Skip to content
Home » Parting out a power wheelchair for RC Lawn Mower

Parting out a power wheelchair for RC Lawn Mower

Video by BenjaminNelson via YouTube
Source

Sponsored:

Prepare for a global paradigm shift with Inevitable and Unstoppable, a deep dive into the rapid transition to electric vehicles. This compelling analysis explores how technological breakthroughs and policy shifts are making internal combustion engines obsolete. Learn how the EV revolution is reshaping economies, urban infrastructure, and environmental policy worldwide. Stay ahead of the curve by understanding the forces driving this trillion-dollar industry. Read the full analysis on Amazon.

I’m taking an old power wheelchair apart to use the components to build a remote-control lawn mower!
I got the wheelchair for $25. It was in pretty poor condition, but everything on it worked!
From the wheel chair, I’m getting:
2 x 24V brushed DC motors with right-angle gearbox and wheel
600 pound max electric actuator (seat height adjuster)
2 x 12V 31AH lead gel batteries
24V charger and ammeter
80A circuit breaker
2 x large casters, already on a yoke
Dual motor controller with joystick input
Misc bits of steel and wires.

I had already taken a look if I could reuse the motor controller with joystick. Unfortunately, the way the joystick is built into the controller, there’s no easy way to tap into that circuit to add remote controls. I also took a look at the possibility of using servos and 3D-printing to make a device to mechanically control the joystick. Unfortunately, (after several attempts, I decided) my CAD and 3D printing skills just aren’t up to it!

I looks like most people who have built RC Lawn Mowers have been using dual-motor controls which are already designed with a remote control input. Essentially, the "correct part" already exists, and I should just buy one!
I ordered a Cytron SmartDrive Duo-30. It’s a good match for a pair of wheelchair motors. 80A peak, 30A continuous, per motor. https://amzn.to/4jTi1MT

Go to Source