I've read a few threads on throttles and throttle control modes since I'm moving from my KT controller with PAS to a PowerVelocity controller without it (unless you add a CA). My main concern is that my preferred method of riding is to use PAS, which gives me great range.
To see if I'll be able to adapt to throttle only, I set the PAS to 0 on my KT and tried different techniques to try to replicate how it functions with PAS. With PAS, I usually stay at level 1, which provides about 275 watts of assist. 275 watts without pedaling will bring the bike to about 14-15 mph, and I pedal up to 17 mph very comfortably. Well, if it try to replicate this by applying throttle and then pedaling, the resistance is much greater, like the motor is working against me.
Clearly I need to understand the relationship of the throttle and pedaling more, or possibly how different throttle control modes (torque, speed, power) can affect how the system behaves when adding pedal power, but I'm not sure which. It also makes me wonder how the CA handles this, since it supports PAS via the throttle signal (so therefore, will the PAS behavior be different between controllers depending on the type of throttle control mode?).
If I need to learn a new technique for extending range when using throttle only, I'm fine with that, since I wont' be adding a CA for a little bit. Or if this odd behavior is something limited to KT controllers, and if the PowerVelocity controller will work fine "pedaling up" to a higher speed than throttle only, that would negate having to do more research on this. The worst case would be to invest in the CA later and find that PAS doesn't function as expected.
Thanks for any insights into the throttle modes or specifics around riding with throttle only and pedaling, especially with a PowerVelocity controller would be greatly appreciated. In the end, how well PAS via the CA on a PowerVelocity controller is really the 64kW question.
EDIT: my KT controller has the PAS mode set to "imitation torque control" rather than "speed control" if that factors into anything.
Another thought is whether adjusting the power and speed setting for the three speed switch, by having a lower power setting and higher speed setting would allow me to "pedal up" to the higher speed, with the contribution being limited by the power setting would work? (this will be my first three speed switch too)
To see if I'll be able to adapt to throttle only, I set the PAS to 0 on my KT and tried different techniques to try to replicate how it functions with PAS. With PAS, I usually stay at level 1, which provides about 275 watts of assist. 275 watts without pedaling will bring the bike to about 14-15 mph, and I pedal up to 17 mph very comfortably. Well, if it try to replicate this by applying throttle and then pedaling, the resistance is much greater, like the motor is working against me.
Clearly I need to understand the relationship of the throttle and pedaling more, or possibly how different throttle control modes (torque, speed, power) can affect how the system behaves when adding pedal power, but I'm not sure which. It also makes me wonder how the CA handles this, since it supports PAS via the throttle signal (so therefore, will the PAS behavior be different between controllers depending on the type of throttle control mode?).
If I need to learn a new technique for extending range when using throttle only, I'm fine with that, since I wont' be adding a CA for a little bit. Or if this odd behavior is something limited to KT controllers, and if the PowerVelocity controller will work fine "pedaling up" to a higher speed than throttle only, that would negate having to do more research on this. The worst case would be to invest in the CA later and find that PAS doesn't function as expected.
Thanks for any insights into the throttle modes or specifics around riding with throttle only and pedaling, especially with a PowerVelocity controller would be greatly appreciated. In the end, how well PAS via the CA on a PowerVelocity controller is really the 64kW question.
EDIT: my KT controller has the PAS mode set to "imitation torque control" rather than "speed control" if that factors into anything.
Another thought is whether adjusting the power and speed setting for the three speed switch, by having a lower power setting and higher speed setting would allow me to "pedal up" to the higher speed, with the contribution being limited by the power setting would work? (this will be my first three speed switch too)