<div dir="ltr"><div>Alan, I use a foot control from OEM controls. This is a hall effect potentiometer made for mobile heavy equipment.  It is very beefy.  <a href="http://www.oemcontrols.com/datasheets/hfp4.pdf">http://www.oemcontrols.com/datasheets/hfp4.pdf</a> is a link to the unit.  I am using model number HFP4M17445.  This a heavy duty commercial grade foot control.  The version I have sends a 0-5vdc signal with the 2.5V as the neutral position, 5V for full forward and 0v for full reverse.  I have really been happy with the unit.  Feels rock solid.  I take the signal into my PLC on an analog input channel.  I have some ladder logic that enable me to integrate both the foot control signal and the rotation axis of my 3 axis joy stick control to both aft horizontal thrusters.   If the joy still rotary axis is in neutral position, then both aft thrusters get the same signal such that the more forward you push on the foot control the more forward thrust, the faster you go.  When you push down with your heal the thrusters reverse proportional to the how far back you tilt the foot control.  This gives me great forward/reverse and control. When the joy stick is rotated in a clockwise manner, in PLC ladder logic I start increasing the speed of the port aft horizontal thruster and decreasing the speed of the starboard aft thruster.  This enables me at speed to turn to the starboard side. Rotating the joystick in the counter clockwise direction caused the boat to turn the port side.  If the foot control is in the neutral position, then rotating the joy stick rotates the boat about its center of gravity.  I have really been happy with how much control this gives at any speed.</div><div><br></div><div>Now on the negative side, the foot controller is expensive at $328. I am sure with a little looking you could find one that does the same thing at a reduced cost.   </div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 2:22 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div><span>Cliff,</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>can you tell me a bit about your foot controls.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>Is it an off the shelf system? Is it forward, back,up & down</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>on all motors? How is it working out, was it reasonably</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>intuitive to operate?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>Thanks Alan</span></div><div><br><br></div><div style="display:block">  <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Personal Submersibles General Discussion <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> <br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, April 21, 2016 5:40 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers<br> </font> </div> <div><br><div><div><div>By changing resistors you can use 0 to 5 Vdc.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Cliff<br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div>Cliff Redus</div></div><div><div><br clear="none">On Apr 20, 2016, at 8:08 AM, Alan via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div></div></blockquote></div></div><div><div><div>Thanks Cliff,</div><div>I was a bit wary as in my search for BLDC ESCs a lot of their options said "reverse"</div><div>but were only a programable function that enabled you to change</div><div>from forward to reverse without having to disconnect the wires. </div><div>You couldn't actually flick a switch on your transmitter & reverse</div><div>the motor. BTW it says 0-2V on page 26.</div><div>Cheers Alan<br clear="none"><br clear="none">Sent from my iPad</div><div><br clear="none">On 20/04/2016, at 11:06 pm, via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div></div></blockquote></div></div><div><div><div>Reversing is fully integrated.  See page 27 of users manual at <a href="http://downloads.ionmc.com/docs/roboclaw_user_manual.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">http://downloads.ionmc.com/docs/roboclaw_user_manual.pdf</a>  for analog control.  0v signal gives full speed one direction, 5v gives full speed in opposite direction and 2.5v is off. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Cliff<br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div>Cliff Redus</div></div><div><br clear="none">On Apr 19, 2016, at 10:38 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div><span>Cliff / Alec,</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>I couldn't see anything about a reverse function on the USB RoboClaw 2x60A HV Brushed DC motor controller.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>It may be a bit of work making up the reversing circuit & integrating it with the controller if</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>it doesn't have that function.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>Alan </span></div><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><div style="display:block">  <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> </font><hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>><br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Personal Submersibles General Discussion <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> <br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, April 20, 2016 2:51 PM<br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers<br clear="none">  </div> <div><br clear="none"><div><div><div>At <a href="http://robotshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">Robotshop.com</a>, the USB RoboClaw 2x60A HV Brushed DC motor controller would work just as well.  Each board would control two of the MK101s independently.  Has a lot of flexibility on input signal.  If you are using PLC, send it a 0-5vdc analog signal.  </div><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div>Cliff </div></div><div><div><br clear="none">On Apr 19, 2016, at 9:24 PM, Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Thanks Cliff. Is the controller a component you pulled from inside the MK trolling motor or is it a standalone product? I did a few searches and have not turned up anything standalone. I do have such a unit (really old) but it's for a way lower-powered motor than the 101s.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Best,</div><div><br clear="none">Alec </div></div><div><br clear="none"><div>On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 9:58 PM, via Personal_Submersibles <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>></span> wrote:<br clear="none"><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid"><div><div>Alan/Alec, I use Minn Kota 36v controllers for each of my 4 thrusters.  