Electric Mountain Board

The goal was an electric conversion with minimum damage to the board and the ability to remove the system for standard riding.

Step 1 Parts and Tools

I tried to get as many parts as I could locally but most had to be ordered online. The prices are approximately what I paid. Total cost of the project not including the board was about: $350

Board: MBS Core 95 from MBS Mountainboards. $300

Brakes: MBS V5 Brake Kit also from MBS Mountainboards. $60

Motor: 24V 300W Electric scooter motor from my local scooter shop. $30

Sprocket and Chain: Scooter sprocket and #25 chain also from my local scooter shop. $20

Steel pieces: 16ga sheet steel, perforated square tube (14ga), perforated bar and two flat bars (14ga) from Lowes. $20

The batteries, charger, controller and throttle were all ordered from Monster Scooter Parts.

Batteries: Two 12V 10 Ah scooter batteries. $65

Charger: 24V 1.6 Amp XLR Battery Charger and XLR charging socket. $38

Controller: 24V 500W Universal Voltage and Speed Controller. $33

Throttle: Generic 4-wire thumb throttle. $13

Other parts: Wire, electrical tape, wire connectors, nuts and bolts, zip ties, tie down straps. $35

Tools Used:
Socket set
Sawhorses
Hacksaw
Hammer
Adjustable wrenches
Hex key wrenches
Pliers
Clamps
Drill and bits
Jigsaw and blades
Metal files
Wire stripper
Chainbreaker - $30 from Monster Scooter Parts

Comments

[TSC]

This is awsome! My brother would like to build some like this!

[he who crashes often]

awesome! i made something kinda similar-ish to this, but i used a longboard and i didn't want to have to go to the trouble to build a drive train (i have fairly little time, as i have a 3 hour commute to school every day, and sailing team practice 3 days a week) so i used a 60 amp 12 volt (720 watts) brushless motor and a propeller. i mounted a 9" long piece of 2x4 on the back sticking up, and mounted the motor and propeller (in a pusher configuration) on that. i run it off a 3,000mah, 12 volt lithium polymer battery, and an rc speed controller. i control it using the r/c system i use on my rc planes, but it would work fine with the $20 radio available at hobbyking. below i have links to where i got the supplies. it takes a while to accelerate (0-20mph in 29 seconds lolol) and can't climb hills, but it's great fun on the flat just cruising around town, just be careful to shut off the throttle when passing people so as not to cut their feet off.
parts used:
motor:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=15201
speed controller
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7340

battery:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15009__Turnigy_3000mAh_3S_20C_Lipo_Pack_USA_Warehouse_.html
propeller:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8057
radio (not the one i used, but much cheaper, and better for this application):
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__10608__Hobby_King_GT_2_2_4Ghz_2Ch_Tx_Rx_.html

[chopstx]

If possible, could you provide a close up of the drive wheel with the sprocket? I want to see how you mounted the sprocket. Thanks!

[Vurp]

I couldn't find a close up, but I used the hardware from the MBS V5 Brake Kit and drilled holes in the sprocket that matched the brake kits rotor. The hardware is basically a spacer and bolt that lifts the rotor away from the wheel.

[chopstx]

Ok so do you think I would need the brake kit to drill the holes or could i just drill them based off of how I need to attatch it to the wheel?

[Vurp]

You could do it without the brake kit if all you wanted was the sprocket mounted to the wheel, i think it would just take some good measuring to get it centered.

[DustySeven7]

you can use RC batteries, you have to wire them in series and then a parallel.
These guys took a electric longboard using CIM motor.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Electric-Longboard-Build-Clever-CIM-Motor-Drivet/

here is the battery they used http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6518

the battery wiring is on step four
if you wanted to use the motors they used look at step 5 and 6

[randymonster]

i built one of these and have two more frames welded would anyone want to buy a complete 24volt 900watt version on a steel frame?

[butty15]

this is probably a stupid question but i ride goofy ( right foot foward) so if i buil this would i need the motor on the otherside e.g rear wheel drive?

[Vurp]

Yes the motor would be on the other side. You can also reverse the foot straps I think.

[butty15]

thanks

[chopstx]

Great idea, now im hooked after watching videos on youtube of these things.... :)

I have a lot of questions tho before i start spending money on the wrong stuff.

Is your setup 1 wheel drive? Do you need 2 motors(one on each wheel) and 4 batteries to make 2wd version? Wouldnt the board always turn with 1wd?

