RE: (ET) RE: Alltrax DCX300 availability - Field current

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>]

On 26 Jan 2005 at 12:00, Dave & Deb wrote:

>  The third unit smoked in a similar way to the second and it's serial
> number was in the range of the early runs that had the overheat problem.
> It didn't smoke itself until I flipped the PTO on though..

With all due respect, this sounds like the controller may have been 
miswired. 
 The PTO shouldn't have anything to do with the controller.  

I don't know your level of electronics familiarity; if you're an engineer 
or tech I 
mean no offense.  Anybody can make a mistake.  And I don't want to 
discourage anybody from doing the upgrade - but I do think that the 
instructions provided with my Alltrax were more focused on someone with 
moderate familiarity with electronics, than on a beginner.  The 
instructions 
are more conceptual than cookbook.  

The Alltrax wiring diagram is helpful if you understand how to read it.  
It's best 
used with reference to the original ET schematic.  Even then it can be a 
little 
tricky to keep track of which wire does what.  You have to be vigilant, 
triple-
check every connection, and label everything clearly while doing the 
demolition of the original system.  If you just go in there and rip 
everything 
out, then try to install the new controller from scratch, you are going to 
risk 
making errors.  Of course the instructions don't mention much about that!

For example, I remember seeing some posts from Steve at Alltrax, referring 
to some users who accidentally connected the controller's field output to 
the 
thermal switch on the E20 motors.  The motor terminals look similar.  This 
error was partly a consequence of the limited production nature of the 
product: the sales level doesn't justify Alltrax buying one of each ET 
model 
ever made so they can provide cookbook instructions for each type.  But it 
also could have been avoided if the installers had traced out the original 
wiring before starting, to be SURE which terminals were which, and labeled 
everything.

Bottom line for those considering a change: the Alltrax and other 
transistor 
controllers are probably not for everyone, but if you plan the 
installation in 
advance and expect to invest plenty of time in working methodically, you 
shouldn't have too much trouble.  

FWIW, I've had my Alltrax for quite a while and just recently installed 
it.  I 
WANTED it for the smoother control, but finally I NEEDED it when my 
reverse relay gave up the ghost and the replacement from Bill, which I'd 
had 
on the shelf for a couple of years, just didn't work right.  Plowing snow 
with 
the hood off and the access panel tipped down, so I could push on the 
reverse relay when I wanted to go backward, got old pretty quickly.

As I see it, eventually most folks' original GE control system is going to 
fail, 
as mine did.  In my view, it's obsolete and not worth fixing.  A 
transistor 
controller is the modern solution, and just about eliminates parts 
availability 
issues.  

I can certainly appreciate the view that the old GE system is one that 
almost 
anybody can work on.  My controller is a black box.  If its magic smoke 
escapes I can't fix it.  But if that happens I ^CAN^ fix the ^tractor^ by 
getting 
another box with a new supply of magic smoke.  I've fixed the old GE card 
a 
few times, and I think I'd rather change out the controller, even if it 
costs quite 
a bit more.