Re: (ET) ET new technology and abandening the ICE

["daveb" <daveb seanet com>]

after 3 years of replacing fwd/rev relays and fuses on my E15 I am more 
than 
ready to junk the 3 contactors, a circut card, the power wasting band 
resistors and the cranky micro switches on the old speed control for a 
solid 
state controller like the DCX.  to me thats a move toward simplicity.  :^)
I can't wait, but I have too as there are other things more pressing at 
the 
moment.  like planting...

dave
seattle

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---------- Original Message -----------
From: Chris Zach <czach computer org>
To: Rod Hower <rodhower ameritech net>
Cc: Elec-trak list <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 22:43:58 -0400
Subject: Re: (ET) ET new technology and abandening the ICE

> Mmm... I'm over 30 years old. And still going pretty well.
> 
> I'm not going to blast the Alltrax controller; it's probably a great
> product. I just don't see the reasoning behind going with a more complex
> solution when a simpler one can do the job.
> 
> Then again my 68 911L Porsche has carburators. Which do require a little
> bit of work to keep running, happy, drop of oil, etc. But I will say
> this: When I was on the highway and my accel cable broke I simply turned
> the idle screws up to 4,000 RPM and drove the car home.
> 
> When my 95 Dodge Caravan with it's computer controlled 3.0L engine
> decided it didn't want to run anymore I was dead as a doornail. 
> There is no way you can bypass the MPS, or work around a shot 
> computer. You're stuck on the side of the road.
> 
> Yes, carbs have their downside (less efficient, more pollution) but the
> computer that they rely on is in your noggin. Same for the E20. When 
> it comes to technology I like my products to be as dumb as a box of 
> hammers.
> 
> Simpler to fix in a pinch. Like when it's snowing.
> 
> Chris
> 
> Rod Hower wrote:
> 
> > Chris,
> > The GE control is over 30 years old.
> > Well designed but not the best upgrade for
> > this machine.  I think the Alltrax control offers
> > simplicity and better operation for people that
> > can't deal with failing relays and SCR's that
> > are over 30 years old. I'll admitt that my mower
> > solution is not for everybody, in fact it's probably
> > only for me since I have access to free parts to
> > perform this operation.  However, the Alltrax control
> > offers many users a simple and effective replacement
> > for
> > an antiquated control.
> > Rod.
> > --- Chris Zach <czach computer org> wrote:
> >
> >> > You need an Alltrax control!
> >>
> >>I need an Alltrax controller like I need a hole in
> >>my head.
> >>
> >>Seriously: The Elec-Trak controller is the model of
> >>simplicity and
> >>logic. I have seven speeds times four gears; that's
> >>enough to get me the
> >>speed control I need. I have regen and braking for
> >>excellent overall
> >>speed control. And I have a little circuit that
> >>measures the armature
> >>current and shuts down the field weakening circuit
> >>automagically when I
> >>overload the motor.
> >>
> >>And cruise control with a little light. What more
> >>can I need?
> >>
> >>This is not a car, where you want a wide amount of
> >>speed settings. I
> >>have 28 possibilties between 0 and 7 miles per hour.
> >>That's not bad. And
> >>besides, I usually use this thing for constant speed
> >>applications like
> >>mowing the lawn or blowing snow. Having a controller
> >>that never gives me
> >>the same speed twice would be annoying.
> >>
> >>There might be a point in the fact the the E15's
> >>controller is a lot
> >>more parsnickety. This appears to be the case; it's
> >>logic board tries to
> >>do a lot of things that the inherent nature of
> >>having contactors does
> >>for the E-20 (there are no timing circuits on the
> >>E20 for example; the
> >>contactors provide the time for you). And the E20
> >>reverses the motor the
> >>*right* way: By reversing the armature with
> >>contactors as opposed to the
> >>field with relay points. The E15 was a cheaper
> >>design, but one can fix
> >>that too with simple discrete components.
> >>
> >>So for $5.00 for four diodes from Radio Shack my
> >>controller is fixed.
> >>And will probably last for another 30 years. At
> >>which time I'll simply
> >>replace the components again instead of scratching
> >>my head looking at a
> >>solid-state thingie. I'm sure Radio space shack will
> >>sell diodes in 2034.
> >>
> >>Probably the only remaining weak link is the relays.
> >>And to be honest
> >>when they die I could just build a 36 volt to 24
> >>volt power controller
> >>for $5.00 and replace the relays with modern 24 volt
> >>ones. Sealed too.
> >>$25.00 and that's all done for the next 30 years.
> >>
> >>There's a place for everything. A contactor
> >>controller doesn't really
> >>belong on a car (like the Renault electrics) and a
> >>digital control
> >>doesn't really belong on a lawn tractor.
> >>
> >>As for using the tractor: My E20 is my main mowing
> >>and plowing machine.
> >>The simpler the better. BLDC mower motors are nice,
> >>but it adds
> >>complexity when the omputer blows out.
> >>
> >>Chris Zach
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Rod Hower wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I plan on ordering one tomorrow.
> >>>I know there are diehards on the list that prefer
> >>>to keep original equipment, but I will upgrade
> >>
> >>mine
> >>
> >>>to the latest technology.  Like others on the list
> >>>I plan on using this tractor as a practical
> >>
> >>machine
> >>
> >>>and don't care much about keeping it original.
> >>>I would have converted an ICE machine to electric,
> >>>but it's much easier to get an Elec Trak going,
> >>
> >>even
> >>
> >>>if it is 30+ years old.  My mower deck will use 3
> >>
> >>BLDC
> >>
> >>>motors from work with lots of 'engineering' to
> >>
> >>connect
> >>
> >>>the mower blade.  I would have used the original
> >>
> >>PMDC
> >>
> >>>mower motors, but the blade and mounting hardware
> >>
> >>were
> >>
> >>>in very bad shape and required me to dismember the
> >>>parts.
> >>>I'll post pictures when the job is finished.
> >>>Lots of work, but worth the effort since I don't
> >>
> >>have
> >>
> >>>to listen to the gas engine.
> >>>Rod
> >>>--- Chris Zach <czach computer org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Ok, the breadboard is fixed. Basically what I did
> >>>>was replace all four
> >>>>of the diodes with good old fashioned 3amp diodes
> >>>
> >>>>from Radio Shack. The
> >>>
> >>>>larger diodes have a forward voltage drop of .5
> >>>>volts as opposed to 1.0
> >>>>volts for the smaller ones. So I took a drill,
> >>>>enlarged the holes in the
> >>>>PCB slightly, and soldered in the new diodes.
> >>>>
> >>>>Put it back in; works like a champ. As a bonus,
> >>>>speeds 6 and 7 now come
> >>>>online. Now if I could just get a voltmeter that
> >>>>*works* and a bulb for
> >>>>the cruise control switch I would be 100% set for
> >>>>the summer.
> >>>>
> >>>>Meantime I will put in an order for 22 ohm
> >>
> >>resistors
> >>
> >>>>and the other
> >>>>oddball types and replace everything in the fall.
> >>>>
> >>>>Chris
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>_______________________________________________
> >>>>Elec-trak mailing list
> >>>>Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> > https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
> >
> >>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>
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> >
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
> 
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------- End of Original Message -------