Would a Atom 90 be suitable for this?

If I am 140 pounds could i get away with a 400 watt motor? And still have good torque and speed? This would just be used for going around the neighborhood and on trails, not legit mountain boarding.

any way I can use a lever handle for throttle?

Thanks alot and great 'ible!

[Vurp]

It is one wheel drive and I have never noticed any turning.
The MBS Atom 90 board should work fine.
Depending on how fast you want to go I would try to get the biggest motor you can afford, a 400 watt will get you around but wont be super fast.
The throttle on this is electric so if you mean a lever throttle that uses a tension wire to control speed it wont work with this setup.
Good luck on your build.

[chopstx]

thanks! do you have any experience using rc motors and esc's instead of scooter stuff?

[Vurp]

Never used those but I have looked at some of the other builds that have them and they seem to work really well.

[chopstx]

Yeah I think that if they will electronically work together, I would like to use a 750 watt scooter motor with a rc esc and controller.

I still have some research to do so if anybody that sees this has tips, tricks, or info that could help me build an electric mountainboard, I would greatly appreciate it!

[mountainboardpro]

do u know of a way to make the board go 20 mph without raising the price to much?

[Vurp]

The higher the wattage of the motor the faster it will go but if you have to buy the motor that also increases the price.

[mountainboardpro]

Hey, Vurp
do u know if a 24 volt baterie would work instead of 2 12 volts and would it affect the speed and the other parts?

[Vurp]

One 24V battery would work the same as two 12V as long as that is the voltage your system is setup for. Also the higher the amp hour on the battery the longer the charge.

[shadowman2]

How about putting a 300 watt(low rpm) motor on each wheel (yay for 4x4!!) And 20 laptop li-ion batteries underneath the board. This would be pricey, but the looks and power.. Maybe even a large capacitor as Bowmaster suggested (for double power at startup, since the motors would be direct-drive to the wheel. I wanna build this three years from now when i return to Canada.

[shadowman2]

Or maybe 2 1kw motors on each axle with chains!

[mnbouchet]

This has already been done :D :

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=FR#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=X7g6eaY21t8

Can't even begin to grasp how awesome this is....

[KommieCid]

Your link seems to be malfunctioning sir/madam, it may require revising

[mnbouchet]

You seem to be correct :D Here's a working one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7g6eaY21t8&feature=related

enjoy, the guy who has made the board posted other videos ;)

[sheen110]

hi vurp, could you help ,me out here ? iv damaged the thumb throttle when dismantling it and dont have a clue how it was wired

inside it has blue, orange,yellow and red
orange and yellow are contected fine and it lights up but red blue and white are cut. would you be able to remember how its supposed to be . ? i havethe same throttle as you.

shaun

[Vurp]

I never fully dismantled my throttle so if you mean on the inside Im not sure where they go.

[nitram135]

 I have 2 12 volt batteries that are in series that i want to connect to a 24 volt controller but when the controller touches the battery, i get a lot of sparks. Does any1 know why?

[inventor1995]

The leads in the connector may be bent and could be touching the two polarities of the battery together causing a short circuit.

[slivka]

Make sure you got the polarity right.  Also if the batteries are discharged the can draw a lot of current at the begging.  

[SystemZERO]

What's the top speed on this beast?

[Vurp]

Doing the gear and motor calculations top speed is about 10-11mph or 18-19kmh which seems about right. I have been thinking about ways to increase this without spending too much more.

[Spokehedz]

Make the gear on the motor bigger. That'll increase the speed, but will reduce the torque--something electric motors have plenty of anyway.

[arf200]

or lower the gear on the tire. same efect though

[computerwiz_222]

True, but the more torque you demand, the shorter the battery life and the take off speed will be slightly slower because the motor has to build up "momentum" In other words, the motor has to overcome the stopped friction. Friction when the device is stopped, is much higher than when the device is already moving.

[Spokehedz]

Why not push off with your foot for the first couple of feet, and then turn on the motor gradually as you help it along with your foot?

[crakdos]

That's how mine works, but it is still not fast enough. I guess its time to make another one

[computerwiz_222]

well I guess you'll have to *sigh* {sarcasm} I love building stuff lol

[computerwiz_222]

lol that i never thought of that... Plus, why wouldn't you. When you skateboard, you push off...

[btop]

Heh, thats a good idea. Get yourself moving and then let the motor do the rest.