Make Your Own Electric Motorized Longboard

In this project I will show you how to build an electric motorized longboard from scratch. It can reach speeds up to 34km/h and travel up to 20km with a single charge. The estimated costs are around 300$ which makes it a good alternative to commercial solutions. Let's get started!

Step 1: Watch Part 1 of the Video Series!

During the first part I will show you how to build the longboard itself. The process is rather simple but you can always get yourself an already completed board from your favorite seller. The method of attaching the motor and the electronics later on stays the same.

Step 2: Board Template & Parts List for Your Homemade Board!

Here you can find the board template that I used during the video. Don't forget to print it out as a poster otherwise your board will be a bit small.

The materials you need for your own longboard are the following (affiliate links):

Home Improvement Store:

2x 55x122cm 4mm thick beech plywood

1x 55x122cm 6mm thick beech plywood

2x 550g waterproof wood glue

1x wood glaze (walnut)

Aliexpress:

1x Longboard Kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6w9w3l

1x Grip Tape: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7q4HQP

Amazon.de:

1x Longboard Kit: http://amzn.to/1TEUgpy

1x Grip Tape: http://amzn.to/1klBxTE

Step 3: Watch Part 2 of the Video Series!

In this second part of the trilogy I will show you the mechanical build. This includes attaching a gear wheel to one wheel, milling an adapter to connect the motor to the already mentioned gear wheel and finally mounting the cases for the electronics onto the board.

Step 4: Adapter.svg File & Parts List

Here you can find the .svg file I created for the adapter. Open it with Inkscape in order to print it out as a template or to modify the design.

You will need the following parts to complete this step (affiliate links):

Home Improvement Store:

1x 120x1000mm 0.5mm thick steel sheet

1x 160x100mm 10mm thick aluminium

2x cable gland

Ebay:

1x 400kV 1560W Motor: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

or http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...
1x Gear System: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

2x 22.2V 5000mAh LiPo Battery: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

or http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 70A ESC: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

or http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

5x XT60 Connector: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x 7 Pin Balancer Extension: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x 3 Position Toggle Switch: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Aliexpress:

1x 400kV 1560W Motor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d8Bo2RN

2x 22.2V 5000mAh LiPo Battery: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXPvyiT

1x 80A ESC: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVnaBPt

5x XT60 Connector: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7rt0sn

2x 3 Position Toggle Switch: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d9dxPD5

Amazon.de:

2x 22.2V 5000mAh LiPo Battery: http://amzn.to/1N0qLcl

1x 80A ESC: http://amzn.to/22TtTCt

5x XT60 Connector: http://amzn.to/1LUS0HX

2x 3 Position Toggle Switch: http://amzn.to/1GlYVHo

Step 5: Watch Part 3 of the Video Series!

In the final part of the trilogy I will talk about the wiring inside the cases and how I created a remote control from an old Wii nunchuk I had laying around.

Step 6: The Wiring!

Here you can find the wiring diagram that you need to follow in order to achieve the same functionality. Make sure to only switch on one battery at a time. Otherwise you would charge the empty battery through the full one and the ESC might not function correctly. But don't worry nothing would explode if that mistake happens.

For the wiring I used 12AWG red and black wire: Here is an example: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Step 7: Build the Transmitter and Receiver Circuit!

Here you can find all the schematics, code and board layouts that I created for the transmitter and receiver.

Make sure to upload the Attiny Sketch to your ATtiny45 if you want to finalize your nunchuk remote control.

You will need the following parts for this step (affiliate links):

Ebay:

1x STX882 Transmitter, SRX882 Receiver: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x NE5534: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x ATtiny45: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Slide Switch: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 300-380mAh 3.7V LiPo Battery: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

or http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Charging/Protection Circuit: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

3x 10k Resistor: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Micro USB Board: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Aliexpress:

1x STX882 Transmitter, SRX882 Receiver: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZNyOB9

1x NE5534: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXhNVER

1x ATtiny45: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYnbbCb

Amazon.de:

1x NE5534: http://amzn.to/1MHZjp7

1x ATtiny45: http://amzn.to/1ZkjVe4

Step 8: Success!

You did it. You just built your own electric longboard from scratch. Make sure to share your pictures in the comment section.

