Author Topic: Converting a miniature excavator to battery/electric  (Read 2176 times)

Offline HughF

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Converting a miniature excavator to battery/electric
« on: August 27, 2019, 11:22:45 AM »
I have a miniature excavator (mini digger, towable back-hoe depending on where you are from) that is powered by a Honda 270cc petrol engine, which has a maximum output power of 5.2Kw at 3600rpm.

I would like to look into converting this to battery electric power. Looking at the power curves, I think a 3kW GoldenMotor would be suitable - the machine is not underpowered with the current petrol engine and I never run it at maximum throttle, the controls are too fast for that.

I'm trying to think how to minimise motor runtime so that when your hands are off the controls, the motor stops. The hydraulics are open center, when the spools are all sat in the resting position the pump just circulates oil through the valve body. Perhaps something as simple as a foot switch throttle that runs/stops the motor when you press on it?

I'm open to ideas...