for 24v would do the trick but they'd probably make the car unusable/too powerful. I think the car has a motor on each wheel but if not, I guess adding motors to undriven wheels will do the trick too.
I guess what I'm after is some ideas from you engineering geniuses!
Cheers!
Phil.
(Electricity is for starter motors.)
Edited by dilbert on Sunday 22 August 14:32
Having a look at it to see how it's put together would probably be the best place to start.
Before tearing the thing to bits, I would experiment with a car battery to find out if the one that's in there at the moment is the limiting factor (if it is, buy a replacement sealed battery from Maplin). If not, I would be looking to replace the motor with a more powerful 12-ish volt (not 24v) one. Depending on what it looks like, I would be thinking in terms of cannibalising something like a chunky rechargeable drill, an electric golf caddy or wheelchair, possibly a rechargeable lawnmower or windscreen wipers/electric windows to get the new motor cheaply and easily. You want one that'll fit with the minimum amount of modification and fabrication; the mountings will need to be pretty strong because it'll be trying to rip itself out of them.
Before tearing the thing to bits, I would experiment with a car battery to find out if the one that's in there at the moment is the limiting factor (if it is, buy a replacement sealed battery from Maplin). If not, I would be looking to replace the motor with a more powerful 12-ish volt (not 24v) one. Depending on what it looks like, I would be thinking in terms of cannibalising something like a chunky rechargeable drill, an electric golf caddy or wheelchair, possibly a rechargeable lawnmower or windscreen wipers/electric windows to get the new motor cheaply and easily. You want one that'll fit with the minimum amount of modification and fabrication; the mountings will need to be pretty strong because it'll be trying to rip itself out of them.
You need to increase the voltage supplied to the motors to speed them up. Changing the motors for 24v will halve the speed if you only supply them with 12v (assuming similarly rated motor... You could put another 12v battery in series with the existing one.
Check your cabling; under load the motors will draw a fair bit of current, so your power cables need to be appropriately rated as this can cause notable losses.
Check your cabling; under load the motors will draw a fair bit of current, so your power cables need to be appropriately rated as this can cause notable losses.
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