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ErikK · 12-28-2010, 03:32 PM

Thanks Paul!
So I see 18 of IXFK230N20T. What max phase current do you think this setup will handle? How far do you de-rate the voltage and current limits? And what part number for the bus caps? Is the driver circuit for the mosfet setup the same as on the schematics for the IGBT version?

Perhaps I should explain my interest, at the risk of being long-winded. I'm chief engineer at a company making electric motorscooters and motorcycles. We're using BLDC hub motors, 5kw continuous, 12kw or more intermittent. Right now we're purchasing controllers, but we're not very happy with them. So I'm searching for alternatives and thinking about make versus buy decisions. Now, we have a theoretical 400 amp phase current rating, but only for 20 seconds. Less than 200 amps continuous. 120v nominal, 144v max. Mosfets not IGBTs.

So my first objective is to get a handle on a BOM cost for your controller, sized for our application, that I can show to the "suits" to show that the idea has potential. My second objective is to "follow along" and learn from your project. I already know lots of things that can go wrong with big inverters! :-) And the possible longer-range goal might be to build something similar. I expect that along the way I would contribute both financially and technically to the project.

So that's where I'm coming from. Is there anything I can do to help, while I'm catching up on this whole project?
- Erik K

12-28-2010, 03:32 PM	#464 (permalink)
ErikK EV guy Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ann Arbor MI Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Paul! So I see 18 of IXFK230N20T. What max phase current do you think this setup will handle? How far do you de-rate the voltage and current limits? And what part number for the bus caps? Is the driver circuit for the mosfet setup the same as on the schematics for the IGBT version? Perhaps I should explain my interest, at the risk of being long-winded. I'm chief engineer at a company making electric motorscooters and motorcycles. We're using BLDC hub motors, 5kw continuous, 12kw or more intermittent. Right now we're purchasing controllers, but we're not very happy with them. So I'm searching for alternatives and thinking about make versus buy decisions. Now, we have a theoretical 400 amp phase current rating, but only for 20 seconds. Less than 200 amps continuous. 120v nominal, 144v max. Mosfets not IGBTs. So my first objective is to get a handle on a BOM cost for your controller, sized for our application, that I can show to the "suits" to show that the idea has potential. My second objective is to "follow along" and learn from your project. I already know lots of things that can go wrong with big inverters! :-) And the possible longer-range goal might be to build something similar. I expect that along the way I would contribute both financially and technically to the project. So that's where I'm coming from. Is there anything I can do to help, while I'm catching up on this whole project? - Erik K