Nikola 100V Plus review/wheelog/journal 🦓

[ir_fuel]

And all that will do you no good if you trip. Something which you have zero control over as you don't decide the surface you will put your foot on when crashing. You might just land on the edge of a curb, or a tree root, or ... and no amount of training will save you then.

 

Also, can we also state the fact that you don't really have an average or even an above average level of fitness, but you are way ahead of all of us here, especially when it comes to running?  

[Darrell Wesh]

5 minutes ago, ir_fuel said:

And all that will do you no good if you trip. Something which you have zero control over as you don't decide the surface you will put your foot on when crashing. You might just land on the edge of a curb, or a tree root, or ... and no amount of training will save you then.

 

Also, can we also state the fact that you don't really have an average or even an above average level of fitness, but you are way ahead of all of us here, especially when it comes to running?  

Well that would be quite rare to land on those types of things. Usually it’s just you vs flat ground whether dirt, asphalt or grass.

The mechanism of tripping would be rare after dismounting from an EUC. The first step you take off an EUC has high clearance. A high first step is optimal to generate the greatest force production when striking down into the earth. 

In order to trip you usually drag a foot, which you don’t see after a dismount. 

Regardless, balance gets too much praise. Recovering from a trip is about reaction time not balance. 

 There are numerous phD research studies where I am at and I have volunteered in one before where they specifically call it a test of reaction time by tripping you. 

You walk along a test strip and without warning they raise a step that trips you and they see how quickly you can recover. Then they ask you to do it walking, jogging at different speeds. I think they were frustrated that they couldn’t cause me to fall. 

[greentung]

@Darrell Wesh. I was thinking the same thing the other day. For reaction and falling practice, I want a modified wheel that will intermittently cut off randomly between 20 seconds to 2 minutes. I won't know when it will cut off. I'd practice on dirt, grass, or rubber flooring. Obviously there is an expectation that it will cut off eventually. But, I'd imagine doing this a hundred times till help ingrain the proper fall technique.

I've fallen once where I scrapped up my elbows and knees. I only had helmet and gloves at that time. The other times when I came off my wheel I was able to run it out. Riding with slightly bent knees help.  

[chrisjunlee]

19 minutes ago, greentung said:

@Darrell Wesh. I was thinking the same thing the other day. For reaction and falling practice, I want a modified wheel that will intermittently cut off randomly between 20 seconds to 2 minutes.

They make those already:

[chrisjunlee]

Going to grab my camera and tools tonight and hopefully find a place with decent light for video. To make the most of this, what would everyone like to see? Give me a shot list.

[meepmeepmayer]

• Top battery from all sides in detail (if there's anything to see) including if any cell can be moved or the battery is in some other way structurally compromised.
• Board in detail, so we can see everything that went up when it fried.
• Also any other damage spots.

Just film everything inside the shell in detail so people can hunt for the original failure spot. Thanks for doing this.

[chrisjunlee]

I'll need to drop by storage and grab my tools and camera on the 16X 🐌.

Anyone know the minimum toolset for disassembly? Are the hex screws metric or imperial?

This is my tool list so far:

• allen keys
• electric screwdriver with bit set
• multimeter (no clue which points to test)
• baggies to store parts

[Chriull]

2 hours ago, chrisjunlee said:

what would everyone like to see?

The centre of the "explosion" of the motherboard. And if the "strange remains" are one if the big capacitors blown. Or if your MB just had one? Or the second one was just not really to be seen on the video?

2 hours ago, chrisjunlee said:

decent light for video

I'd prefer fotos!  much easier to see something and zoomable, if the quality is good enough.

[chrisjunlee]

Well, I just made a wet trip to storage then realized I don't have my keys - derp.

Dissection postponed to tomorrow, sorry folks.

[meepmeepmayer]

7 minutes ago, chrisjunlee said:

Well, I just made a wet trip to storage then realized I don't have my keys - derp.

Sincerely sorry but you gave me a good laugh here.

Thanks for all your efforts and documenting them. Don't stress out for us here.

[Ben Kim]

i am approaching 40 years old, so i find myself needing to stretch my feet and legs before riding. Not exactly a beacon of physical fitness either!

[chrisjunlee]

So it looks like I lost the keys to my storage unit. So for now, here's a phone video: 

 

[mrelwood]

”Mosfets look intact...” 🤣

Based on how it looked after a mosfet blew in my MSX, I’d guess that the current in your Nikola was so outrageous that a pair of mosfets blew at the same time. In my understanding shorting via motor coils would be the most probable reason. Or a temporary short somewhere else which created enough heat to melt solder at the motor connectors, dropping on to the Mosfet legs shorting them. That is what happened on my MSX.

Either way I wonder if the motor can still be trusted.

Well documented btw!

Edit: If the mainboard was able to move enough to create a short, the battery can easily turn it to a welding machine. An uncut component leg would just vaporize and be done with it, but in this case something has caused the battery current to be enormous for a bit longer than a single snap.

Does the shell have enough flex and in it that it could hit the mainboard in an extreme situation?

Edited September 25, 2019 by mrelwood

[meepmeepmayer]

Wow! Looks like a zombie movie.

Surprisingly, the batteries all look ok. It was just the board. Maybe that big capacitor blowing was the "explosion".

@mrelwood's theory is good. The crash created a short and the wheel was slowly heating up until the board blew. I wonder where the original short was that caused the batteries to fry the board.

