I had a dream 18 months ago that I learnt how to ride a skateboard, and so did what any self respecting man in his 40s should do. I purchased a second hand long board and started skating. Quickly realised I wanted to electrify.
This is actually my second build. I’m updating my first build.
The setup is the version 2 boardUp model. However, the board was toast. Too much flex and no ‘spring’. So with some photoshop magic I realised a $39 Kmart cruiser would be a perfect donor board and I set to testing my assumptions and modifying. The trucks are basic aliexpress hub motor models.
I designed my own custom enclosure and battery module. Then 3d printed the parts, needed a few revisions before getting working prototype, mainly due to tolerances. This is what the build consists of…
VHB Tape to adhere the case to the board (this stuff rocks).
PETG Enclosure (final will be TPU).
PETG Battery packs.
Reverse magnets glued to PETG latches to secure batteries
Molicel P45B 21700 batteries in 2 x 6S1P configuration.
12S1P battery when both plugged in.
Flipsky FT85BD non-vesc (aluminium case removed).
Freerch 3500w hub motors x 2.
Flipsku VX4 remote
DIY Brake Light made from PETG and leds
Low profile heat sink for cooling
ISDT 608PD Charger (I use my laptop charger for power)
After I get some time up riding it around, the next step will be to tweak the design. Mainly to add extra strength in locations. Then I’ll slice off the case and install a more polished version.
It fits in my work laptop backpack. Noting that my back pack is a larger volume one. I actually need to update my work carrying options and finding a good fit is of major importance.
Total weight I think was around 7.2kgs. I haven’t properly weighed all components now that it is in situ.
Thanks! It took me a while to get it right with a number of iterations. The battery pack actually forms the final structural component of the case. It literally holds things together. As I said, lots of iterations but it smoothly slides in and engages flawlessly with the XT60 connectors.
Yep, no BMS on board. I could MAYBE integrate. But the idea is that when I fly for work I have to unplug the batteries any way. So I figured that I would make it so my travel lipo charger can charge them. Each pack has the main power and then a balance plug, so they are still properly charged and balanced.
Not super fast. I’ve not even had an opportunity to run them down apart from top up’s. I’ve had to rebuild one pack due to a cell dying and then the adjacent cell not recovering properly. It’s all sweet now, but still I’ve only had to charge from 4v to 4.2v. That only takes moments.
So I’ve had a few chances to charge now. I can usually get the 6s battery to 4.15v +/- 0.5 between cells. It then takes another 20 minutes or so to balance cells to the final 4.2v. But the charger is purely passive balancer so this could be faster.
