[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: (ET) RE: Alltrax DCX300 availability - Alltrax versus 4QD

My 4QD is analog. I have not experienced the programming issues or digital gremlins of other controllers. Also, I have not babied my controller which I have been using now for the last two Summers.
I see that the E20 drive motor is rated at 1.2HP continuous. At 36vdc this works out to 33.3 amps @75%efficiency. With the wide range in terrain that I have, I cannot see where I would need 300 amps...maybe someone else has experienced otherwise. 

Tim
PS. If I do need more torque, I downshift the transmission.
----- Original Message ----- From: "John B Reinhard" <reinharj frontiernet net> 
To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: (ET) RE: Alltrax DCX300 availability - Alltrax versus 4QD



I think Alltrax makes a good product, and our market is tiny volume, and
even their new 'retail' price is probably fair, all things considered (for
instance: great warranty, compared to so many other products).
When you consider that the average software and hardware enigineer earns
$75K and up, making a custom change to software in a product to support
sales of a product in volumes of only a couple hundred units might actually 
push the reatail cost of the unit.

However, as I mentioned in a past email, since the Elec-Traks are over 30
years old, and the Alltrax controller is potted and NOT repairable, to me
the 2 year warranty seems quite limited.  I want to be able to fix it
myself, after the warranty has expired.

I read lots about the 4QD products - HUGE amounts of information on their
website.  Positive info: the circuit boards are not potted.
But, the 4QD product cost more than the ORIGINAL price Steve Richardson had 
quoted online for the Alltrax product - and does NOT have Field Weakening
(though this is probably not a problem for blowing snow).

After shoveling twice a day for the last week, I was highly motivated to
order an Alltrax Controller for one of my dead E-20's.
But, after reading this thread regarding Alltrax new pricing, and that Dave (of 'Dave & Deb') has gone through 4 Alltrax controllers, I am leaning back 
toward 4QD, since I will be able to replace blown FET's or whatever parts
myself (likely for LESS than the cost of just shipping the controller back
to manufacturer for repair).
----- Original Message ----- From: "Markus Lorch" <mlorch vt edu> 
To: "'David Roden (Akron OH USA)'" <roden ald net>;
<elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:03 PM
Subject: RE: (ET) RE: Alltrax DCX300 availability





>
> >From what I understand, the ET model has additional current sensing
> circuitry for the field controller.  The ET's motor wants a
> much lower field
> current than a typical separately excited field golf car
> motor, something like
> one-tenth.

Yes, I think I was wrong and they had to make some (minor, but
manual) hardware modifications. Plus they also developed a different field 
map which Steve R. posted to the list a while ago. So the ET version is
basically a customized, low-volume product.

I have gotten info on the (inexpensive) SPX controllers that "look like"
the DCP controllers we would need from Jeff @ Alltrax. It turns out these
were DCP controllers that had a problem with a bad component in the field
control circuit and thus were converted by Alltrax to standard controllers 
for series wound or PM motors.

Markus


_______________________________________________
Elec-trak mailing list
Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak






_______________________________________________
Elec-trak mailing list
Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak