Motor tuning!
 

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Andy, there is alot to be learned from the electric RC car motors. Some have adjustable timing and I have often wondered if applying that technique would work on an electric golf car motor. I see no reason why it would not work. A whole new motor end cap would have to be designed but it could be done.


I have a brush seating stone I use quite often. It seems to help get the brushes seated faster and allow better brush to commutator contact.

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Check out some of these motor builder sites who build motors for electric cars and electric drag cars. Something as simple as de-burring the commutator will net a hair more power and extend brush life.

As far as "Tuneing"...haven't really done it. I would supposed you would need a motor dyno to tweak each motor individually to get the most power out of it. I'm gathering parts for a cart motor right now...all I think I'm gonna do to this one is take a few winds off the feild coil. In theory it should have more top end. All kinds of things come into play like number of winds...thickness of the wire for the windings.

I haven't yet touched an armature other than to cut the comm down, de-burr and polish. You can either hand wind the armature or buy a winding machine. I hear hand winding an armature is much better if you know what your doing.

Re: Motor tuning!
 

I wish I knew how to apply what ya'll are talking about. I understand the question but have no idea about how to apply the answer. Have you got , "How to build a golf cart motor for Dummies".

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Looks like these guys have it tuned.. 0 to 50 in 3 seconds?
http://www.forepar.com/p_customcars.php

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Great subject Andy. Gives one pause for thought. I'm no electric motor guru (far from it) but other than field weakening to gain some speed (<-- isn't this the infamous shunt?) I wonder if you could hook up a variable pot to bump the field voltage either way a bit without sacrificing the motor from heat?

We did that here at work on our DC drive motors to synchronize the speeds of the steel as it passes through the mill. Of course, this was on a 200hp DC motor but the principles are the same I would think.

Where's Nate?

Just for grins, here is the pot we installed.

http://www.photolocker.net/images/pggroves/1010119.jpg

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Re: Motor tuning!
 

Many years ago, I was in Mr. Wheatons electric shop in High school. There I learned that an electric motor that was series wound was the fastest of the motor configurations, dc or ac. It's speed was only determind by the Load. Problem with a golf car is lots a load...so u need power I squared R if anyone can design a controller that has the capability to do the Parellel to Series configurational change in flight, You will have a comfortable in life from now on.........

Re: Motor tuning!
 

My understanding they do have controllers that convert DC to AC(I have one in my truck) as in new EZgo's and others. I don't understand your premise, term,(in flight). Could you expand on your thinking. I am just trying to learn, and have little knowledge of elec, so info would be appreciated.