[ausev] [Aceaa] interesting GE DC motor on Ebay

[Brian Lasseter]

On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 4:33 PM, m. howse <bytedawg at bytetamer.com> wrote:
> 24kw is 24kw whether it is with a 24 volt motor or a 240 volt motor.

While that is true... that "24kw is 24kw whether it is with a 24 volt
motor or a 240 volt motor"... there are quite a number of practicality
issues that come into play with running 1000 Amps at 24 volts versus
running 100 Amps at 240 volts.

For one... Running 1000 Amps continuously would require at least 0000
gauge wire.   (The National Electrical Code says 0000 gauge wire is
only rated for 260 Amps continuous... but you won't be running the car
for that long.)  Running 100A at 240 Volts would only require 2 gauge
wire.  2 gauge wire is about half the diameter of the 0000 gauge
wire... and much easier to work with.

Also... motor controllers are rated by amp limits... a 100A controller
will be cheaper than a 1000A controller irregardless of the voltage
difference.

In the end... you save money (in wire and lugs), wiring time, and
weight of copper in your car by running 100A at 240V for that
hypothetical 24kw motor.


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

"No Sane man will dance." -Cicero (106-43 B.C.)