[ez2gonuts]

Is it possible to use a power converter to 110 ac and use a 110 electrict
motor

[Jan]

Originally Posted by ez2gonuts

Is it possible to use a power converter to 110 ac and use a 110 electrict
motor

If you mean with 'power converter' a regular 12Vdc to 110Vac inverter, I would guess: yes. BUT. They normally are not much higher rated than 1 kW maybe some up till 3 kW. Just enough to power a washing machine. Or a bike. But more important: How are you going to control the power? It's just on or off.

[major]

Originally Posted by ez2gonuts

Is it possible to use a power converter to 110 ac and use a 110 electrict
motor

Short answer....NO

I suppose you're talking about those 12VDC to 110VAC inverters sold to run AC stuff from your car battery. Those mostly are not sine wave and are single phase. For EV propulsion motor, you need 3 phase, and variable frequency on top of that.

Other issues also

major

[Jan]

Originally Posted by major

Short answer....NO

I suppose you're talking about those 12VDC to 110VAC inverters sold to run AC stuff from your car battery. Those mostly are not sine wave and are single phase. For EV propulsion motor, you need 3 phase, and variable frequency on top of that.

Other issues also

major

http://www.samlexamerica.com/product...oductsID=20030

And there do exists single phase AC motors too. A lot.

Just to be wright for once.

[Spider-man]

Originally Posted by Jan

If you mean with 'power converter' a regular 12Vdc to 110Vac inverter, I would guess: yes. BUT. They normally are not much higher rated than 1 kW maybe some up till 3 kW. Just enough to power a washing machine. Or a bike. But more important: How are you going to control the power? It's just on or off.

I have actually done research on this. I have an AC motor that is rated at 1/2 hp. the max amps it will take is around 7 (I think) tops 8... so, as long as you buy a $70ish dollar inverter on the internet (capable of the max wattage of the motor for long periods of time) and couple it to a speed controller of some sort it should work. The "controller" would usually include a pot as well.

here is the one I am considering:
http://www.cshincorporated.com/produ...roducts_id/138

good luck!

[tropes]

When looking for a different motor:
Ac is not the way to go for your first conversion (or do i just have low expectations of myself?)
You can tell if a motor is AC if it is a 1 phase or 3 phase motor
Pancake motors are usually not good candidates for car conversions. (Yeah you saw the one on ebay. They overheat easily)
Golfcart motors are seldom powerful enough for a conversion
Motors specifically made for EV conversions are the best but its gonna cost you.
You do have to look at many factor such as volts, amps (which gets you Hp). Torque is nice to know. Continuous Hp. So many factors!!!
If there is any more helpful hints I'll be happy to add them

I have just purchased a slightly used K91- 4003, 72 volt motor for my junior dragster conversion. Is anyone here using this motor and if so, what are you using for battery, controller, throttle,contactor?
Tropes

[Spider-man]

Originally Posted by gottdi

I have two. One connected to the old Kaylor adaptor plate for the VW. Sweet setup but best only for the lightweight buggy or kit car. Not for high speeds either but they do work. Can't over speed these puppies either. They may also make a nice DC generator for folks. I have some stuff on youtube too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UtQuiiWAks

What are the specs on the motor you are using gottdi?

[EVfun]

Originally Posted by Jan

And there do exists single phase AC motors too. A lot.

Just to be wright for once.

But can you find a single phase AC motor with anywhere near the peak power required for an on-road EV?

[josmeijer]

Originally Posted by EVfun

But can you find a single phase AC motor with anywhere near the peak power required for an on-road EV?

single phase AC motors are no option.
They have near-to-none starting couple while using up to 30 times nominal amperage until at their top-speed.
You should use triphase motors that are dumped 100 a day by industry so can be found on any scrapyard is all (k) wattages and speeds.
Next thing is to convert DC to triphase AC.

Inverter motor controllers (also industry standard, and easily obtained on ebay etc at reasonable prices) can be fed by DC
simply multiply the input voltage with 2 sqrt (roughly 1,4) and you have the required voltage.
So 110 v AC gives 162 DC volts.

Inverter motor controllers come in single-phase in / three-phase out that are rather popular.
They exist in up to 3 kw /220-240 volt in and >500 kw in threephase.

For more power you have to get three phase in/out types. These can be DC powered too, by paralleling the phases.
(first stage of any inverter controller rectifies the AC so phase is no issue, but you should check wit the manufacturer if this can be done without triggering some safety)

Yet the drawback is the high battery voltage but, as our soccer-idol Johan Cruyff says: "every disadvantage has it´s advantage" : you save many kilo´s of copper wiring and you might get a nice deal on small standard AGM batteries.

Finally,if you want to dig into it, most inverter controllers can do DC braking wich can be used to convert braking energy into battery power (instead of useless heat on your brakes).

But I must honestly say that all I state here remains theory for me.
I have lots of plans but all reside on paper until now.

[Weenam]

A query I have is finding a source for a forklift motor. Other than purchasing a wrecked forklift I have seen information about picking them up from servicing and repair places. However if a motor is being thrown out then surely it is not going to be worth salvaging for using in an electric car conversion. If it won't work in a forklift any more then to me it follows that it is only suitable as scrap. Please any advice gratefully received.