24-48 Volt Motor Controllers

[John Wayland <dat1200@EUROPA.COM>]

About the 48-72 volt Curtis controllers, Dave Paxton asks:

>Will they work at 36 volts? I may be on the search for a
>used controller for 36 volts in the near future.

   Probably not too well. The controller would probably run at 36 volts,
but when heavy current was drawn and the vehicle's battery pack sagged
down to the 32-33 volt range, it's my guess that the controller would
shut down, or go into a limited operation mode.
      What kind of current draw is this vehicle going to have? The
reason I ask this, is that there are really cool, small Curtis
controllers in the 1204 model, and some versions can dish out  275 amps.
The model 1204-001 is a 24-36 volt unit, and the model 1204-401 is a
36-48 model. There are also the 1205 model Curtis controllers, with the
1205-101 rated from 24-36 volts at 400 amps, and the 1205-201 rated from
36-48 volts at 350 amps
     I am currently installing a Curtis 1204-301 24-36 volt, 175 amp
model in my three wheeled industrial cart, as an upgrade from the
cart's  jerky, current wasting three-step resistor controller. I used a
1204-401 48 volt 275 amp model in the Black Ghost motorcycle...it works
great, even loaded into the demanding direct drive setup! These compact
small controllers thankfully, do not generate any offensive frequencies
that cause the motor to squeal either!
    The DAX 36 volt, model DAX MC-B controller I am using in the Heavy
Metal Garden Tractor is a 300 amp unit, and what a gorgeous controller
it is! I have used the tractor for some pretty strenuous duty, and the
DAX has never even gotten warm! As with all DAX controllers, this unit
doesn't generate any offensive frequencies that cause motor squeal. Its
rounded-square 'ice cube like shape' cast aluminum case has integral
heat sink fins all around it, and the whole package is nicely finished.
The controller also has a DIN type plug-in harness for the enable and
throttle pot connections. DAX also builds a nice pot box that is very
similar to the Curtis PB-6 unit.



See Ya.....John Wayland

24-48 Volt Motor Controllers