Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Spoil9 on November 12, 2010, 10:26:22 AM

Title: Current needs for Speed Controller?
Post by: Spoil9 on November 12, 2010, 10:26:22 AM
Hello, Sorry I haven't been around in a while. Been busy with school. But it's funny how the thing that took me away from checking these forums is the same thing that brought me back  ;D

I'm on a robotics team at the Univ of IL at Chicago (UIC) and we are designing a robot for the Jerry Sanders Comp in March which is held at our parent school Univ of IL at Urbana Champagne (UIUC).

The question I have is simply, when looking at buying or building a speed controller for a large robot (weight limit of 150lbs), is the stall current the only major concern we need to worry about? The motors we have are 24V motors with a stall current of 120 Amps. Like I'm sure most of you know, that means speed controllers become really expensive.
If that is the way it is, then we'll have to adapt and over come and consider building our own. I have found several good web sites that give details on how to build high current speed controllers but we all agree that something we can buy will be of higher quality than something we can build. (Negate the learning and experience that comes with designing and building our own speed controllers please)

Thanks in advance.

- Will
Title: Re: Current needs for Speed Controller?
Post by: macdad- on November 12, 2010, 11:17:59 AM
Yes, the stall current is your major concern about for speed controllers(Besides the Motor Voltage), as the start-up current of the motors is less. Of course look around and don't be shy to look at the graphs and manufacture tests that are listed with the datasheets of some speed controllers, as they will save you a lot of time in planning.
Title: Re: Current needs for Speed Controller?
Post by: Spoil9 on November 12, 2010, 11:21:04 AM
That's what I figured. Thanks for confirming.