Horizontal Alltrax / Solenoid Mount

JaxPilot

Is it OK to mount the Alltrax horizontally to the passenger side "tray"? I know I have read that the solenoid should be mounted vertically (preferably), but I'm not going to be able to do that. Is this a viable option?


Is one way vs the other preferable, i.e., J7 J8 J9 facing inboard or outboard? I am having to make some sharp bends in some of the high current cables and want to try and eliminate them as much as possible.




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BGW

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scottyb

Horizontal wont matter much although brown top up is preferred, mechanically speaking there is less drag on the contact guide that way. I prefer the control side connections on the inboard side - especially when making program cable connection. But again it all a matter of personal preference

JaxPilot

Thanks, Scotty. I would have to fabricate some kind of mount for the solenoid, in lieu of the one I got with the controller and solenoid from you. Maybe one of my airplane owner friends has some scrap aluminium laying around.

Sergio

JaxPilot, every spec sheet I ever seen for those solenoids call for a Horizontal mounting like You have:

http://www.alltraxinc.com/files/sol400spec.pdf

The reason manufactures have a preferred mounting position has to do with the current "break" event.

Solenoids designed to "break" (interrupt flowing current) DC current need to operate fast in order to reduce the electrical arc that develops when the contacts start to open.

Since the only force pulling the contacts apart is the internal solenoid spring, the weight of the contacts is taken in consideration when designing a spring that will pull the contacts apart quickly, but not so strong that affects the "making" or closing the contacts when the energized coil is pulling against the spring.

Since our carts should never make/break the connection while a heavy current is flowing, the mounting position becomes less critical.

Sir Nuke

Jax, I have to ask, why don't you mount the controller and solenoid on the original type heat sink/mount? it sure makes things easy. and if you don't have one, even a new one is only $30. I bought one when I did a build a few months ago.

JaxPilot

The legs broke off the original heat sink when I was trying to drill out a broken screw. Didn't realize EZGO had them for $35 shipped. Ordered.

mgray70

Some things on EZGO's web site are unbelievably cheap, and some things are outrageous. Always with checking though.

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Sir Nuke

which is why I am always checking our vendors.....and even AMAZON which I have found that many of our vendors have amazon pages too.