[Marty Backe]

7 hours ago, chrisjunlee said:

So it looks like I lost the keys to my storage unit. So for now, here's a phone video: 

 

Do please let us know what went up in smoke. I think when you take it apart further you'll discover that one or more MOSFETs exploded. There are 12.

Other than that, the repair is a simple control board replacement. Your wheel should be just fine. And again, I wouldn't worry about "stressed batteries".

[chrisjunlee]

6 hours ago, mrelwood said:

”Mosfets look intact...” 🤣

Oh, is the missing chunk where the other row of MOSFETs are? Derp 😆.

2 hours ago, meepmeepmayer said:

Maybe that big capacitor blowing was the "explosion"

Both capacitors are intact! Their tops are still flat and not ruptured out. No idea clue what else could blow and generate flammable gas.

Edited September 25, 2019 by chrisjunlee

[Chriull]

6 minutes ago, chrisjunlee said:

Both capacitors are intact! Their tops are still flat and not ruptured out.

Yes, the tops are the predetermined breaking points - but with outer influence (glowing legs, mosfets, pcb traces,...) they could get ruptured everywhere else, too.

6 minutes ago, chrisjunlee said:

 No idea clue what else could blow and generate flammable gas.

Me neither. So my best guess would still be an "overheated" capacitor, but with a still intact top.

[Filip]

I just want to ask, are you absolute sure there wasn't problem with the wheel prior your fail? I mean you're sure, fail was resulting the wheel malfunction, rather than mulfunction caused your fail? As someone suggested, people would rather failed behind, if they dont know, what their are doing on stairs. I had similar situation on very beginning of my riding. Despite complete beginner, was managing to ride down a kerb a few times, always successfuly. Than anothe ride fail down forward. Blamed my self for being useless. Strongly believed, it was my fault. Only till I tried to switch near brand new Ninebot E+ wheel on again. Become obvious, not me, but the wheel mulfunction caused it. 

I know nothing about your skills apart what i seen on the video. You were scared to ride it down, i would say. I learned starting on a kerb, one stair, 2 stairs, 3 stairs, etc. Never attempt to try significantly more, than done before and practice it many times before move on a little. This approach building confidence together with skills, i would say. 

I wish you very best luck, always sad to see someone in such situation. 

[Mono]

9 hours ago, Filip said:

I just want to ask, are you absolute sure there wasn't problem with the wheel prior your fail?

It seems quite likely that there was a problem with the wheel before, even if it was not apparent before the fall. The fall just made the problem appear.

[greentung]

I highly recommend opening up new GotWay or any wheels and making sure wires are properly sealed and tied, battery packs held, pedal bracket screws have thread locker, etc. A thorough inspection of wiring and components mount. 

I looked inside my Nikola+ the other day and noticed the voltage display still had the OEM plastic film around it. Whoever put the wheel together never bothered to unsealed the display after installation. I wouldn't have noticed that without opening the wheel. There are little quirks like that on the GotWay wheels. I hope someday these wheels will be well built and inspected. But, we're not there yet. 

Edited September 27, 2019 by greentung

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

Do you do a lot of riding in the rain @chrisjunlee?  I wonder if water might have accumulated somewhere and pooled.  The bouncing down the stairs might have splashed it and resulted in a short somewhere?  Eh, just some wild and crazy speculation.

In this day and age, for a product that costs over a thousand dollars, you would think they could put some emphasis on quality control.  Com'on!  I know it's China, but how about adopting some Japanese quality work ethics and control?  Then they can brag that we have the safest electric unicycle ever made!  At least they have beefed up their shell bolts to machine screws and brass inserts.  The plastic supports also look pretty thick.  I still say they should make these babies as waterproof as possible since people are going to ride them outside in unpredictable and inclement weather conditions.

Just look at cars.  They have simple weatherproof connectors and wiring in the engine bays.  You can hose down pretty much everything and not worry about your car not running.  Considering that they run on 12 volt systems, with EUCs at 100v+ I would kinda think that weatherproofing better would be a good idea?  Maybe?  Ah, it's probably just me.  It's nice though that they have the anti-spark connectors.  Or is that still just a Jason McNeil special request add-on?  And how about a few adhesive cable clips to avoid those embarrassing squished wires?    What, they are about $7.99 for 100?  Surely that would help with cable management?

https://www.amazon.com/Pasow-Adhesive-Holder-Organizer-139-25-6/dp/B01JO7SKA6/

[EUC Custom Power-Pads]

6 hours ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said:

And how about a few adhesive cable clips to avoid those embarrassing squished wires?  

But then two completely new unsolvable problems appear.

These holders only hold properly if you 1) peel off the foil before gluing and 2) remove your greasy fingerprints on the case with cleaner.

If that doesn't work with the Mosfet thermal pads, how will it work with the holders? 

Edited September 27, 2019 by buell47

[Gustesta]

@chrisjunleePlease, what are your max amp settings on the wheellog app?  Any other alarms?

[Toshio Uemura]

On 9/27/2019 at 11:46 AM, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said:

  I wonder if water might have accumulated somewhere and pooled.  The bouncing down the stairs might have splashed it and resulted in a short somewhere?  Eh, just some wild and crazy speculation.

It’s not at all a crazy speculation. Last year I lost my new Tesla this way, because I wrote a day too often in the rain and water has crept inside or pooled up somewhere. Most wheels are not as resistent to rain and wet conditions as their commercials seem to promise. I had no problems with my Z10 in the rain so far. 

Edited September 28, 2019 by Toshio Uemura

[Gustesta]

@Marty BackePlease, what are your max amp settings on the wheellog app for the 100v Nikola?  Any other alarms?