Re: Lead foot driver causes Curtis 1221C to complain

[Lee Hart <leeahart@earthlink.net>]

>> How are you shifting it? With EVs, you want to keep the motor at as
>> HIGH an rpm as possible, for best cooling and efficiency....

Roger Daisley wrote:
> Your advice surprises me. Yup, I have been under the impression
> to keep the motor turning slower because of back EMF and low
> efficiency.

No; that is incorrect. You will get higher efficiency and cooler running
motor and controller if you stay in lower gears to let the motor "wind
up". Try driving in 3rd instead of 4th on the highway, and your
overheating problems will probably vanish.

> Where is the controller mounted, and what kind of airflow is it
> getting now?

> In my Rabbit, it's on the rt. front fender, inside, of course, behind
> the rt. headlight, probably exactly like yours. There looks like
> virtually no airflow, other than what naturally "circulates around"
> in the engine compartment.

There is another reason for overheating!

>  No fans, vents or ducts, other than as you mentioned, the "duct"
> created by the space between the inside fender wall and the bottom
> of the controller mounting plate.  Maybe I need to add a fan to blow
> some air in this area.

If there are no fins on that aluminum plate, then that's what I'd do --
add a fan blowing on it.

> I wonder if it would be a good idea to recable the entire assy to the
> front of the car in the radiator area?

You could, but it's a lot of work. You will probably solve your problem
just by shifting, and maybe a fan in the existing controller location.
P.S. Curtis controllers look waterproof, but they are not.

> I don't see any provision for liquid to be flowed through the
> controller.

There isn't (at least not on your model). But, it's not hard to arrange
a liquid-cooled plate if you want to go that way.
> ???? BTW: I also have an new ADC motor from a Sparrow. Would you go
> the the trouble and substantial expense of replacing the Prestolite
> motor with the ADC, when I transfer the equipment to the new car?

No. The Prestolite is probably a better motor for your car.

-- 
Lee A. Hart                Ring the bells that still can ring
814 8th Ave. N.            Forget your perfect offering
Sartell, MN 56377 USA      There is a crack in everything
leeahart_at_earthlink.net  That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen