Re: (ET) Alltrax install!

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <etpost drmm net>]

On 24 Feb 2006 at 0:57, Ralph & Elaine Vogan wrote:

> I still would like the throttle to shut off (without the plug braking
> coming on), when the brake pedal is pushed down a little, or the parking
> brake is on.

I believe the braking force is adjustable with a computer connected to the 
serial port.  I'll try to check on that.

I emailed Steve Richardson with some questions about the Alltrax and its 
regen / plug braking behaviour.  I was wrong about the situation with 
regen 
correctly - it >does< do regen, just not much.  

Here's how Steve responded.  My remarks are in [brackets].

The DCX series controllers do true regen.  But it really only works on a 
golf 
car.  The gearing on a ET is so low that the drive train friction actually 
slows 
you down before the regen has a chance to do much.  It works on a long 
down hill on the ET.   

It does Plug Braking also, but only with the Key OFF [and with the brake 
switch or seat switch open, since they are in series with the key.].  Also 
it 
plugs in the Roll Detect Mode.  [See the Alltrax manual for more 
information 
on this.]

So, it does Regen, but it's not enough on the ET to make a difference.

The field current is maintained and the regen current flows thru the MOS
FreeWheel circuit during regen.  During Plug Braking the armature current
is shorted by the power stage and the controller turns on the field
current once it figures out which direction the motor is turning, it takes
about a half second for the logic to determine motor direction.  That
explains the delay before Roll Detect activates and stops the motor.

Steve also wrote that they have a more recent version of the programming 
software, which used to work only under Windows XP :

... we have a new Software program called "ControllerPro" that runs on 
just 
about any windows OS and it automatically determines the com port that the 
controller is attached to. It's on our web site under "software".  I will 
be happy 
to e-mail it to any one who can't get it off the web site.