Inspired by a foild drive demo this summer, i decided to try my hand at a DIY build.
Plan is for a Foild Drive Gen1 style lunchbox to attach to the deck of my current wing foil setup.
After endless hours of reading excellent posts from @Maui , @Jezza, @Bzhwindtalker, @hangloose, @nekitesurfing, and stoke-inspo from the generic foiling podcast, I decided to jump in, buy the bits from china and have a crack…
Initial purchases:
Motor 6384 120kv £40 Aliexpress
Replacement ceramic bearings
2 x 6900 and 3 x 6800 £24 Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005964511962.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.63dcf19cKVSDN7
Maytech V2 remote £99 Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001394081297.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.2d8ef19cW6Kr0j
Propellor Michobby £46 Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005608859004.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.5.2d8ef19cW6Kr0j
Flycolor 150A ESC £79 Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003807681126.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.15.21ef180299cEZh
DC/DC convertor (40v/5v) Digikey €20
Xt90 connectors Digikey €10 for 3
3D printed motor pod based on designs by @hangloose (v3 unisex version I think, adapted for F-One mast). Santa brought me a BambuLab A1 Printer €300 (But i put that down as a general investment…)
Battery - Plan is to get a local ebike battery builder to make a 12s2p pack (with the idea of maybe progressing to a Foil Drive Gen2 style under board mounting later, if i complete and survive my first build).
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Take the Maytech V3.
It has more functions:
two transmitter strengths, lock and three throttle setups to adjust.
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Thanks for the tip but too late for this build! Already bought these bits.
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Have changed my mind slightly on battery pack. Rather than go for a Foil Drive GEN2 style pack I will focus more on a Gen2 power system in a Gen1 form factor (lunchbox on board) as a first build.
This has led me to 11s3p in a 4 row configuration 8,8,8,9 cells to fit in a camdenboss CHDX8-226C enclosure.
Thinking of this type of layout…
Next step to order enclosure and get battery built…
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Got the electronic components wired up and configured and motor runs (on power supply not battery yet).
Get the battery and assemble in enclosure next…
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Motor base removed by placing it in oven for 10mins at 50C and then hitting with a socket as per this video (watch out that you dont loose the little pin!)
Next is to solder heavier cable…
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Motor internal surface between magnets coated with epoxy + glass filler mix.
3D printed ring used to ensure smooth height and end surface
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You can return/refund to AliExpress. Aside from the payed taxes ofc
First enclosure waterproof test.
Result = small drips but they were through the electrical cable itself, between the three internal cables. Should be ok with longer cable? Maybe add some epoxy to the enclosure end for extra safety…
First wet test. Photo from video (too much work to upload vid to you tube and link…)
Seems powerful!
ESC overheat after 15mins efoiling.
Need to add that heatsink…
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Congratulation!
You were on the water!
I am missing such success reports here…
I am also struggling with my built, 2x in the water and still some steps more ti do…
Was your heard beat really thay low?
Cheers
Third attempt - success !
Got standing up on foil.
E-foiled around for about 15mins then power was reduced limited by something (BMS or ESC?)
Some heat from excess cable i side box may be the problem but more likely the low voltage setting on the ESC set to 3v or 3.2v.
Have tried reprogramming ESC and will try again…
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4th run today. Good success.
20mins efoiling, standing up, getting the hang of it. Then lost power. Investigation suggests BMS overheating but ESC heat sink seems to be working ok.
Next mission is to try some waves !!!
That should give the battery a bit of down time to recover…
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