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Difference between revisions of "Motor controller"

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See [[WikiPedia:Motor controller]]
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{{TOCright}}
  
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'''  Consider the used / surplus market where I can get a complete GE
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===Contactor===
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EV-1 fully functional with pot box and contactors for $100 or less.
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Simplest controller - just a contactor (high current relay) to turn the power on or off. Could have more than one contactor and resistors to enable stepped speed control.
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Or an EV-100 or even EV-200.  All used, all cheap, all still very
 
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functional. Why would I buy a Curtis?'''
 
  
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Two main reasons: we're all typically wanting more range from our Evs, and a modern high-frequency controller like (even) the Curtis will give you nearly 2x the range from the same battery pack; and, we're all typically wanting more life from our batteries, and the low-frequency
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===DC===
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EV-1 type controllers will kill your pack faster than the higher frequency alternatives.
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The most commonly used controllers - for DC motors
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popular manufacturers:
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* [http://www.curtisinst.com/Curtis Curtis]
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* [http://cafeelectric.com/ Zilla]
  
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The only EV-1 worth considering for an on-road EV is the 84-144V model; how common are these on the used market?
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Other manufacturers:
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* [http://www.belktronix.com Belktronix]
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* Dc Power Systems [http://www.dcpowersystems.com/r600fly.htm Raptor] (out of business?)
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* [[ZAPI H2]]
  
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'''   As far as controller rebuilding and modifications, why not buy some
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'''Do it yourself'''
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GE EV-1's as I have done and try to boost the voltage / current. It
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* schematics: http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/tech/
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may be possible to take it up to 144 V
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* OSMC (Open Source Motor Control) http://www.robotpower.com/products/osmc_info.html and http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/osmc
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(maybe) and current (double up the SCR) and some other stuff. '''
 
  
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144V is certainly possible, since the EV-1 used in the Jet Industries Electrica 007 cars is rated for 84-144V.  I've been told that reliability may suffer if pushed right to 144V, but certainly they hold up fine at 120V.
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See also [[DC to DC Converter]]
  
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The current thing has been done also.  Its been years since I've seen a post from Dale Glubrecht on the list, but as I recall he described having but together a monster EV-1 using the high current panel from a lower voltage model and the control card from a higher voltage model.
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====Curtis-Killer====
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The comment that sticks in my mind is that he didn't hear a growling noise from his motor; he could hear his *batteries* complain from the high current pulses they were being subjected to!
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My essential spec/feature list for a Curtis"-Killer" DC controller is:
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: moved to [[Talk:Motor controller#Curtis-Killer DC controller]]
  
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>  When you get to more than 600 batt amps, you are really killing the
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===AC===
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> pack.
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Controllers for AC motors
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* [http://www.acpropulsion.com/ AC Propulsion]
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John Wayland will chime in anytime to set you straight on this ;^>
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* Vendor of Siemens AC motors and controllers http://www.metricmind.com/
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Floodeds don't like the high current, but AGMs such as Optimas, Orbitals, and Hawkers don't mind it at all.
 
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The key here is that with controllers such as the Zilla, DCP, etc. vs the Curtis, you can adjust the maximum battery amps to a limit appropriate for your batteries, *without* restricting the low speed motor current. With a Curtis, if you turn down the current to protect the batteries, then the motor current is similarly reduced and acceleration suffers.
 
  
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==See Also==
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* [[WikiPedia:Motor controller]]
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Why are motor controllers so expensive [[Controllers Cost]]
  
 
[[Category:BEV components]]
 
[[Category:BEV components]]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 12 April 2007

Contactor

Simplest controller - just a contactor (high current relay) to turn the power on or off. Could have more than one contactor and resistors to enable stepped speed control.

DC

The most commonly used controllers - for DC motors popular manufacturers:

Other manufacturers:

Do it yourself

See also DC to DC Converter

Curtis-Killer

My essential spec/feature list for a Curtis"-Killer" DC controller is:

moved to Talk:Motor controller#Curtis-Killer DC controller

AC

Controllers for AC motors

See Also

Why are motor controllers so expensive Controllers Cost

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