Vented PDS motors for cooling

beach cart

Need some feedback on vented motors. Do any of you run a vented PDS speed motor, and where did you purchase it. I was thinking this may be a good choice for running warm weather in Florida. I currently run an AMD ev6-4001 36 v on 48v pack at up to 27 avg. 18 for up to 25 miles on a days. In one of his threads, Johnnie b said heat is cumulative over time and it sure is. I use an ex ray for motor temp and hand laser to check exrays accuracy.

BGW

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Mrh20

What kind of heat are you seeing? With a vented motor water splash would be a problem for me.

JohnnieB

I agree with Mrh20. Splashing water might be an issue with a vented motor.

The air temperature in Florida is a factor, but the insulation ratings of electric motors are based on a 40°C (104°F) air temperature.

A stock PDS motor is a totally enclosed, non-ventilated motor with a Class H insulation rating, which is the highest rating.
That means the maximum operating temperature for the insulation on the wires used in the stator and armature windings is 180°C (356°F), which is almost up to the 188°C (370°F) melting point of the 60/40 solder commonly used in electronics. (Of course, wires in motors are brazed or connected with solders with much higher melting points)

That is strictly the INSULATION temperature and there is no easy way to measure insulation temperature inside the motor's windings unless a temperature sensor is embedded inside the windings, so the best we can do is measure the motors case temperature, which would be highest at or near one of the bolts holding one of the stator winding assemblies in-place.

With a 15°C (27°F) fudge-factor for hot spots within the windings and a 30°C (54°F) fudge-factor for the thermal masses of the stator shoe and motor case, the maximum case temperature at its hottest spot, is about 135°C (275°F), which is hot enough to flash a drop of water to steam on contact and far more than enough to blister your skin if you touch it.

Personally, I am going to try my best to keep my motor case temperature well below that extreme.

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One of the problems I see is the motor is in a trapped air space.
Perhaps a fan or fans would get rid of the hot air surrounding the motor.
(They could be thermostatically controlled, so they only ran when the motor case got above a certain temperature.)
Also, adding fins to the motor case would help.

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like Mrh20 asked, what temperatures are you seeing?
.

beach cart

My temps in winter so far run at around 180 in winter 200-204 on a hot 90 day. I even drive to work in my cart on nice days here. I just don't go as far, maybe 10 miles and let it cool down. There are contraptions out there too vent motor, but it takes cutting into motor cover.

There is one bright thing I have heard is coming. The original company that owned or manufactured the ex ray volt is coming out with a kit this summer. Alltrax no longer supports the ex ray on its site, they refer to this company in Oregon, I mailed him and that's when I got the info.

Johnnie I knew the class of the motor is an h, checked it with AMD. I have seen that plum quick offers vented as an option to there motors but it seems the assassin is a series motor mostly.

beach cart

I have had it as high as 212 last summer and it sure did not seem to like that. 22mph seems to be a good medium to keep the heat down. Running 25 really heats it up fast, I am running 48v , 2ga cables, with 8 deka GC 45 batts, lots of range 27-28 miles and still be 65 pack soc. No excessive heat on 600amp alltrax, usually 98 degrees for it measured on controller case, 105 -110 solenoid, 68-72 on cables.

JohnnieB

I did some searching and read some of your previous posts.

If you are running 255/60-10 tires (22" tall), 8:1 gears and a DCX600 controller, I understand why the motor is getting so hot.

Basically, the motor is the weak link in the drive system you've put together.

If it was my cart, I'd be on the phone to Plum Quick. telling them the tire height, gear ratio, controller amps, that it was being fed by a battery pack consisting of eight 6V-255AH batteries and that it was used in a hot climate.

I'm sure they would either have (or could build) a motor to handle that kind of power without overheating, or point to someone that does have one.

beach cart

Johnnie thanks for the advice about the motor it is exactly what I need and I will call them next week to see what they can do for me. We are heading to SC in a few weeks and I may be able to go and talk to them directly. Nice side trip while my wife visits with a sister.
If I purchase another motor will the field map need to be changed or any anything else need to be reprogrammed with the controller, and does a 48v motor help with all this.
Finally your help and threads and Scotty and many others have helped us novice cart junkies and given me the huspah to tackle the small jobs myself, LoL, I just pulled the first cable off myself this morning to replace rad socks and bypass my reed switch. I use the Scotty cable through the steering wheel. No smoke, does it matter if positive or negative is removed first? Thanks again

JohnnieB

Be sure to flip the Run/Tow to TOW!!!!!!!!

beach cart

I got that the first day I bought my cart. Its the first thing I do even when watering batts. If the seat goes up it goes to TOW.

JohnnieB

1. Take the motor with you and save the postage.
Also gives you a very good excuse for the side trip.

2. Field map 4 is for a stock PDS motor, but there might be another one for a different sepex motor.
Bring it up when you talk to Plum Quick and give Alltrax a call after you figure out what motor you are going to install.
Between the two of them, they might have something that will meet your needs batter than field map #4.

3. As long as the Run/Tow is switched to TOW, it doesn't matter which cable is disconnected first.
EZGO says to reconnect the main Positive cable first and the main Negative cable last and I do it that way, but I don't see a reason for doing it.

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Just curious:
Do you have the Turbo box selected on the controller program?
I've been told that it generates more heat in the motor.

As I understand it, after your foot has been on the floor for 1-second, the field map is altered to give more speed.
Problem is that the torque drops when that happens and if you are pushing a lot of air (Carts have the aerodynamics of a brick), the motor heats up more than it normally does.

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