Quest #2 Minn Kota 50lb how does speed cntrl work

[Link]

Im just curious is all.<br />3 speeds in reverse, 5 speeds forward. The control is a sealed unit so I couldnt look <br /><br /><br />Quest 1: Do they just use resisters between the speeds to control voltage? <br /><br />Quest 2: In forward speeds 1-5 there are 3 wires that go hot (B+) and stay hot with all five speeds. In reverse a seperate wire goes hot.<br /><br />I assumed that they were feeding three winding on the motor?<br /><br />Type slow as I dont read so fast <br /><br />Thanks Link

 

[JB]

Re: Quest #2 Minn Kota 50lb how does speed cntrl work

Don't know which MK you have, Link, but here is a simplified version of typical electronic speed control:<br /><br />The battery voltage is broken up into pulses, then the duration of the pulses is varied to control the average voltage. Some systems also vary the frequency of the pulses as well. That way the average voltage to the motor can be varied from 0 to 100% without wasting a lot of power heating up resistors.<br /><br />To reverse the motor the polarity of the voltage supplied to the stator is reversed, reversing the magnetic field of the stator relative to the rotor. Some rotors will be permanent magnets, some will be electromagnetic.<br /><br />I don't know how this tactic is used for stepped speed motors, but suspect that the circuitry is simplified to use fewer and less expensive electronic components.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Quest #2 Minn Kota 50lb how does speed cntrl work

Hi Link. If you have a model that shows specific speeds, then yes, the motor uses resistors to "hold back" energy from getting to the motor at slower speeds. The down side is, the resistors heat up and waste energy. The pulse modulated motors like JB describes will usually show a percentage of full speed on the tiller instead of speeds 1 to 5 or whatever.

 

[Link]

Re: Quest #2 Minn Kota 50lb how does speed cntrl work

Thanks JB & DR<br />Both posts made a lot of since. <br />Very clear and easy to understand.<br />Thanks for typing slow <br /><br />Link