Electric Bikes - learning the wires of electricity - how?

Perhaps this has been posted before, but I couldn't readily find it.

I read with great interest, but no comprehension, how some of you modify, customize, build from scratch, test and problem solve your electric bikes. I'd like to get in on this, but I don't know where to start.

Some of you have probably been doing it all your lives and picked it up as you grew up and it's second nature to you - you don't even remember not knowing what you understand about electronics.

However, I'd be interested if anyone out there knows where one can begin to learn from the beginning, in a practical way, about the things you need to know to be able to work with and build electronic devices and make modifications to a project.

I'd like to be able to learn the relationships of volts, amps, watts, etc. and how it fits into the whole picture.

I've had friends tell me to just get a meter and read the instructions that come with it - it's all Greek to me!

Anyone have any ideas?

Did I really misspell "learning" ? What a putz!

Perhaps this has been posted before, but I couldn't readily find it.

I read with great interest, but no comprehension, how some of you modify, customize, build from scratch, test and problem solve your electric bikes. I'd like to get in on this, but I don't know where to start.

Some of you have probably been doing it all your lives and picked it up as you grew up and it's second nature to you - you don't even remember not knowing what you understand about electronics.

However, I'd be interested if anyone out there knows where one can begin to learn from the beginning, in a practical way, about the things you need to know to be able to work with and build electronic devices and make modifications to a project.

I'd like to be able to learn the relationships of volts, amps, watts, etc. and how it fits into the whole picture.

I've had friends tell me to just get a meter and read the instructions that come with it - it's all Greek to me!

Anyone have any ideas?

I'm not sure others, but I learnt what I know by spending the money and trying it out. Most guys here probably did the same thing.

Your questions will have to be more specific. I could tell you everything I know and it may all for not.

Buy a cheap ebike, ride around and when you have a problem or a question, that is how I started anyway.
I still don't fully understand the amp,watts,volts relationship but one thing I do know, for ease of use, you just can't beat the crystallite hubs... They work, it's that simple. All other systems from cyclone to izip modding, it takes time, banging your head against the wall etc. Meanwhile, if you have a hub motor you can actually bike everyday... :thumb:

:)

Consult one of the secret masters of the Universe at your local library. Tell the Reference Librarian what you told us and s/he can point you to the right books.

hi :-)) what i'm about to say has nothing to do with electronics...
i have learnt that to fix the main title of your thread, you simply edit your original post's title, in your example, click on edit on your very first post on this page and fix your title so that it doesn't say leaning, but instead learning

and i agree with Duracutter (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=140602) , that's how i learn as well, doing, especially goofing off, so don't invest too much at first, because if murphy is around, you'll most likely goof off big time, break it but boy will you learn!

Thanks.
On another thread you can't edit your title without a moderator.

Can't beat Forrest Mims "Getting Started in Electronics" sold at Radio Shack, catalog #62-5003, for a real simple layman's read.

Then hit Endless-sphere for the advanced stuff. :lol:


http://endless-sphere.com/forums/index.php

Can't beat Forrest Mims "Getting Started in Electronics" sold at Radio Shack, catalog #62-5003, for a real simple layman's read.

Then hit Endless-sphere for the advanced stuff. :lol:


http://endless-sphere.com/forums/index.php
Thanks, I'll check it out...maybe at the library!
Actually, I'm a slow reader, maybe I'll buy it.:)

Electricity flows like water. A larger pipe (wire) will carry more. Voltage is the push, comparable to water pressure. Current, measued in amps is the amount of electricity flowing.

You can google all this stuff for a better explanation.

Also learn how to solder properly.

http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~elec201/Book/basic_elec.html

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/electronics.html

http://www.science-ebooks.com/electronics/table_of_contents.htm

:lol: Jeeez, (slaps forehead) you can tell how old I am in that I don't even think to google the subject of simple electronics.

:lol: Jeeez, (slaps forehead) you can tell how old I am in that I don't even think to google the subject of simple electronics.

I'm right there with you! After I read the reply to check out the library, I thought to Google the term and came up with a ton of sites.

I've read a lot so far, starting at the atomic level. This may take awhile...

Unless you are gonna get into building controllers, all you need is very simple dc theory. Ohm's Law. That sort of stuff.

Unless you are gonna get into building controllers, all you need is very simple dc theory. Ohm's Law. That sort of stuff.

That's good to know.

I've done some simple wiring of lights and stuff in the house and replaced a switch or two. So I don't really know what specific things would be good to know. I found an interesting site about basic electronics.

So far, it's not boring. Well, the part about identifying resisters was a little boring, but most of it is interesting. I've always heard people throwing the terms around and thought, "what the heck are they talking about?" I learning a bit about "what" and later on I'll learn the "why".

Do you know about the endless-sphere forum (http://endless-sphere.com/forums/index.php)?

Do you know about the endless-sphere forum (http://endless-sphere.com/forums/index.php)?

yes, one of the sites where I say, "What the heck are they talking about?":lol:

Marty, it can be very time consuming to learn things using a subject based learning method such as buying a text book, and starting at the beginning. Plus, you are going to learn a lot of stuff that you might not need to know.

I'd stick to mostly a problem based learning method, ie learn only what you need to know based on the problem that you are trying to solve.

There is also a grey area where you can create your own problems, and then learn the answer. Example, pretend that you need to double your ebike range....then go out there to find the answer and an explaination.

google can be your friend, and I'd have to say that basic electrical theory can be gained by reading wikipedia. or just ask a question on this forum. I'm an electronics technologist, and I get the impression that there are several engineers on this forums.

Also, there are several guys that just know their stuff really well. They are the experts, I look to them for advice,too.

Marty, it can be very time consuming to learn things using a subject based learning method such as buying a text book, and starting at the beginning. Plus, you are going to learn a lot of stuff that you might not need to know.

I'd stick to mostly a problem based learning method, ie learn only what you need to know based on the problem that you are trying to solve.

There is also a grey area where you can create your own problems, and then learn the answer. Example, pretend that you need to double your ebike range....then go out there to find the answer and an explaination.

google can be your friend, and I'd have to say that basic electrical theory can be gained by reading wikipedia. or just ask a question on this forum. I'm an electronics technologist, and I get the impression that there are several engineers on this forums.

Also, there are several guys that just know their stuff really well. They are the experts, I look to them for advice,too.

I"m often impressed with the knowledge on this forum. Hence, my desire to learn more. I need a foundation though. Right now if you put a meter in front of me, I'd ask, "Is this an am/fm radio?".
So far, with a little reading I can see the basics are fairly easy to understand and it's facinating how it all works! A couple of weeks ago, I would not have been able to tell you about electrons, protons, resistance, ohms, etc. Wait, still can't, I better go back and review:)