From: "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: RE: (ET) RE: Alltrax DCX300 availability - Field current
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 16:25:47 -0500
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.
<a href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=bottom%20line";
onmouseover="window.status='Bottom line'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Bottom line</a> 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.
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