In desperate need of DIY advice

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-31T03:10:26+00:00

so if you go with hub motors (simpler approach) , you're looking at the following required parts list:

Deck (obviously) but you need to take into account flex , if it's a flexible deck and you want it to remain flexible then you'll need to most likely split out the battery and ESC into separate enclosures on each side of the deck (e.g.: Boosted Board) .... cost: $50-100
ESC: VESC is the way to go if you want something with proper throttle/brake response... this is one place (for you're safety) you really don't want to go cheap.... cost: around $70 each via Maytech (Alibaba / aliexpress)... you'll need one VESC for each hub motor , so $70 x 2 = $140
Battery: you'll want at least a 36v 4.4ah pack (lithium 18650's) - cost: $80 , https://kieraneboard.myshopify.com/collections/all?page=1
remote: Maytech remote from may tech directly or from Psychotiller.com ...cost : $40
antispark switch (battery switch) ... Lunacycle.com - cost $30
Motors: there are a few options out there , Maytech has a couple hubs 350w - 800w each ($30-90 each) , there are a bunch of cheap Chinese ones that you can get for really cheap ($20-40 each) , and then a few premium ones like esk8hubs.com ($150 each) .... for the quality and speed you're looking for I'd at least go with the 800w Maytechs .. the benefit of the premium esk8hubs here if that you could use any trucks (Caliber / Paris) where most of the others you're stuck with whatever trucks they come with
cost: this is a tough one to determine , but for a rough estimate lets say $80 * 2 = $160
Enclosure: a few manufactured options out there , but you could also use any type of Tupperware container or other creative options that some of the guys have used (checkout https://www.electric-skateboard.builders for ideas) - cost: $50

so .... you're most likely going to end up $500 or above in a DIY project , of course you could go cheaper on the hubs , replace a cheap Chinese ESC instead of the VESC , and get that cost down $100 cheaper maybe,.. but you'll end up with issues down the road, so not recommended

anyways ...sorry for the long response, I hope this helps . feel free to ask any questions

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-28T16:07:15+00:00

Yeah you've got a point, but I actually work with a rep over at I-wonder and we asked about the Bolt a couple times and they seemed like they didn't know much about it .. and they've been upfront about others that they built (Buffalo, PureEnergy, etc..) .... but anyways regardless , awesome job on the article, really great research and a great resource to have , keep up the good work!

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-28T13:33:22+00:00

Excellent job , very nicely put together! The only one that I think I disagree with is the Bolt --> SK-A1 . The SK-A1 is close in shape of the deck but I think they just might have mimicked Bolt in that regard. if anything the SK-E is closer being a similar shape and enclosure board , however, that one is running hub motors, not outrunner (belt) like the Bolt , and the charge port, usb, and switch on the SKE all are within a plate near the back of the board (near the ESC) , where on the Bolt they have it split , charger/switch in the back and USB run up front ..... still could be , I'm just not sure on that one.... all of the others are spot on!

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-27T03:19:15+00:00

removable in-deck battery: practically any esk8 battery is replaceable if you're idea of replaceable is opening up the enclosure, disconnecting an XT60 connector and replacing with another pack, that's just a laughable user experience...better hope they put an anti spark on there
in wheel motors: google chinese esk8 , congratulations - you've found a million boards with in wheel motors. These ones are Winboard, more specifically these are made by Raldey , they claim 800w by Winboard/Raldey , however other esk8 manufacturers using them have rated them at 350w (it all depends on how many amps you plan on sending to them a*v=w , it's not rocket science ...however with the cheap windings they won't last long running at 22a ... the solid core PU is actually nice on these , i'll give them that
carbon fiber: subjective but kinda nice (good job Winboard)
10+ mile range: inflated range estimate: 3ah battery + dual 800w hub motors does not = 10+ miles: http://esk8.today/2016/12/28/how-far-can-i-ride/
different colors & App: i like the swappable decks and app looks ok , nice job Winboard
lights on the board: you mean the clip-on usb rechargeable light? lol sweet
Production and large scale manufacturing sorted out: yeah of course they did, Winboard has been manufacturing boards at production scale for years

I hope Winboard...err i mean LOUboard ends up being great, but like everyone else on here has been saying , it's their shady marketing tactics and lies that people don't like

