Adding Regen to DC? Not for range...

8004 Views 29 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Overlander23, Jul 7, 2010

ewdysar

Discussion Starter · Jun 30, 2010

I live in the foothills of SoCal and I notice that while I drive any of my ICE vehicles, auto or stick, I use downshifting to control my speed. I do this for traffic or hills. Since I am seriously considering a DC electric conversion, I would like some resistance from the drivetrain when operating under zero throttle. I would use the transmission to select the amount of drag, lower gears for more deceleration, just the same as the ICE vehicles. My intended pack voltage will probably be 156V (48 lithium cells). I know that a controller will be needed to prevent overcharging, the max regen (charging) voltage should be no higher than 168V - 170V.

Since I typically care about efficiency, I don't want to just drag the brakes all the way downhill or approaching a traffic signal (I don't do that today in my Suburban, Fit, Insight or 914-V8). So for the sake of driveability, how can I get the conversion to feel more like a regular car? I'm not impressed with the AC systems that are available today, none seem to match the power of a WarP9 for a similar weight.

I've spent a day reading way too many threads that barely touch on the subject (please don't mention perpetual motion) and the only practical advice that I mined from all that has been the guy with the S-10 that rewound his own alternator. I was hoping that I could buy most of the components necessary to build a similar finished product. I'm not looking for a kit, just some sources for the major components. I'm also open to alternative strategies. Anybody else headed down this path before?

Thanks,
Eric

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DavidDymaxion

· #6 · Jul 1, 2010

You could get a sepex DC motor and sepex controller http://www.kellycontroller.com/kdc1260324v-120v600aseparate-excited-with-regen-p-418.html . I have no personal experience with Kelly, so that is not a recommendation for or against them.

I'm doing a diy controller for my sepex motor -- regen down hills is very nice. Strong regens seem to have the side benefit of keeping the batteries balanced.

ewdysar said:
I live in the foothills of SoCal and I notice that while I drive any of my ICE vehicles, auto or stick, I use downshifting to control my speed. I do this for traffic or hills. Since I am seriously considering a DC electric conversion, I would like some resistance from the drivetrain when operating under zero throttle. I would use the transmission to select the amount of drag, lower gears for more deceleration, just the same as the ICE vehicles. My intended pack voltage will probably be 156V (48 lithium cells). I know that a controller will be needed to prevent overcharging, the max regen (charging) voltage should be no higher than 168V - 170V.

Since I typically care about efficiency, I don't want to just drag the brakes all the way downhill or approaching a traffic signal (I don't do that today in my Suburban, Fit, Insight or 914-V8). So for the sake of driveability, how can I get the conversion to feel more like a regular car? I'm not impressed with the AC systems that are available today, none seem to match the power of a WarP9 for a similar weight.

I've spent a day reading way too many threads that barely touch on the subject (please don't mention perpetual motion) and the only practical advice that I mined from all that has been the guy with the S-10 that rewound his own alternator. I was hoping that I could buy most of the components necessary to build a similar finished product. I'm not looking for a kit, just some sources for the major components. I'm also open to alternative strategies. Anybody else headed down this path before?

Thanks,
Eric

Save

DavidDymaxion

· #10 · Jul 1, 2010

I'm not aware of any current sepex controller that goes higher than the Kelly 120 V. I think the max Curtis one is 96 V.

If you want an off-the-shelf sepex solution, it looks like you have to either go lower power, or go multiple motors (might as well go AC in that case).

That's one of the reasons I'm doing my own controller!

ewdysar said:
So where can I find Sepex motors? Is there a system available that is of similar performance to a WarP9 with a 750A controller? All I can find is the D&D 6.7" that seems max out around 84V, or Kostov's, where the only high voltage model is the 268mm model. Are there Sepex controllers available that run to 144-156V?

Thanks,
Eric

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DavidDymaxion

· #15 · Jul 1, 2010

I have an old Kostov 11 inch sepex. It does have interpoles. I have only run it gently so far, but by the end of the summer I should have some higher voltage and current results to report.

ewdysar said:
Ok, so what sepex motor are your running?

Eric

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