Author Topic: Help with fuse tripping please  (Read 3100 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SchplitterTopic starter

  • Beginner
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Helpful? 0
Help with fuse tripping please
« on: June 29, 2016, 12:20:19 PM »
I built a remote controlled lawn mower using the following parts:

(1) 21" lawn mower w. engine to move the blade
(2) DC Motors w. gear boxes from a mobility scooter. (These are used to propel and steer the lawnmower)
(1) Wiring harness from mobility scooter
(2) 12v batteries from mobility scooter
(1) Sabertooth dual 32A motor driver
(1) FS-i6 Flysky AFHDS 2A 2.4GHz 6CH Radio Transmitter & FS-iA6 Receiver
(2) 18"x10" golf cart tires and hubs for traction
(2) casters up front to allow for steering
Logged

Offline SchplitterTopic starter

  • Beginner
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Helpful? 0
Re: Help with fuse tripping please
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2016, 12:34:21 PM »
lets try this again...

I built a remote controlled lawn mower using the following parts:

(1) 21" lawn mower w. engine to move the blade
(2) DC Motors w. gear boxes from a mobility scooter. (These are used to propel and steer the lawnmower)
(1) Wiring harness from mobility scooter
(2) 12v batteries from mobility scooter
(1) Sabertooth dual 32A motor driver
(1) FS-i6 Flysky AFHDS 2A 2.4GHz 6CH Radio Transmitter & FS-iA6 Receiver
(2) 18"x10" golf cart tires and hubs for traction
(2) casters up front to allow for steering

It all works flawlessly except for one issue. I have a 45-50 degree incline in the backyard and when I try to go up the hill I trip the 30A fuse and lose all power to the wheels. This thing is heavy. I have yet to weigh it but it has to be at last 200LB.

(1) Can I simply pop in a larger fuse to give the motors more power or will this blow up the Sabertooth and possibly fry the motors? The sabertooth can handle 32A per motor.
(2) Can I increase the battery count to 3 or 4 and increase the voltage to 36-48V effectively dropping the amperage or am I wrong here?
(3) Is there a better solution?

Thank everyone for your help!

Ben
Logged

Offline SchplitterTopic starter

  • Beginner
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Helpful? 0
Re: Help with fuse tripping please
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2016, 06:51:28 AM »
Bump
Logged

Offline mklrobo

  • Supreme Robot
  • *****
  • Posts: 558
  • Helpful? 15
  • From Dream to Design at the speed of Imagination!
Re: Help with fuse tripping please
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2016, 10:59:45 AM »
 :) Hello!  :)
 To help analyze, lets look at the condition;
It all works flawlessly except for one issue. I have a 45-50 degree incline in the backyard and when I try to go up the hill I trip the 30A fuse and lose all power to the wheels. This thing is heavy. I have yet to weigh it but it has to be at last 200LB.
- In such an incline, the strain on the motors (obviously) exceed 30 amperes. The question is, how much
power will be needed to overcome the incline?
You could track down some information that Bduell posted on motors to help you.(somewhere in the forum database) This would give you a sense of what is happening on the load.
If more power is what you seek, just to back up the motors in a jam, maybe you could put an
alternator on the gas engine to get more energy to the motors.(?)
I would not put in a fuse that exceeds a safety rating for the motors.(you will let the smoke out!  :'( )
Review the motor specs to see if they can stand more power, before you increase it. Otherwise,
bigger motors may be an option. Bigger batteries have more weight, which means more power demand.
Tire traction may need to be looked at. Pulse Width Modulation may be used to "cheat" in certain circumstances to get more power out of your motors.(more efficient).
Have fun, Good Luck!!   :) ;) :D ;D
Logged
 

data_list