Feel free to check out my YouTube channel for more awesome projects:

http://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes information:

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab

Comments

[dpowell14]

how much money would this cost to build

[maork1]

HI

this is a great project I enjoyed watching it and building it.

however I didn't understood one thing.

how do you use the brake? because if you program with brake on then when you don't "push the gas" the motor will brake which means that you don't have

neutral in this system.

please if anyone can explain how to use the brake and still have neutral with the 70A blue series esc.

thanks

[KetanD14]

Any thoughts on using 18650 Li-ion batteries? Maybe in a 6S2P setup? I'm thinking of building this project but I'm not sure if there's any problems with making by own batteries in this way.

[EthanS89]

it shouldn't change anything except make sure you get an ESC that works with Li-ion/Li-Fe Batteries, and a charging circuit designed for Li-ion batteries , then you'd be sorted.

[EkssDee]

While looking at your code examples I noticed some issues with it, it violated DRY and all of the while loops will make the ESC unresponsive i.e if you throttle up and then release the deadmans switch it would firstly speed up and then speed down, because while loops block other code from executing until they are finished aka the condition is false.

So I decided to rewrite it, my code is made for a wired connection instead of a wireless one, because I am still waiting on 2.4ghz modules and ofcourse it should be simple enough to include wireless connectivity.

The code I wrote is both sleek and simple with comments for people who dont program that much, though you will need to change the microsecond values and stuff as required for your ESC.

The code can be found in this pastebin: https://pastebin.com/efV4BuV0

[shanes126]

Is the brake supposed to be on when the board is turned off?

[OfficialSindri]

Hello, I have been working un a simular project for quite some time now and was wondering, Isn't there a chance of overdischarging the LiPos? and if so what can we do about it? Thanks!

[darandombomb.]

That is a very common worry, yes lipo batteries can be overdischarged and damaged but most (almost all) escs will prevent them from reaching a voltage that will permanently damage the cells. Often you can select a cutoff voltage, 3.4v is a safe level that can increase the longevity of the battery.

[CircaR]

why I can't use a normaly DC motor (brushed) ???

I think this a good question :)))

I really like your project TNX (y)

[masterofcode]

It will wear out, and you wont go a mile before something smells like its burning. Just no.

[adey2002]

Hello , ive been working on this project recently and i would like to ask if there is a problem that i get a 11.1 v 5200 Mah battery , will it affect anything ?

[agadelha]

can u help me with the gear system? i need more info to buy becase that seller dont send to brazil and all infos in german. what specs i should look?

[NikolaiE]

I have problems when I try to upload the sketch to the Attiny, I get an error message. Is there anything different when I am using my mega 2560 board?

[AdamK71]

I have done everything up until uploading the ATtinysketch, All me and my friends want to find a fix but we cant.whenever i upload it it gets me an error saying ,

AttinySketch:7: error: 'SoftwareServo' does not name a type

AttinySketch.ino: In function 'void setup()':

AttinySketch:15: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch.ino: In function 'void loop()':

AttinySketch:31: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch:32: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:36: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:42: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch:43: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:47: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:49: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch:50: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:55: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch:56: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

AttinySketch:59: error: 'ESC' was not declared in this scope

AttinySketch:60: error: 'SoftwareServo' has not been declared

[GreatScottLab]

Did you downloaded the SoftwareServo library and included it in your library folder? You also need to set the speed of the ATtiny to 8MHz. You can do this by flashing the bootloader.

[sams429]

would this motor work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182381671725

[AdamK71]

if you mean(softwareservo) add the attiny folder to the arduino software so it comes up in the boards option than yes, and yes i have also tried flashing the bootloader to 8MHZ. does the voltage of the cpacitor mattor as it is 50v 10uf. arduino 1.0.5, thank you

[GreatScottLab]

Try the newest Arduino software version.

[AdamK71]

iv tried it again with v1.6.5 but i get error messege

AttinySketch.ino:1:28: fatal error: SoftwareServo.h: No such file or directory

compilation terminated.

Error compiling.

if you could help me that would be greatful

[GreatScottLab]

I don't know how. I just downloaded the code and it compiles without any problems. Make sure to use this ATtiny board library: http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695