Will upgrading to a 600watt motor solve my electric bike's overheating issue?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the overheating issue of an electric bike's motor, specifically whether upgrading from a 500-watt motor to a 600-watt motor would resolve the problem. Participants explore various factors contributing to motor overheating, including battery specifications, motor load, and potential solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention that the maximum recommended temperature for a brushed motor is around 150-160°F, questioning if this is accurate.
  • One participant notes that their custom-built electric bike reaches 147°F after a short ride, raising concerns about overheating.
  • A participant challenges the notion of a "540 watt battery," suggesting that the battery's specifications need clarification.
  • There is a discussion about how motors draw current based on load conditions, with examples provided for different scenarios of operation.
  • Some participants propose that the motor may be undersized for the load, suggesting alternatives like lowering gearing or adding cooling fins.
  • One participant questions if switching to a 600-watt motor would significantly alleviate the overheating issue, with another suggesting that a larger increase in motor size might be necessary for a more substantial effect.
  • Concerns are raised about the legal implications of motor wattage in different jurisdictions, noting that higher wattage motors may classify the bike as a motor vehicle.
  • A later reply indicates that the overheating issue was identified as a brake problem, suggesting a resolution to the initial concern.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether upgrading to a 600-watt motor would effectively solve the overheating issue. There is no consensus on the best approach to address the overheating problem, with multiple competing suggestions and considerations presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various assumptions about motor and battery specifications, load conditions, and the impact of different motor sizes on performance. Some limitations in understanding the specifics of the motor and battery configurations are noted, as well as the need for more detailed specifications to provide accurate advice.

needhelp194
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i have read in some places that the max recommended temp of a brushed motor is 150-160f (correct me if I'm wrong)

My electric bike has a 540 watt battery with a 500 watt motor and it gets to 147f when i rode it 3 miles. I thought this is a bit close to 150f so i was wondering if i could buy a 600watt motor to replace my 500watt one and my neighbor said that it might still overheat because 540watts is less than 600watts. It doesn't seem right by common sense but I'm a 9th grader so I can't be sure. So will a 600watt motor still overheat with 540watts going through it? (the battery and the motor are both 36v)
 
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needhelp194 said:
i have read in some places that the max recommended temp of a brushed motor is 150-160f (correct me if I'm wrong)

My electric bike has a 540 watt battery with a 500 watt motor and it gets to 147f when i rode it 3 miles. I thought this is a bit close to 150f so i was wondering if i could buy a 600watt motor to replace my 500watt one and my neighbor said that it might still overheat because 540watts is less than 600watts. It doesn't seem right by common sense but I'm a 9th grader so I can't be sure. So will a 600watt motor still overheat with 540watts going through it? (the battery and the motor are both 36v)

Welcome to the PF.

There is no such thing as a "540 watt battery". Is this a production electric bike, or something that you custom built?
 
the bike is custom built
the battery is 36v 15amps and i think it is 10ah
 
needhelp194 said:
i have read in some places that the max recommended temp of a brushed motor is 150-160f (correct me if I'm wrong)

That will depend entirely on the make and the model of the motor which you have told us nothing about
do you have a link to the motor spec's ? ( tho 150 deg F sounds quite high)

needhelp194 said:
so i was wondering if i could buy a 600watt motor to replace my 500watt one and my neighbor said that it might still overheat because 540watts is less than 600watts. It doesn't seem right by common sense but I'm a 9th grader so I can't be sure. So will a 600watt motor still overheat with 540watts going through it? (the battery and the motor are both 36v)

it doesn't work that way ... the motor will draw a certain amount of current depending on how much load it had ( that is weight (mass) of bike/rider, if its going uphill downhill, flat ground etc etc)

when starting off from a standing position, the motor will draw high current, once up to a steady cruising speed ( whatever that may be) the current drain from the motor will drop.
so for example
at moving off it mite be briefly drawing 20A @ 36V = 720W till its settles down for cruise speed and the next variation in speed or load
at cruising speed it may be drawing 10A @ 36V = 360W

A lot of guesses here without knowing the specifics of the motor etc

my other suggestion is that the motor cannot handle the load and that is why it is overheating
consider how you mite lessen the load aka stress on the motor so that it isn't working so hardDave
 
Perhaps lower gearing and a lower running speed would solve the problem.
 
davenn said:
it doesn't work that way ... the motor will draw a certain amount of current depending on how much load it had ( that is weight (mass) of bike/rider, if its going uphill downhill, flat ground etc etc)

when starting off from a standing position, the motor will draw high current, once up to a steady cruising speed ( whatever that may be) the current drain from the motor will drop.
so for example
at moving off it mite be briefly drawing 20A @ 36V = 720W till its settles down for cruise speed and the next variation in speed or load
at cruising speed it may be drawing 10A @ 36V = 360W

A lot of guesses here without knowing the specifics of the motor etc

my other suggestion is that the motor cannot handle the load and that is why it is overheating
consider how you mite lessen the load aka stress on the motor so that it isn't working so hardDave

here is a link to my motor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J4ZBDIU/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
how can i lower the watts of my battery to solve the overheating?
 
  • #10
it would be better to be at 13.8 though (i think)
 
  • #11
needhelp194 said:
how can i lower the watts of my battery to solve the overheating?

That is not your problem. And your battery does not "have watts".

You are stressing the small motor too much, or it would not be overheating. Either take it easier on the motor (slower, lower gearing as already suggested), or add fins to it to help cool it when you are riding the bike, or get a bigger electric motor that is sized for the load you are placing on it.
 
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  • #12
berkeman said:
or get a bigger electric motor that is sized for the load you are placing on it.
so if i get a 600watt motor will that fix the problem?
 
  • #13
needhelp194 said:
so if i get a 600watt motor will that fix the problem?

Switching from a 500W motor to a 600W motor will not make a significant difference. Doubling the size of the motor would help a lot more. What motors are typically used on motorized bicycles?
 
  • #14
Should also consider cooling, is there proper airflow going towards the motor?
 
  • #15
You might find that in some states a bicycle fitted with a motor rated at more than X watts will be classifed as a motor vehicle, and as such require that it be registered and be ridden by a motor-vehicle-licence-holder. It would be worth checking whether this applies where you live.
 
  • #16
thank you guys so much! i figured out it was a brake problem
 
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