Factory upgraded Crystalyte controllers

[fechter]

My brain cells are dying in droves these days.
I can't remember where it was, but wasn't somebody talking about getting controllers built with the upgraded FETs already in them?

Was it Justin?

Help me... There's so many posts it's very hard to find them using the search function. I gave up.

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Are you sure they were talking about factory-upgraded and not dealer-upgraded?

 

[knoxie]

Hi Richard

No it was me, Mark wants to know what upgrades we all want from the controller as Kenny is going to get them made as standard. I said adjustable current limit knob, higher quality fets and 150V, drop the rubber tubes and fit washers and heat transfer tabs.

If you can think of any more Kenny will implement it, Mark is also having a custom controller made to be supplied with the wheels.

Cheers

Knoxie

 

[fechter]

Thanks Knoxie, I guess it was Kenny I was thinking of.
What company is that?

Speaking of upgrades, they might as well mount the end plates upside down while they're at it. This way the main heat dissipating surface can face away from the mounting surface.

Any idea on how much the upgraded controllers will cost?

 

[knoxie]

Hi Richard

Well Team Hybrid are going to get them made to spec, Mark has asked what upgrades we would like so if you can think of any? I dont know what the pricing structure is going to be, its this kind of feedback that should ensure in time we get a powerful and reliable controller at a good price, this will be good for everybody

Cheers

Knoxie

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Personally, I don't really care about price. I would much rather they built a powerful reliable controller we don't have to repair or modify, rather than using cheap components or assembly techniques to lower costs. Currently, you basically need to pay $400 for two controllers, since it may be unwise not having a backup if you exceed 48V.

 

[RatoN]

*thinks out loud*

...if only some talented member would stop playing with himself and realize that he could make a living making better controllers, with all the ideas that surfaced in different treads, and realizing the general dissatisfaction of users…

*shake head in disbelieve*

 

[Stevil_Knevil]

Thanks Knoxie, I guess it was Kenny I was thinking of.
What company is that?

Hey Rich,

That would be Crystalyte.

There is an interesting series of blogs that Todd Fahrner (who is developing the Stokemonkey) posted on his Cleverchimp website. He tells the story about his trip to China to meet with Kenny, touring the motor and controller manufactories to insure that the components that he was ordering would be made to his unique specifications.. and his experience riding around Beijing on his folding bike.

Todd provides some really good insight about the C-lyte systems, manufacturing process and Chinese culture in general.

http://todd.cleverchimp.com/blog/?p=96

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ride Bikes. Drive Culture. -S

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Who is Kenny, the owner of Crystalyte? Does he have a website/blog? That blog of Todd's was very interesting reading. He even responds to the issue of manual assembly, which I admit I was uncomfortable with too -- manually winding the motors? Seems unnecessary and like humans are cheaper than robots in China. But maybe it's not that bad.

 

[knoxie]

*thinks out loud*

...if only some talented member would stop playing with himself and realize that he could make a living making better controllers, with all the ideas that surfaced in different treads, and realizing the general dissatisfaction of users…

*shake head in disbelieve*

What kind of comment is that?

If you think that we are all just playing with ourselves its a wonder how we manage to get so much done on this front in such a short space of time, thats an insult to Bob, myself and Rich to imply that we have been somehow playing with ourselves?

Now I am shaking my head in disbelief, the reason we are doing this is so the factory can make a reliable controller? and I am not rushing any testing as it has to pass phases, I am taking a measured approach, whats the point in recommending expensive mods if they dont work in the long run because of a lack of testing.

If you think you can somehow do better and we are all playing with our elves then you have a go! well you did and it failed and you still dont know why?



Knoxie

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Heh, knoxie, I suspect (and hope) he meant it in the more literal sense; instead of playing around with our own controllers, sell modified ones to others. Of course that's probably only practical if they're built 'correctly' at the factory.

...plus very few people are even using 72+ Volts anyway.

 

[RatoN]

*thinks out loud*

...if only some talented member would stop playing with himself and realize that he could make a living making better controllers, with all the ideas that surfaced in different treads, and realizing the general dissatisfaction of users…

*shake head in disbelieve*

What kind of comment is that?

If you think that we are all just playing with ourselves its a wonder how we manage to get so much done on this front in such a short space of time, thats an insult to Bob, myself and Rich to imply that we have been somehow playing with ourselves?

Now I am shaking my head in disbelief, the reason we are doing this is so the factory can make a reliable controller? and I am not rushing any testing as it has to pass phases, I am taking a measured approach, whats the point in recommending expensive mods if they dont work in the long run because of a lack of testing.

If you think you can somehow do better and we are all playing with our elves then you have a go! well you did and it failed and you still dont know why?



Knoxie

Calm down knoxie

My comment got nothing to do with my personal experience modding the little black box. It has all to do with working at home and making a buck, while improving our common hubby… well ok, a whole planet is counting on YOU to catapult these funky machines in the major league of logical transportation, cause I can’t.

Not insults, but as long as I make you think… and stop playing with yourselves

 

[29a]

Guys just my 2 cents

Adjustable amps, LVC, voltage and the better 150V fets with the fitting kits

Or maybe a replaceable plug in section with all the usuall parts that blow

sensorless version

I'd drop the cash if i could get this

 

[fechter]

Doing a proper design would require quite a bit of development work. The software / coding part is critical, and I suck at that. There's really no reason a company couldn't design a good controller and make it for a reasonable cost as long as the volume was sufficient to make the company sucessful.

The existing designs could be improved, but doing it at home is stupid compared to getting them built right from the factory. I could never make a business out of modding controllers. It's way too time-consuming. The amount I could charge vs. the time it takes to do them plus support doesn't come close to what it would take to replace my day job. I just do it for fun.

I have really two "day jobs" that suck up most of my time (along with the family). I'm hoping someday I'll make enough money off one of the other jobs to afford retiring; then I could spend more time on EV stuff

Meanwhile, I'm putting pressure on the manufacturer to change their design in sort of a round-about way. This seems like the best route to bring "improved" designs to the marketplace (where anybody can buy them).

I've publicly posted all the details, so anybody can do it. There are a number of others who have done some great testing (Thanks, Lowell, Knoxie) with upgraded components.

Anybody with a bunch of spare time could buy a nice desoldering station and make pretty quick work of it. Practice makes perfect.