Alltrax Controller on an ETEK DC Motor

[BobBoyce]

Back in 2003 I ordered a Briggs & Stratton ETEK motor. For those not familiar, it is a permanent magnet DC motor that was available in various horsepower ratings and was touted as having the Harley Davidson mounting bolt pattern. The highest horsepower stock ETEK available was rated for 8 HP, though custom builds were available. I ordered a custom built ETEK based upon the 8 HP model. With a 1" motor shaft instead of the usual 7/8" shaft, this one they said was rated for 16 HP at 60 VDC. I never had the opportunity to test it.

I called Alltrax and asked which controller I would need for this motor. They recommended the AXE 7245, 24-72 VDC 450 Max Amps. So I bought 2 of them, one to use and one for a spare. The project was for my wife, who became ill soon after and eventually passed. I put everything in storage. A few days ago I decided to pull one of the controllers out of storage to see if I could go ahead and upgrade the software in it. I contacted Alltrax, gave them all of the data label info along with the motor info, and asked for a program update. Their response was that this controller was not designed to work with permanent magnet motors. There is no E at the end of the model number! I looked a my wiring diagram, and it clearly shows this controller being used with a permanent magnet motor. It does not have an A2 terminal. I suppose that this variant was made before they started making a seperate model number with the E for PM motors? Essentially an E model without the E. I responded back with this info, am now waiting for a reply. I've been itching to try out that ETEK motor in something.

Bob