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Thanks, this is good
information to have. I will readjust the brake switch so it goes into plug brake mode just as the wheels start to lock up. Then I should have some regen on the hill as long as I keep the throttle on at a low speed, plus better control of the brakes. I will get the new software also. My laptop only runs Windows-98, so my ET still has the first setup Alltrax made. Thank you Ralph V ralphgv talkamerica net ET Web page
http://ralphgv.tripod.com David Roden (Akron OH USA) wrote: 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. |