ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

Tech => Tech Help => Topic started by: Tmentz on July 23, 2011, 06:14:30 AM

Title: Stumped
Post by: Tmentz on July 23, 2011, 06:14:30 AM

 My motorcycle is all hooked up and i'm getting anxious.  I've gone over the wiring diagrams provided by alltrax again and again.  I turn the key on, (chain disconected) my controller green led goes solid, I twist the throttle and the motor goes a quarter turn, stops and clicks like a car with a dead battery.  Bateries are charged.  I can't find anything wrong.  Any Ideas?

Motor = ME 0708
Controller = alltrax 4844

48v system

Also, no error flags when I plug the controller into my laptop.

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Bogan on July 23, 2011, 06:21:22 AM

Is your contactor switching on properly? A similar thing happened to me when the contactor was failing, it tried to go, but the initial bit of power was just from the caps in the controller, which had been charged through the pre-charge resistor.

Also, I read somewhere it's not the best idea to run them without load, don't think it was alltrax specific though, so go easy and you should be alright.

Another option is the config of the controller, but if you have it connected to the laptop you've probably programing in the correct current and throttle settings etc.

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Tmentz on July 23, 2011, 06:28:36 AM

Now that you mention it, a few days ago, I would hear a faint,"tick," when I turned the key switch on.  Now, nothing.  How would I go about testing the contactor?  Don't really have the money to buy a new one unless I know that's the problem.

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Bogan on July 23, 2011, 06:37:45 AM

check that the coil side of it has voltage, the high current side is a bit more difficult to check due to the pre-charge resistor, but if you don't hear a click, it probably isn't turning on.

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Tmentz on July 23, 2011, 06:41:49 AM

I don't suppose I could just whack it with a hammer like an old car starter? LOL.  Thanks for your help, a little direction really helps reduce the amount of pacing through the living room.

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Bogan on July 23, 2011, 07:25:16 AM

haha, while it isn't inconceivable, I doubt it would work very well. The contactor is a 48v one right?

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: Tmentz on July 25, 2011, 06:02:03 AM

yup, 48v 200Amp continuous 800Amp (2 Sec) Surge

Title: Re: Stumped
Post by: frodus on July 26, 2011, 04:39:30 AM

Probably the contactor. Do you know for sure it's rated for the voltage you're running at?

The motor turn is probably the caps discharging. Do you use a precharge resistor?

One quick test, is to bypass the contactor with a jumper cable. Lift the rear tire and put B+ straight to the fuse and to the controller.

You might have a bad contactor, or maybe you're feeding it 12V instead of pack voltage. It all depends on the voltage it's made for.