They have worked great.  They are potted and rugged.  They have an internal relay with a dead band around 2.5v signal voltage.  This means that absolutely no current flows even if you left the motor controller powered up while in the garage.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>My previous motor controller for my big traction motor was from Curtis.  This worked great but generated a high pitch noise that was irritating.<br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div>Cliff Redus</div></div><div><div><div><br clear="none">On Apr 19, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div><span>What did Cliff use?</span></div><div><span>He has been through this process recently with a 101.</span></div><div><span>Alan</span></div><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><div style="display:block">  <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> </font><hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>><br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Personal Submersibles General Discussion <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> <br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, April 20, 2016 11:12 AM<br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers<br clear="none">  </div> <div><br clear="none"><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div>No, the one I was considering was not for brushless motors. It's the Roboteq XDC2460, rated for 80A continuous duty per channel. But now I'm looking at Kelly I really like what I'm seeing there too, and Curtis seems to be similar. This will probably come down to a decision between a more advanced  dual channel from Roboteq or a super simple single-channel controllers from the likes of Curtis/Kelly. In general if the simpler one can do the job, it's the one I would prefer even if it cost the same. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Thanks guys for all the input!</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Alec</div></div><div><br clear="none"><div>On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 6:09 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>></span> wrote:<br clear="none"><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid"><div><div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div><span>Hi Alec,</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>that one says brushless?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span>On the Kelly faq page for selecting controllers it suggests.....</span></div><span></span><h2 style="font:17px/25px Oswald,sans-serif;margin:1px 1px 3px;padding:0px 0px 10px;color:rgb(64,64,64);text-transform:uppercase;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal;background-image:none">HOW TO CHOOSE A SUITABLE CONTROLLER FOR THE MOTOR?</h2><div><div style="margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px">Usually the performance will be optimized if the power of the controller is 2.0-3.0 times of the motor's.</div></div><div dir="ltr">   I guess that means if you have a 2000W motor you get a controller whose continual</div><div dir="ltr">amp rating X max voltage is at least 4000W.</div><div dir="ltr">   I have heard that it is better to aire on the safe side as some manufacturers over rate</div><div dir="ltr">their controllers. Kelly have a reputation of being good & cheap, & their ratings accurate,</div><div dir="ltr">however Hugh has had problems with them & I wired up mine yesterday & the ON light</div><div dir="ltr">isn't working when powered up. I put power on it once without the pre-ignition resister</div><div dir="ltr">so this may have stuffed it, but surely it wouldn't be so fickle!</div><div dir="ltr">Alan</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div><span></span><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><div style="display:block">  <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> </font><hr size="1"><span> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>><br clear="none"> </span><span><b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Personal Submersibles General Discussion <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> <br clear="none"> </span><b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, April 20, 2016 9:45 AM<br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> [PSUBS-MAILIST] Speed controllers<br clear="none">  </div> <div><div><div><br clear="none"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi all,</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>I need to finalize my selection of speed controllers for Shackleton over the next week or so, and at first blush am looking at this one from Roboteq:</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><a href="http://www.roboteq.com/index.php/docman/motor-controllers-documents-and-files/documentation/datasheets/hbl23xx/59-hbl23xx-datasheet/file" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">http://www.roboteq.com/index.php/docman/motor-controllers-documents-and-files/documentation/datasheets/hbl23xx/59-hbl23xx-datasheet/file</a></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>There will be two of them, each driving a pair of MK101 thrusters. Roboteq offers a controller family that is a step down from this and still handles the required amperage, and which is tempting because it's much less expensive. However, the specs are too close for comfort (50A continuous duty rating vs. MK101 requirement of 46A).</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Anyone have any suggestions for other cost-effective controllers to consider?</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Thanks,</div><div><br clear="none">Alec</div></div></div><br clear="none"></div></div><span>_______________________________________________<br clear="none">Personal_Submersibles mailing list<br clear="none"><a href="mailto:Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org</a><br clear="none"><a href="http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" shape="rect">http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></span></div> </div> </div>  </div></div></div></div><br clear="none">_______________________________________________<br clear="none">
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