Electric motorized tool chest

[Fxsb103]

Hey guys. I'm looking for some electrical engineers or PLC guys to help with some DC motor controls. I am building a glorified wagon on which my tool chests will fit. See it here rolling tool cart workstation with winch

The photo of the go kart stand is the closest thing I have to the wagon frame other than my CAD drawings.

I want to power the wagon with 12vdc for the utility winch, as well as 24vdc for the motor drive. What plug in power supply has both voltages with battery charger.

Another question is should I use direct drive to the 5/8" axle, or use small motors and use gear reduction with chain and sprockets? ESC? motor controller? Handlebar lever style? I basically want to make an electric pallet jack without the pallet jack... any ideas?

 

[ca90ss]

You can buy a used electric wheelchair on Craigslist for ~$100. Should have all the parts you need.

 

[Fxsb103]

The closest one under $300 was 80 miles from me and damaged from hurricane sandy.

 

[gungatim]

get an old starter motor from a car and use that. then the whole thing will be 12v and easy to run off a single battery and a charger. wiring is easy with a ford solenoid.

use one with a long shaft and put a regular chain gear on it. pic is from a set of plans from the 50's "build an electric scoot-car"

 

[ca90ss]

The closest one under $300 was 80 miles from me and damaged from hurricane sandy.

Just keep watching, sometimes you have to wait a week or 2 for one to show up. I bought one for $100 that the seller said needed batteries because they wouldn't charge but as we were loading it into the back of my truck we noticed that one of the batteries was just unplugged. Plugged it in and everything worked.

 

[G_P]

You can buy a used electric wheelchair on Craigslist for ~$100. Should have all the parts you need.

This is what I would do. The scooter/wheelchair will have everything you need. Check around at places like goodwill or other thrift shops. Electric wheelchairs are frequently donated. Insurance often pays for them so they dont have a whole lot of resale value since most people that need them dont buy them themselves.

 

[Fxsb103]

I was was thinking about getting a new motor. But if you think a used wheelchair/scooter Motor will be reliable, I will look into it. I'll also look into the starter idea but I was told after a few seconds a starter motor would burn out under heavy load. (Many variables here). And it just so happens a guy I work with HAS some old 3 wheel scooters with all the chargers batteries and ECS' s. Havnt seem it in person yet but here is the pic He sent me.

*****Original plan was to add a mountain bike disk brake. I feel like it would stop the weight faster than the motor brake alone. Also do these systems have relays for brake lights within the motor control board? I picked up some LED tail lights it would be neat to run them into the motor harness and not have to put a micro switch on the brake handle.

 

[G_P]

What you have in that pic would be perfect. It would even provide an automatic parking brake that would be engaged when the motor is not energized. (you can easily remove the brake if you dont want it)

 

[Fxsb103]

If I install some 12vdc accessories to my wagon (lightbar, horn, strobe lights, winch, etc.) Do I run the common of the devise back to the battery terminal, or ground it and run it through the frame? I'm not using relays, I'm running thick Guage wire all the way through to the devises. I'm also going to have 120v AC running in the same channel, no devices are subject to interference via EMS. This WILL be grounded to the frame. I feel like I should just run a low voltage home run for both positive and common.

 

[G_P]

I would run wire directly back to the battery terminal for ground. Use a distribution block to keep it all neat.

 

[walta]

Do not connect directly to the battery!

If a wire gets pinched and the insulation damaged and the now bare wire touches the frame hundreds of amp would flow thru the wire. It is possible that the battery could explode or the wire may just start a fire.

Your fuse size is determined by the gage of your wire.


Walta