Fred: After you brought up wheelchair controllers, I did some looking around. Check out "curtis controller" on EBAY or "curtis instruments" on the web. They make controllers for mobility scooters all the way up to electric fork truck controllers (400 amps!!!). I go to a local scrapyard to get materials for my projects. I know they have at least 3 or 4 of the big fork truck controlers (on fork trucks)in there. They are too big for our tanks, but I can buy them for $10 each and sell on EBAY for over $100. Just a way to finance this expensive hobby!
Mark On Feb 10, 4:33 pm, Fred Thomson <[email protected]> wrote: > Mark, > > I was pretty disappointed with the initial performance and started > digging around with the settings. It was a big suprise at the amount > of speed you can get. What is really neat is that you can program your > turns. :-) > > Honestly, I don't know which one would be good or bad. I've got three > now, though. :-) > > On Feb 8, 6:57 pm, Mark_123521 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Fred: > > > Sounds like your on to something! > > I would have never guessed they were programmable. > > It's ideal, a two channel, 24 volt, high current, programable, motor > > controler! > > What brand is good? > > > Mark > > > On Feb 8, 10:19 am, Fred Thomson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hi Mark, > > > > The interesting thing about wheelchair controllers is they are > > > programmable. Most are setup ultra conservative form the factory or > > > dealer. The joystick is programmed with a delay so that accidental > > > activation does not launch the chair like a race car, this can be > > > reset. The motors are typically set to 50 to 70% of max rpm as well as > > > 50 to 60% torque for forward speed and less for reverse. The are also > > > set to reach max rpm very gradually. Braking can be setup to either > > > coast to a stop or slam to a stop. Turning is also setup > > > conservatively. > > > > In the test I did, I rest all the values for top speed (both in High > > > and Low range), turning, and acceleration to their respective max > > > values. I then set the braking to 10%. This worked wonders as the > > > motors now have no delay once the joystick is pushed forward and hit > > > max rpm in about 2 seconds. Fully proportional speed control. :-) > > > > I have thought about controlling the POTS directly but I am unsure > > > how to do this (still searching the internet, tho) and I am leery > > > about ripping apart the joystick as I don't have a spare in case > > > (when?) I screw it up. I thought that for proof-of-concept using a > > > mechanical joystick control will do. > > > > The real trick to all this is either getting a programming unit with > > > the controller or sweet-talking the nearest dealer into it. The dealer > > > may refuse due to liability issues as he only has your word it won't > > > go into a chair and injure the occupant or someone else. I imagine if > > > you show up with it INSTALLED in a tank they *might* accommodate you. > > > Otherwise, your choices are limited to finding someone with the > > > programming unit for your controller or biting the bullet and buying > > > one, which can be as much as the cost of a speed controller. > > > Fortunately, one of the speed controllers came with the programming > > > unit. > > > > I bought two de-commissioned power wheelchairs, for less than the > > > fuel to go 40km to pick them up, with the understanding that they > > > would not be repaired and sold. Both were fully functional, even the > > > batteries are good. > > > > Cheers, > > > Fred- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat
