EcoRider - riding lawn mower electric conversion - Page 28

Daox · 01-18-12, 09:17 AM

Yeah, the tractor is a 728. I have no idea what transmission is in it, but I'd guess its OEM.

Daox · 01-18-12, 09:40 AM

Alright, I got some pics uploaded. Still working on the video.

Here is the tractor after I got done blowing the driveway.

You can see the layer of snow on the front batteries. I'm not too concerned about this.

However, I am concerned about this. If I were to plug in to charge back up, that snow would definitely melt and possibly get in the nice chargers I have which would be very bad.

The back end had much less snow on it, so not an issue at all.

And, the part I was most worried about, my chargers in the rear were absolutely fine.

Daox · 01-18-12, 11:49 AM

And we have video! (thanks for the help Darin)

A little info, there was about 5" of snow. It was pretty powdery, so light too. Right in the beginning you can see me overload the blower a bit, I clutch in to slow the tractor down and it livens right back up. You can also see at one point the lack of being able to turn with the blower down. I left the little bit of giggling and stuff by the wife to give some reference as to how loud it actually is.

First snowblowing with DIY converted electric riding lawn tractor - Ecorider - YouTube

MetroMPG · 01-18-12, 01:58 PM

Cool video!

You really need an ammeter/battery gauge on that puppy. Sounds like you pulled A LOT of amps when you first started blowing. Wetter snow will be a much bigger load, too. Prevent battricide!

I don't think chains on the front wheels will help a lot with turning - sounds like it's a weight issue more than anything (when the blower is on the ground). Only one way to find out though...

dh1 · 01-18-12, 05:29 PM

That thing really works good.
The motor you have drives the tractor and the snow blower, it's got some guts, a lot more power than the one I have on ET2.
Be curious to know how many amps it draws to move the tractor and how many to drive the snow blower, conditions will make a difference.
Good Stuff.

Daox · 01-18-12, 06:19 PM

Thanks, I'm quite happy with the performance.

I'd also like to know how many amps I'm drawing. However, my ammeter is currently broken. I should really replace it, but I know that my normal mowing use is well within normal parameters, so I haven't yet. Perhaps now is a good time.

Daox · 01-19-12, 01:24 PM

I plugged in to charge the mower up last night after the snow had cleared off of the chargers. When I checked it this morning I only used 1kWh of power. That is nothing considering the pack capacity is just over 7 kWh. My normal mowing takes about 2.5 kWh to recharge.

Daox · 01-24-12, 08:17 AM

I at least temporarily fixed the transmission last night. Per the previous owner's tip about 'sticking a screw driver in a hole and pushing a lever over', I am now able to shift again. If this keeps happening I'll have to take the transmission apart and figure out what is going on. Until then, the blower is ready to go.

bennelson · 01-24-12, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

My normal mowing takes about 2.5 kWh to recharge.

What?!!?! TEN CENTS to snowblow your driveway and TWENTY-FIVE CENTS to mow your lawn!?!?!

You are wasting your money! You should go out and buy some gasoline right now!

PS: I have a crummy little gas snowblower. It started fine when I tested it out a week ago, but I couldn't get it to start at all when we had actual snowfall. My gloves still smell like gasoline.
Next year I'll have the snowblower attachement for the Electrak, really!

Daox · 01-26-12, 09:54 AM

Haha, yeah. The 2nd time I used the blower I was going to shovel. It was only about 2-3" of snow and I would usually just shovel it. But, it does take a good 45-60 minutes to shovel my section of the driveway. So I just jumped on the tractor and blew it in about 15 minutes. Its SO nice not to have to worry about noise, or gas, or smelling bad, or if the engine is going to start easy. You just jump on and flick the switch, thats it!

01-18-12, 09:17 AM	#271
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Yeah, the tractor is a 728. I have no idea what transmission is in it, but I'd guess its OEM. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-18-12, 09:40 AM	#272
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Alright, I got some pics uploaded. Still working on the video. Here is the tractor after I got done blowing the driveway. You can see the layer of snow on the front batteries. I'm not too concerned about this. However, I am concerned about this. If I were to plug in to charge back up, that snow would definitely melt and possibly get in the nice chargers I have which would be very bad. The back end had much less snow on it, so not an issue at all. And, the part I was most worried about, my chargers in the rear were absolutely fine. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-18-12, 01:58 PM	#274
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Cool video! You really need an ammeter/battery gauge on that puppy. Sounds like you pulled A LOT of amps when you first started blowing. Wetter snow will be a much bigger load, too. Prevent battricide! I don't think chains on the front wheels will help a lot with turning - sounds like it's a weight issue more than anything (when the blower is on the ground). Only one way to find out though... __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-18-12, 06:19 PM	#276
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Thanks, I'm quite happy with the performance. I'd also like to know how many amps I'm drawing. However, my ammeter is currently broken. I should really replace it, but I know that my normal mowing use is well within normal parameters, so I haven't yet. Perhaps now is a good time. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-19-12, 01:24 PM	#277
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I plugged in to charge the mower up last night after the snow had cleared off of the chargers. When I checked it this morning I only used 1kWh of power. That is nothing considering the pack capacity is just over 7 kWh. My normal mowing takes about 2.5 kWh to recharge. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-18-12, 05:29 PM	#275
dh1 Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ont. Canada Posts: 99 Thanks: 14 Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts	That thing really works good. The motor you have drives the tractor and the snow blower, it's got some guts, a lot more power than the one I have on ET2. Be curious to know how many amps it draws to move the tractor and how many to drive the snow blower, conditions will make a difference. Good Stuff.

01-24-12, 08:17 AM	#278
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I at least temporarily fixed the transmission last night. Per the previous owner's tip about 'sticking a screw driver in a hole and pushing a lever over', I am now able to shift again. If this keeps happening I'll have to take the transmission apart and figure out what is going on. Until then, the blower is ready to go. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-12, 09:54 AM	#280
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Haha, yeah. The 2nd time I used the blower I was going to shovel. It was only about 2-3" of snow and I would usually just shovel it. But, it does take a good 45-60 minutes to shovel my section of the driveway. So I just jumped on the tractor and blew it in about 15 minutes. Its SO nice not to have to worry about noise, or gas, or smelling bad, or if the engine is going to start easy. You just jump on and flick the switch, thats it! __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.