General Category > Electric Boat Conversions

Brake by reversing

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Pontus:
Although it might be possible with such a braking arrangement, it's not a path I'm willing to go. It ads complexity and several more points of failure.

If GM is right in their answer, which is not 100% clear due to both things getting lost in translation and the fact that they of course would like to sell me a new controller - then it's a fault by design.
The answer I was hoping for would be a firmware update, since all this is software settings inside the controller.

If not possible, my best hope is a refund for the current controller and buy a new one.

But I'm still curious if no one else have had this problem! Throwing forward & reverse is more or less standard procedure in harbour manoeuvres. Am I the only one with this experience? What's setting my installation apart from others?

Sventropy:
Pontus, I haven’t had that exact problem. In fact sometimes, I put it in reverse while sailing to stop the prop from rotating because the noise can be annoying. Though I have had an issue at times with it not starting. I can’t quite isolate the situation that causes it. Sometimes after I’ve been motoring hard and stop for a second (to drop fenders or something before making the turn into my marina) it won’t restart for a minute. And sometimes when it’s auto-rotating really fast it won’t restart for a moment, then suddenly start up at whatever speed I’ve left the throttle in. This last bit has happened a couple times while fighting the current to sail under a bridge. Not fun.

I’ve wondered if heat has been an issue. When you stop the air cooled motor is no longer cooling so the temperature might peak then take a second to cool down. Though this only explains the first scenario and not the second.

Have you made any improvements?

Also I haven’t really been able to get the regeneration to work.

BjornO:
Hi, I have the same problem when going from forward to reverse.
The first version of the speed control box was just a potentiometer. However, it became more unstable during the summer.
The second version had a multi-position rotary switch, and a separate switch to the brake input on the controller. It worked better, but as I also changed a lot of controller parameters, I don’t know why.
I an currently planning version 3 of the speed control box. This time I will put a switch on the throttle lever that automatically engages the brake signal when the lever is in its neutral position.
/Björn

Fabio:
hi, I had the same problem and I changed the regenerative bracking option and now I can start the motor forward or reverse also if the propeller is turning in the other side, i'm still testing to real understand how it work.

Pontus:
Here's a short follow up on how this issue has developed.

My European GM reseller Vela Solutions replaced the VEC 500 for a EZ Kontrol - free of charge! They also supplied the, a bit ugly though quite sturdy, GM Throttle.

Initial test show no sign of last year's issue. There's no problem doing quick changes between forward and reverse, even when the motor is still coasting.

More testing is needed though, since I haven't tried to brake att higher speeds yet, like when sailing.

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