Serious but basic q?s about controllers

biged65806 · 06-17-2013, 02:02 PM

Hi all, long time reader but firsttime poster here.
I am a concept person here. and am having a bit of a problem understanding a few things about controllers. Please help if you can.

1 i have read here many times that controllers limit the amount of amps that the motor can use.
Well if this is true then i should be able to put in a 8hp motor with a stock 275amp controller and it would run but the motor itself would run poorlly and eventually overheat? Yes? But the controller would stay within its own limits Right?

And if this statement is true it sounds as if the controller itself would be near bulletproof. And yet the controller is one of the most common causes of breakdowns!

Is the breakdowns due to ober or under voltage then?

Andy4639 · 06-18-2013, 08:27 PM

Most of the controller's I have seen that have burnt up are from under voltage. if you drive a DCS cart and run it on low voltage you will burn it up.
Most controller's depend on the cart moving to keep it cool enough to not over heat and burn but if your stuck are on a hill and running it slow but with a heavy load and very little air effect it's getting hotter and hotter!

gornoman · 06-18-2013, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biged65806

I have read here many times that controllers limit the amount of amps that the motor can use.
Well if this is true then i should be able to put in a 8hp motor with a stock 275amp controller and it would run but the motor itself would run poorlly and eventually overheat? Yes? But the controller would stay within its own limits Right?

Wrong. A 8hp motor will pull 275 amps (controller "limit") more often than a stock motor. The result is you would be running the controller up against it's own thermal limit way too often. Heat damage is cumulative in electronics, and the more often you reach the limit, the shorter the unit's lifespan.

biged65806 · 06-21-2013, 01:46 PM

Ok, got it.
After reading the spec sheet for my 1204 controller. I notice the one hour rating is 125amps. So this would be more ore less the continuous duty rating right?

So in reality the 1204 is really a 125 amp controller capable of running higher amps for short time periods!

Does that sound right?

Thank for all your help
Ed

Andy4639 · 06-25-2013, 06:30 PM

That is correct. All controllers will handle a larger amp to get the cart moving but for it to hold it it will be less than the total amp rating.
Check out alltrax page. It is about half way down in green. It gives all the amp ratings for there products.

http://www.alltraxinc.com/Products_SPM.html

06-17-2013, 02:02 PM	#1
biged65806 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2	Serious but basic q?s about controllers Hi all, long time reader but firsttime poster here. I am a concept person here. and am having a bit of a problem understanding a few things about controllers. Please help if you can. 1 i have read here many times that controllers limit the amount of amps that the motor can use. Well if this is true then i should be able to put in a 8hp motor with a stock 275amp controller and it would run but the motor itself would run poorlly and eventually overheat? Yes? But the controller would stay within its own limits Right? And if this statement is true it sounds as if the controller itself would be near bulletproof. And yet the controller is one of the most common causes of breakdowns! Is the breakdowns due to ober or under voltage then?

06-18-2013, 08:27 PM	#2
Andy4639 48/400/Alltrax HS motor Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Liberty SC, Garden City SC Posts: 6,190	Re: Serious but basic q?s about controllers Most of the controller's I have seen that have burnt up are from under voltage. if you drive a DCS cart and run it on low voltage you will burn it up. Most controller's depend on the cart moving to keep it cool enough to not over heat and burn but if your stuck are on a hill and running it slow but with a heavy load and very little air effect it's getting hotter and hotter!

06-21-2013, 01:46 PM	#4
biged65806 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2	Re: Serious but basic q?s about controllers Ok, got it. After reading the spec sheet for my 1204 controller. I notice the one hour rating is 125amps. So this would be more ore less the continuous duty rating right? So in reality the 1204 is really a 125 amp controller capable of running higher amps for short time periods! Does that sound right? Thank for all your help Ed

06-25-2013, 06:30 PM	#5
Andy4639 48/400/Alltrax HS motor Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Liberty SC, Garden City SC Posts: 6,190	Re: Serious but basic q?s about controllers That is correct. All controllers will handle a larger amp to get the cart moving but for it to hold it it will be less than the total amp rating. Check out alltrax page. It is about half way down in green. It gives all the amp ratings for there products. http://www.alltraxinc.com/Products_SPM.html

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