[PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers

Thu May 5 20:10:27 EDT 2016

Thanks so much Cliff, good to hear! Today we had another design meeting on
this topic and are leaning toward four MKs with a super simple control box
consisting of nothing but four pots. A very nice feature Les has come up
with is a ground fault test, so I can find out if any of the motor circuits
has ceased to be watertight. This is a possibility since they are
jettisonable. It'll also have a switches-only capability so we can dive or
get home if controllers fail.

Best,

Alec

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 5:16 PM, via Personal_Submersibles <
personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

> I have never as any problem.  BTW, the 1/4" spade connectors are also used
> inside the motor to connect the 10 AWG cables with the brushes.  Make sure
> you get good quality spade connectors designed for 10 AWG wire.  Don't use
> cheap spade connectors you would find at Harbor freight or one of the big
> box stores.  Digikey has good spade connectors.
>
> Btw, I have been driving these MK boards pretty hard with my new variable
> pitch prop pushing 60 amps at times.  No issue with the controllers.
>
> I found a nice undocumented feature of the MK controllers.  If at low rpm
> the motor torque spikes like what happen if the prop fouls, the controller
> goes into a protection mode.  On one of my dives I had a root lodge in my
> thruster between the ducted nozzle and prop.  The MK controller protected
> the electronics.  After pulling the root, the system returned to working
> fine.  I found out about this when I tried to measure the 0 rpm max torque
> of the motor.
>
> Cliff
>
>
> Cliff Redus
>
> On May 5, 2016, at 2:33 PM, Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Cliff,
>
> It appears the MK controller will do just what I need it to, but there is
> one detail that has be a bit concerned. From what I see it appears the main
> motor current is all going through a single spade connector. Close to 50
> amps through one of those little guys is a lot, and the connectors
> themselves don't take very fat cables. Have you had any issues with that?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alec
>
> On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 10:38 PM, via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> http://m.ebay.com/itm/MINN-KOTA-TRAXXIS-TROLLING-MOTOR-MAIN-CONTROL-BOARD-PN-2184017-OR-2184027-/371336409933
>>
>> Standard part that can be ordered just about everywhere.  Shows up on
>> eBay quite often.  MK part no.  is 2184017.
>>
>>
>> Cliff Redus
>>
>> On Apr 19, 2016, at 9:24 PM, Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Cliff. Is the controller a component you pulled from inside the MK
>> trolling motor or is it a standalone product? I did a few searches and have
>> not turned up anything standalone. I do have such a unit (really old) but
>> it's for a way lower-powered motor than the 101s.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Alec
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 9:58 PM, via Personal_Submersibles <
>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Alan/Alec, I use Minn Kota 36v controllers for each of my 4 thrusters.
>>> They have worked great.  They are potted and rugged.  They have an internal
>>> relay with a dead band around 2.5v signal voltage.  This means that
>>> absolutely no current flows even if you left the motor controller powered
>>> up while in the garage.
>>>
>>> My previous motor controller for my big traction motor was from Curtis.
>>> This worked great but generated a high pitch noise that was irritating.
>>>
>>>
>>> Cliff Redus
>>>
>>> On Apr 19, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> What did Cliff use?
>>> He has been through this process recently with a 101.
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
>>> *To:* Personal Submersibles General Discussion <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 20, 2016 11:12 AM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers
>>>
>>> No, the one I was considering was not for brushless motors. It's the
>>> Roboteq XDC2460, rated for 80A continuous duty per channel. But now I'm
>>> looking at Kelly I really like what I'm seeing there too, and Curtis seems
>>> to be similar. This will probably come down to a decision between a more
>>> advanced  dual channel from Roboteq or a super simple single-channel
>>> controllers from the likes of Curtis/Kelly. In general if the simpler one
>>> can do the job, it's the one I would prefer even if it cost the same.
>>>
>>> Thanks guys for all the input!
>>>
>>> Alec
>>>
>>> On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 6:09 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Alec,
>>> that one says brushless?
>>> On the Kelly faq page for selecting controllers it suggests.....
>>> HOW TO CHOOSE A SUITABLE CONTROLLER FOR THE MOTOR?
>>> Usually the performance will be optimized if the power of the controller
>>> is 2.0-3.0 times of the motor's.
>>>    I guess that means if you have a 2000W motor you get a controller
>>> whose continual
>>> amp rating X max voltage is at least 4000W.
>>>    I have heard that it is better to aire on the safe side as some
>>> manufacturers over rate
>>> their controllers. Kelly have a reputation of being good & cheap, &
>>> their ratings accurate,
>>> however Hugh has had problems with them & I wired up mine yesterday &
>>> the ON light
>>> isn't working when powered up. I put power on it once without the
>>> pre-ignition resister
>>> so this may have stuffed it, but surely it wouldn't be so fickle!
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
>>> *To:* Personal Submersibles General Discussion <
>>> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 20, 2016 9:45 AM
>>> *Subject:* [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I need to finalize my selection of speed controllers for Shackleton over
>>> the next week or so, and at first blush am looking at this one from Roboteq:
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.roboteq.com/index.php/docman/motor-controllers-documents-and-files/documentation/datasheets/hbl23xx/59-hbl23xx-datasheet/file
>>>
>>> There will be two of them, each driving a pair of MK101 thrusters.
>>> Roboteq offers a controller family that is a step down from this and still
>>> handles the required amperage, and which is tempting because it's much less
>>> expensive. However, the specs are too close for comfort (50A continuous
>>> duty rating vs. MK101 requirement of 46A).
>>>
>>> Anyone have any suggestions for other cost-effective controllers to
>>> consider?
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Alec
>>>
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