Curtis controllers, does anyone use them?

[richdeloup]

I have a brushed motor with I want to put around 300A through. Looking at controllers and lots of bad things written about kellys? Alltrax seam a little pricey and then there is Curti,s which I cant find much info about apart from use golf/car EV's. Is there a reason for this lack of info?
Cheers, Rich

 

[major]

Maybe because they've been around for 30 - 40 years and most in the industry they serve know them quite well. Curtis primarily builds for OEMs in certain markets although they do have a few products carried by EV parts dealers available to the general public. I don't have trouble finding information. Most from their web site, including manuals.

I'd rank them far ahead of Kelly and bit over Alltrax in design and quality. I like and use them for low voltage IUVs and recreational EVs. They were about the only game in town for the on-road EV car up until 10 or 15 years ago. Now they've dropped out of favor for that. Higher power and more sophisticated DC drives are available.

 

[richdeloup]

Thanks, that makes sense.

When I said 'lack of info' I should have said lack of reviews, as like you say there is lots of info and specs on their site etc. All the reviews were prob written before the likes of ES and the internet from the sound of it

My motor can't run at over 72v so maybe Curtis is an option and seems like a good price.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111244761254?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me why I shouldn't ! use them????


Cheers

 

[richdeloup]

Application is for a supermoto type bike build. not sure about the plug breaking option, sounds scary!

 

[amberwolf]

Lots of DIYers use old Curtis controllers for EV conversions. Quite a few on DIYElectricCar.com forums.

I used a smallish one on CrazyBike2 for my brushed powerchair motors not long before I gave up on those due ot the high torque destroying too many things whenever a misalignment occured--but the controller was great.

 

[major]

Application is for a supermoto type bike build. not sure about the plug breaking option, sounds scary!

Plug braking is nice on IUVs and forklifts. You can't regenerate with the series wound motors but you can plug. It dissipates the energy in the motor and plug diode so you can't use it at high speed (like cars). But it is used extensively on forklifts. You simply go from forward to reverse, and vice verse. It is a controlled brake rate. You need reversing contactors so it is unlikely you'd do it on a 2-wheeler. There is no harm in getting the A2 busbar on the controller and simply not connecting it to the motor.

BTW, if you use a series motor on the bike, you had better fashion a speed sensor and throttle cutout on overspeed. Otherwise when you lose a chain with full throttle, the motor will overspeed and destroy itself.

 

[richdeloup]

Good stuff, thanks for the info, I'm going in with the buy!

Just found the guy making programming cables which makes it more appealing over the Alltrax. Now for the latest software, hmm!

 

[richdeloup]

Throttle cut out tip probably just saved me my motor, thanks!

Crazybike2, why did you call it that? then I found your blog fantastic stuff.

 

[amberwolf]

Throttle cut out tip probably just saved me my motor, thanks!

FWIW...there is a fascinating overspeed story about a Saturn converted to EV, somewhere on the web. I originally found it via DIYElectricCar forums, so it's probably still there.

Crazybike2, why did you call it that? then I found your blog fantastic stuff.

Well, it's a bike and it's crazy...:lol: But a lot of people that see it tend to say "that's one crazy bike", so.... And it's 2 because I never actually got past the drawing board for 1.

Dunno what the next one will be called, if I ever get it built (shoulda been done years ago but I can't make up my mind on stuff).