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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2012 and older => Topic started by: BSDThw on October 26, 2012, 10:52:16 PM

Title: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: BSDThw on October 26, 2012, 10:52:16 PM
TTXGP World Championship at Daytona - Practice Sessions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXmqzzGBPM#ws)

When I reached Minute 6:57  at the video I thought ups the maybe have a similar problem.

And in 8:40 the found an encoder problem ;)

Maybe a Software update works too. ;D

 
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: protomech on October 26, 2012, 11:07:36 PM
Empulse RR uses a Rinehart controller. The street bikes use a Sevcon controller.

But yeah, it sounds like it is an issue between the motor/controller. Both bikes took turns glitching .. Atlas's was glitched friday during practice, and Eric Bostrom's was glitching during the race. Pretty frustrating for the riders.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: ZeroSinMA on October 26, 2012, 11:47:31 PM
Empulse RR uses a Rinehart controller. The street bikes use a Sevcon controller.

But yeah, it sounds like it is an issue between the motor/controller. Both bikes took turns glitching .. Atlas's was glitched friday during practice, and Eric Bostrom's was glitching during the race. Pretty frustrating for the riders.


Imagine my surprise.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: protomech on October 27, 2012, 12:13:51 AM
I'm having a hard time imagining you resisting taking a dig at Brammo : )
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: ZeroSinMA on October 27, 2012, 12:53:13 AM
I'm having a hard time imagining you resisting taking a dig at Brammo : )

If they don't replace management soon you can count on me to switch from vitriol to pity over the coming year.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: protomech on October 27, 2012, 02:52:56 AM
If they don't ship bikes I'll be right there with you.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: jazclrint on October 27, 2012, 06:28:01 AM
Actually Atlas's bike was having issues in every session accept practice and the race on Sunday.  Ben didn't have any issues all weekend until Qualifying and then the race the next day.  They didn't tell me what they had for a controller, but I knew it wasn't a Sevcon.  I suspect they didn't start the season with the new controller. 

What I have read is that the new Empulse will have the size 6 controller, same as the 2013 Zero S.  So maybe we can assume that because of the transmission and less powerful motor, the Empulse will be putting even less strain on the Sevcon than the Zero?

I did overhear some chatter from very smart people who didn't belong to a team, not exactly singing the praises of Sevcon.  However, it may have just been a bit of bench racing, and not actually serious conversation.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: Electric Terry on October 27, 2012, 07:53:37 PM
Actually Atlas's bike was having issues in every session accept practice and the race on Sunday.  Ben
Eric
Quote
didn't have any issues all weekend until Qualifying and then the race the next day.  They didn't tell me what they had for a controller, but I knew it wasn't a Sevcon.  I suspect they didn't start the season with the new controller.  

What I have read is that the new Empulse will have the size 6 controller, same as the 2013 Zero S.
2013 is going to use the same exact size 4 controller just running higher voltage.  In fact the controller in the 2012 bikes would handle 102 volts without ay changes.  66 volts was the low end of the range spectrum, 102 is near the top.  But it is still 420A peak.  Although the 2013 could have a 660 peak amp size 6 upgrade for even more performance.  Perhaps Harlan or Josh at Hollywood Electrics could try to make one work for us to see ;) 
Quote
So maybe we can assume that because of the transmission and less powerful motor, the Empulse will be putting even less strain on the Sevcon than the Zero?

I did overhear some chatter from very smart people who didn't belong to a team, not exactly singing the praises of Sevcon.  However, it may have just been a bit of bench racing, and not actually serious conversation.
I talked to Brian Wismann for a long time and the Sevcon is unreliable long term when pushed to its limits.  Why it is best to oversize the controller by a lot then not use it to its max.  We ran a size 6 Sevcon at Daytona in the 2012 zero and it never cut out once.  ;)
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: NoiseBoy on October 30, 2012, 12:56:01 AM
Will the 2013 pack be able to deliver 940A?  seeing as its double the voltage and not much great capacity i suspect it would require more than 10C discharge but i haven't run the numbers.
Title: Re: Does Brammo need a SevCon update too?
Post by: protomech on October 30, 2012, 07:21:53 AM
2013 pack can deliver approximately 8C. You see this in the XU 2.8 - 20 kW (battery limit) from 2.5 kWh nominal, XU 5.7 is 21 kW (controller limit) from 5.0 kWh nominal, FX 5.7 is 33 kW (motor limit) from 5.0 kWh nominal.