[ausev] Ford/Siemens/Bollard AC motor - NYET! Regeneration in DC - HOW?

[Christopher Robison]

On Tue, 2007-10-02 at 09:49 -0500, Brian Lasseter wrote:
> On 10/2/07, Marty Swartz <marty.swartz at gmail.com> wrote:
> > So help me challenge a key assumption: Victor's site implies that
> > regeneration is only available in AC systems. Has anyone seen a
> > practical, robust, affordable way to get regeneration in a DC system?
> 
> Victor is mostly right... Regeneration is POSSIBLE in a DC system,
> just not PRACTICAL.
> 
> Presuming that cost is still a major issue for you, the short answer
> is that you will not be able to get regererative braking in a DC
> system.
> 
> For a more in depth answer... Please see this earlier conversation...
> http://www.austinev.org/pipermail/ausev/2007-April/001317.html
> http://www.austinev.org/pipermail/ausev/2007-April/001318.html
> http://www.austinev.org/pipermail/ausev/2007-April/001319.html
> http://www.austinev.org/pipermail/ausev/2007-April/001320.html
> 

The one DC controller I mentioned in the thread above is the Zapi
controller, which does offer regenerative braking. There are at least a
couple reports I can recall reading of a bad experience with that
particular function (using it would toast the controller) but I've been
informed more recently that these were early production problems that
should not be expected of more modern units. Reportedly the Zapis do
regen fairly well these days. They are not particularly powerful
controllers, but if DC regen is what you want, I believe they're still
the only game in town.

On the other hand, keep in mind that you'll most likely need to set your
motor to neutral timing to prevent brush arcing during braking. This
means you'll have more of an issue with brush arcing at high forward RPM
(which can damage the brushes and commutator).


-- 
Christopher Robison
chris at ohmbre.org
http://ohmbre.org          <-- 1999 Isuzu Hombre + Z2K + Warp13!