Rod Hower wrote: > Just for the record, the Dodge TEVan is separately excited. > Current limit is 300Amps and system voltage is 180Vdc > (typically 205Vdc open circuit and fully charged). The > biggest problem that I have noticed is arcing during regen. > The brushes are advanced for motoring operation, so in regen > it is not operating at it's optimum brush location. The > highest current that I have experienced in regen is 65 Amps at 210Vdc. > > I plan on replacing the IGBT's in the controller with higher > rated devices that have lower Vsat and switching losses. I > should be able to bump up current limit to 350-400amps. The > only problem with this is the motor will overheat in the > summer on hilly terrain if driven more than 15-20 miles.
Hi Rod, Please bear with me here, since I'm no motor expert. Could your system's problem with arcing during regen be solved with interpoles (assuming interpoles could be added to a sep-ex motor)? I'm trying to understand if a modern, high-voltage sep-ex system could be put together by a hobbyist and a competent motor winding shop. If so, a rewound Kostov 11" motor and a home-grown or modified controller might be a viable option. There's another subtlety about interpoles and regen that I don't quite understand. Do interpoles *only* reduce arcing? That is, would changing brush timing for traction or regen still be a benefit if your motor has interpoles? Or do interpoles eliminate the need for different timing? Chris