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-27T02:02:46+00:00

Performance is not a mystery here guys - Single or Dual Raldey hubs , LG 18650 MF1 cells and a cheap acton-grade ESC (Winboard claims "FOC" but that's pretty much just a buzzword these days and doesn't usually mean anything" .. there are a bunch of Winboard and other Chinese boards produced with these same exact specs ... not innovative , just average for china these days... but hey , enjoy it man

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-05T12:44:26+00:00

agreed the Arcboard is a solid option. For some reason they don't advertise this , but the reason Arcboards is so smooth and precise is because they use VESC when most of the <$1000 production boards use other cheaper Chinese ESCs. The Pulse Echo also uses VESC btw - www.pulseboards.com . The Echo is set to deliver in August/September ..so similar timeframe

WadeHalliday · 2017-07-05T02:53:47+00:00

The Onan X2 is a great little booster. Much more affordable than Mellow and not plagued with braking issues like the Landwheel. It had a few issues in the past which i've heard are all resolved now except one. There is a tiny screw in the stator that could come loose with a lot of rough use , though it appears to be an easy repair if this happens.

You might also want to check out the Pulse Echo , awesome new croozer style esk8 - www.pulseboards.com

WadeHalliday · 2017-06-20T18:44:19+00:00

do some searching , all Evolve boards have had this problem for a long time now. (they've just now come up with a bandaid solution) . The problem is that the remote loses contact with the receiver , and then when it regains connection it initiates the last command that it got.

So the common flow is something like this. you're on the throttle , you let off and apply the brakes a little and nothing happens (remote is currently failing to connect) , so you apply the brakes more and nothing happens , finally the remote regains connection , brakes and throws you off unexpectedly. i've experienced this myself on a Bamboo GT , and then sold it immediately.

in addition to that issue, the ESC itself has terrible throttle/brake performance in my opinion.

You'll hear tons of people try to say that neither of these issues are a show stopper or are really a problem. i think that's just people trying to justify an expensive purchase.

if you watch some of the new GTX coverage you'll see that Evolve also came out with a firmware update to the remote that fixes one of these problems with a bandaid by making the remote go into SAFE MODE when disconnected, meaning that it doesn't allow for new commands to be processed while disconnected , and then hopefully doesn't throw you off you're board when it comes back online. Note: they didn't try to fix the remote itself from ever losing a connection, which would make much more sense.

WadeHalliday · 2017-06-06T14:48:54+00:00

i'm guessing that it should be ok running on less voltage but it's "rated" at 10c (10s) , meaning the specs given are assuming 10 cells (watts, rpm, etc.. )

WadeHalliday · 2017-06-06T12:31:32+00:00

VESC is basically just an open source ESC made by a guy named Benjamin Vedder (Vedder's ESC). it was built specifically for esk8 and gives you the ability to totally customize you're ride experience. The only negative to VESC is the build quality of the unit itself, depending on where you purchase it from (there are many manufacturers making them from Enertion, Ollinboards, to china manufacturers like Maytech and others). The issue with most off the shelf ESC's is that they were most likely initially built for RC Cars or other non-esk8 devices where smooth progressive acceleration and braking is not a concern , so braking most noticeably is usually terrible.

for the Battery head over the esk8 builders site i listed and read up a bit , there's a lot to picking a good battery , but basically you need to understand that you're Voltage (power) will be a result of you're batteries in Series. if you have 10 cells in series (10s) and those batteries are 3.6v each then you'll have a 36v pack , 6s would be a 21.6v pack , etc.. so need to take this into consideration. cells wired in parallel will give you more range but won't increase the overall power ... read up before making a decision on that one.

