Crazy as it sounds

[w1651]

Okay here's the deal. I have never wired a go kart or Golf cart for that matter electric drive. I bought a turn your bike into a electric bike kit from Cloud electric. It came with a kelly controller and a thumb throttle 0 to 5 ohms. I got rid of the kelly controller for a altrax SPM controller 48 volts. The reason I bought the kit was I want to install it in my Sail Boat.
So I pulled the old locked up dirty diesel and started to put together this new drive. I have the motor mounted on a aluminum sheet with gearing and that's fine.
I have a three position switch for forward and reverse and two contactors. One for forward and one for reverse half power.
My problem is I am having trouble figuring out the wiring to the controler. According to the diagram it needs two diodes (Which I have) in line with the wires of the throttle so it doesn't feed the negative side of the contactor to the motor (Mars ME0909 I think it is) Does anyone know where to get a wiring schematic for a three wire thumb drive the one I have is for a four wire accellerater pedal.

 

[Poboy kartman]

HEY!!!! This is a gokart forum! !!!!!

JK.....Someone will help you shortly....welcome to the forum!

 

[firemanjim]

You mean a real sail boat, for like people and stuff? Hmmmmm interesting...
Our resident electrical genius (itsid) will be along, I'm sure, to help you out..... Only thing I know about electricals is that 480volt HURTS.....
Seriously, someone with better knowledge about your endeavor, will come along and help you out.....

 

[BirdFanatic]

i like the motorized biks but try motorbicycling

 

[Poboy kartman]

^ And OBVIOUSLY.....we weren't talking about this fool^^^^^!!!!!!

 

[w1651]

You mean a real sail boat, for like people and stuff? Hmmmmm interesting...
Our resident electrical genius (itsid) will be along, I'm sure, to help you out..... Only thing I know about electricals is that 480volt HURTS.....
Seriously, someone with better knowledge about your endeavor, will come along and help you out.....

Basically I am taking the kit and using it in a different context. It still needs to work the same though just longer wires. 48 volts four wet cell batteries and the three wire (red,orange, and black) thumb drive at the tiller. Red is feed and black is ground I believe.

 

[BirdFanatic]

^ And OBVIOUSLY.....we weren't talking about this fool^^^^^!!!!!!

http://motorbicycling.com/index.php

 

[chancer]

^ And OBVIOUSLY.....we weren't talking about this fool^^^^^!!!!!!

Ohhh shadup!

 

[Wheelchock]

Some Info - links

I've used Alltrax controllers in golf carts, go carts and other parade float vehicles with great success. I have used the AXE series and I have not used the SPM controllers. However, they have all been user friendly and there is a lot of info out there. I believe the SPM is programmable and you can change the throttle input from 0-5 K ohm to 5 volt with a laptop. The Alltrax website has a lot of documents such as wiring diagrams. http://www.alltraxinc.com/Doc_Depot.html and there is phone help via their 'contact us' menu.
I have purchased most of the controllers, throttles, solenoids, etc. trough EV Drives http://www.alltraxinc.com/Doc_Depot.html
The people there are quite helpful also.

Hope this helps - have fun with your boat!

 

[w1651]

I've used Alltrax controllers in golf carts, go carts and other parade float vehicles with great success. I have used the AXE series and I have not used the SPM controllers. However, they have all been user friendly and there is a lot of info out there. I believe the SPM is programmable and you can change the throttle input from 0-5 K ohm to 5 volt with a laptop. The Alltrax website has a lot of documents such as wiring diagrams. http://www.alltraxinc.com/Doc_Depot.html and there is phone help via their 'contact us' menu.
I have purchased most of the controllers, throttles, solenoids, etc. trough EV Drives http://www.alltraxinc.com/Doc_Depot.html
The people there are quite helpful also.

Hope this helps - have fun with your boat!

Thanks Wheel Chock. I had a email conversation with a member here and they set me straight/ I then emailed the company because after installing the throttle I got a error code. After resetting the controller software it was done and you can here and see the throttle movement in the controller and it's software. The only thing I have to figure out is the wiring for the reverse contactor.

 

[w1651]

I have to install 2 diodes on the reverse contactor and I for the life of me vcannot figure out what they want me to do there. I will have to call or email the company again for more tech support but the throttle issues are now a thing of the past I believe and when I can get this on the bench and tested I will install it on my boat.

 

[Wheelchock]

Possibly the diodes go across the coils - sometimes referred to as coil suppression diodes. They are usually smaller diodes.
See the link for a wiring diagram and note the diodes across the coils.
http://www.evdrives.com/v/images/Contactors/Diagram_Forward_Reverse_PM_Motor_with_SW182_or_SW202.pdf

 

[w1651]

Possibly the diodes go across the coils - sometimes referred to as coil suppression diodes. They are usually smaller diodes.
See the link for a wiring diagram and note the diodes across the coils.
http://www.evdrives.com/v/images/Contactors/Diagram_Forward_Reverse_PM_Motor_with_SW182_or_SW202.pdf

Here's the problem though. I got my reverse contactor from EV drives. It has two large poles at the one end which has two large cables to the main contactor and the altrax controller. The other end has two large poles for the motor cables and two small poles for the switch. The support center told me to run a wire across both small terminals and back to ground. They tried to tell me what to do with the diodes but I swear the guy was stoned or something because all it does is blow fuses now when turning on the switch forward and reverse. It's a bit frustrating right now. Has anyone got a picture?
This schematic is the best Ive seen.
Altrax gave me this
http://www.alltraxinc.com/files/DOC110-005-C_DWG-SPM-PERM-MAGNET-REVERSE-WIRE-DIA.pdf

 

[Wheelchock]

Looking at the drawing there are a total of five diodes in the control circuits. One for the main control power between the battery positive and the [key] control switch (that one is usually a little larger as all of the control power flows through it).
Then there are two diodes between the forward/reverse switch and the throttle [foot] switch. Those are not used in the alltrax controller that I used - AXE (as opposed to SPM). However, on the AXE, the main contactor is not wired through the motor controller - I'm assuming that those two diodes serve a similar role as coil suppression diodes for the main contactor as there are no diodes across the main contactor coil in that drawing.
Finally, are the two diodes for the reversing contactor. One across the forward coil and one across the reverse coil.
That all seems straight forward. It is important that you observe polarity, but you would find that out instantly if connected incorrectly as the diodes would fail. Maybe that is what is happening - that would blow the fuse. It would most likely physically destroy the diode - it would be easy to see.
You mention that there are only two terminals for the reversing contactor. That doesn't sound right. There should be at least three and more likely four.
Can you post a photo or link that shows that contactor.

 

[w1651]

I will snap a picture and post it if I can get it to upload. Thank You for your help. I also contacted EV who I got the contactor from. They have not yet responded but I think your right. this is the wrong contactor. Drats! Foiled Again!

 

[w1651]

I ordered a new 48 volt DC reverse contactor today and should get it in a few days.