How high should the amperage be on my controller?

[gwhiz101]

I am thinking about converting a 74 Super Beetle, using a 144v system (AGM or Gel 12v SLAs), and i will be using a warp 9 motor. I can either get a 144v 400a Kelly controller with regen for about 1300, or pay 200 more for the same thing @ 500a...or even 200 more for 650a. Which should i get?

I assume these are peak amperage #s...anybody have any idea about the continuous numbers for these controllers? (Product #s KDH14401B, KDH14501B, and KDH14651B)

What would the performance be like with each?

Thank You Very Much!

[taffy]

Be warned that Kelly controllers have a patchy history of ever reaching there advertised power values.
Have a look over on DIY electric car; link: DIY Electric Car Forums - Electric Vehicle Build and Conversion Community For threads on this.
Basically go for the biggest one you can get. I cant really help with performance as i have only used a curtis connected to 96V set up in a SAE race car. We had a kelly but it was terrible even on the bench during testing.

[gwhiz101]

oh...can you suggest any other brands with brushed dc regen abilities? im in colorado, and there are plenty of hills that would benefit from using regen brakes instead of regular ones...especially since the beetle doesnt have power brakes...

Is there anyone else out there that might know? Even if i dont get a kelly controller, about how many amps do i want for a 144v system? Even if the 400a controller can only do 200a continuous, thats still 28.8kW...would it even be able to do that?

What kind of acceleration would i get?how many amps can the warp 9 take continuously without an air blower?

Thanks!!!!

[Ryland]

I think 400 amps should be ok, after all what is the max continues discharge that your batteries can handle? my EV is smaller lighter and slower then yours will be and with lower voltage so the amps are higher for what it is doing, but I have a 300amp slow blow fuse.
You should be able to look at some of the EV's on EValbum and see what they are using for their 144v setups.

[gwhiz101]

Thank you. Do you know the curb weight of your car? How is the acceleration? And thats a god idea...thanks!!!!