Can a BLDC motor be used as a motor and as a generator?

Thread Starter

jmattcc

Joined Apr 4, 2017
1
Can a BLDC motor be used as a motor and as a generator?
I'm planning to make an electric bicycle with a BLDC motor located in the hub of the wheel. So its purpose is for the propulsion of the bicycle with a battery as its source. Is it possible to charge that battery when the bike is manually driven?


Moderator's Note:
Please don't hijack other member's thread, now you have your own.
This thread was split from --
Can a brushless dc motor be used as a generator?
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...or-be-used-as-a-generator.82758/#post-1115245
 

Marley

Joined Apr 4, 2016
501
Yes. In the hijacked thread 6 diodes to make a bridge rectifier were mentioned. In fact these diodes will probably already exist as part of the 3-phase "H" bridge that drives the motor.
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
Yes but you may need a boost converter to get the battery charging voltage up high enough to work plus on pedal power even adding a few tens of watts load to your already moving bikes propulsive energy requirements will make it feel like you're riding uphill into the wind on level ground.

For the efforts required you would be better off to fit a compact battery charger system onto your bike so that when ever you are near a utility power socket you can plug it in and recharge it.
 
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