what is PLUG BRAKING?

[smokey tennis shoe]

I see the term "plug braking", when looking thru a curtis controller paper.

What exactly is plug braking? What carts have this?

[Revolution]

the short and dirty version according to my understanding.......

Plug braking is using your series motor as a generator. It uses resistors to place a load on the motor to slow your cart down. It can and will cause some heat in the motor and controller. Its similar to regeneration in a sepex motor but all the energy is converted to heat not recharging the batteries. It may or may not draw power from your battery bank to achieve the braking, I am still not clear on that point.

From what I can tell it works better at moderate speeds and is less effective at low speed. I don't think it will bring a cart to a complete stop. Its no replacement for real brakes but can help slow a cart down when needed.

Someone more knowledgeable should be able to tell you more shortly.

[roady89]

Originally Posted by ALLTRAX

Plug braking, also refered to as dynamic braking, is a
safe way to slow down a vehicle with a series motor
when the motor direction is reversed. Without plug
braking, if the operator reverses direction while the
vehicle is in motion the armature will lock up. When the
vehicle comes to a halt, then the motor will reverse
direction. Reversing the current to the armature while
moving causes the armature to lock up with violent and
potenially dangerous consquences for the motor,
controller and operator.

....

[cgtech]

I agree with above. I was gonna say "a braking/slowdown mechanism for series motors abruptly swithed in direction, like pallet jacks or electric forklifts". I think all the energy drained for stopping is wasted through the diodes in the controller (creating plenty of heat), not put back into the batteries.

[roady89]

Originally Posted by cgtech

I agree with above. I was gonna say "a braking/slowdown mechanism for series motors abruptly swithed in direction, like pallet jacks or electric forklifts". I think all the energy drained for stopping is wasted through the diodes in the controller (creating plenty of heat), not put back into the batteries.

Exactly. I've never had much plug braking effect with a stock controller but I can tell you an Alltrax controller works great...it ill jerk you around pretty good. You have to tone it down in the software I believe.

[Volt_Ampere]

Plug braking is actually driving the motor backwards - not running it as a generator. Regen braking is running it as a generator and pushing current into the battery.

[JohnnieB]

Alltrax has a Tech Note (attached) about Plug Braking that explains it fairly well.

In series drive golf cart applications, it reduces the possibility of driver from being impaled on the steering column when the direction selector lever is switched from one direction to the other while moving at speed.

[scottyb]

Note that this creates a lot of heat. This heat was originally dumped into the controller via A2 terminal but they found this fried controls... so they allow the heat to be dumped into the motor. So remember stop, then shift.

[roady89]

Originally Posted by scottyb

Note that this creates a lot of heat. This heat was originally dumped into the controller via A2 terminal but they found this fried controls... so they allow the heat to be dumped into the motor. So remember stop, then shift.

I have seen my fair share of burnt up controllers from people trying to wheelie by going full speed reverse and slamming it into forward and flooring it. The diodes can't handle it. Had an "injuneer" explain it to me one day but don't remember exactly whats happening.

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by roady89

I have seen my fair share of burnt up controllers from people trying to wheelie by going full speed reverse and slamming it into forward and flooring it. The diodes can't handle it.

If they do the axles may snap