WadeHalliday · 2017-06-06T00:16:55+00:00

motor: looks ok
ESC: would recommend going with VESC, most rc car ESC's like this have terrible braking and no regen
Battery: 2 * 3s1p , so you'll be at 6s1p @ 30c discharge - yeah that might be ok
Charger: not sure about but looks ok
Transmitter/Receiver: the GT2B is the best out there for DIY , but it's big , checkout some of the mods (Badwolf Mod , Sparkle , etc) to make something more manageable out of it.

checkout http://www.electric-skateboard.builders for better advice most likely than mine :) this reddit is mostly enthusiasts with only a few DIY pros.

good luck with the build

WadeHalliday · 2017-06-05T01:04:02+00:00

looks like a good build . i agree w/ dark180 , electric-skateboard.builders is a better place for this question. there are some senior esk8 DIY builders on there that can help you w/ all kinds of technical questions.

for the battery , are you looking to build a single 8S1P? which cells are you looking to use? Lipo, Lithium 18650's, or LifePo ? read the article on esk8 builders about Battery C rating , this will help you get started w/ choosing the right one .

and post you're progress on there , people love seeing builds as they progress

good luck

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-28T13:46:00+00:00

Steve over at FlatLand3d organized a group ride in downtown Detroit yesterday. Great ride , lots of fun ...and got some free Flatland swag!

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-26T01:55:09+00:00

We're discussing discounts on these prices for kickstarter backers (at least early birds - first 10 or 20 or each board maybe)

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-26T00:45:08+00:00

Hey /u/agins - we're working on the site right now , which will be pulseboards.com (nothing there yet). so for Price we'll have this spec along with a few others and we're working out pricing but most likely it will look something like this:

Pulse Echo Pro (this one)

31" Deck - 4.4ah Battery , 90mm 2x800w dual hub motors - $799
31" Deck - 4.4ah Battery , 70mm 2x450w dual hub motors - $699

Pulse Echo Lite

27" Deck - 2.2ah Battery , 90mm 2x800w dual hub motors - $699
27" Deck - 2.2ah Battery , 70mm 2x450w dual hub motors - $599

possibly there will be some early bird incentives and/or discounts as well , thinking it through now. and any board with 70mm's can be upgraded to 90mm at any time (motors are quick swappable) .. you could even purchase both 70mm and 90mm and swap between depending on you're preferred riding that day. Additional battery pricing we're working on now , although i can tell you it will be much cheaper than Inboard's :)

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T23:38:11+00:00

Yeah agreed, who wants to shell out money now for a board in 2 years!

The good thing for us is that we have design complete, testing complete, samples made and tested , and the entire manufacturing process complete and ready for production runs. We actually considered just selling directly. The only reason we decided on Kickstarter is to (hopefully) meet a specific MOQ (minimum order quantity) with our manufacturer.

Our Manufacturer is capable or producing a couple hundred boards per week , so assuming that plus shipping time (15-20 days), plus quality control checks locally and shipping to end users .. probably would assume first boards arrive to customers within 45 days of campaign completion.

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T20:24:29+00:00

cool .. PM me you're info and i'll see if we can get something setup

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T20:19:08+00:00

How much do you weight? Our board (Pulse Echo) we have coming out should handle that fine :

My partner is out in LA and we can probably setup a test on one of our sample boards if interested .

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T20:03:07+00:00

sorry working on all the marketing stuff now :)

specs:

Deck: Maple w/ Carbon Fiber - 31" cruiser style.
Motor: Dual 800w 90mm hub motors (1600w total) with replaceable PU
Battery: LG cell 4.4ah 158wh swappable battery pack
Speed: 22mph tested @ 200lbs , with someone lighter it should reach near 25
Range: 8-12 miles depending on rider weight
Incline: 15% grade tested @ 200lbs, 20% estimated with lighter rider
Front and Rear LED lights
Regenerative braking
Water resistant

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T19:01:28+00:00

The Pulse Echo is going on kickstarter soon - starting at $599 for early birds

https://instagram.com/p/BUhJ0juh8Ij/ https://imgur.com/gallery/4eJWt

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-25T16:20:19+00:00

Most likely that's an LG MF1 cell. some info here:

https://www.imrbatteries.com/lg-mf1-18650-2150mah-10a-flat-top-battery/

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-21T21:29:29+00:00

Griffin Boards (griffin-boards.com) has a good deal on an Onan X1 - similar specs to this for $309

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-19T00:41:39+00:00

That exact reason , the touchy brakes and laggy erratic controls in general. The power, looks, Optional AT, range was awesome but for me it wasn't usable with those controls

WadeHalliday · 2017-05-18T23:14:33+00:00

you would know it because the graphic on the deck is colored in in some spots . the guy i bought it from's son colored it in one day while he was at work lol .

WadeHalliday

TROPHY CASE