Curtis 1238SE - Initial Setup Procedures; Before You Start

7 — INITIAL SETUP
Curtis 1232E/34E/36E/38E & 1232SE/34SE/36SE/38SE Manual, os 31 – May 2017 Return to TOC
pg. 80
7 — INITIAL SETUP
e 1232E/SE, 1234E/SE, 1236E/SE, and 1238E/SE controllers can be used in a variety of vehicles,
which dier widely in characteristics. Before driving the vehicle, it is imperative that these initial
setup procedures be carefully followed to ensure that the controller is set up to be compatible with
your application.
BEFORE YOU START
Correct values for the motor parameters (Motor Type, FW Base Speed, and Field Weakening) must be
determined individually for each motor.
For ACIM motors, use one of these three options to obtain ACIM motor data:
• Contact your Curtis distributor or support engineer with the manufacturer’s part number for
your motor. Curtis has a database of many motors for which the motor data has already been
determined. Motors in the Curtis database are assigned a number, which is the number used
for the ACIM Motor Type parameter.
• Send your ACIM motor to Curtis for testing on the factory motor dyno. Your motor’s data will be
entered into the Curtis database and we will send you software with the appropriate parameter
values set to match your motor. Contact your Curtis distributor or support engineer before
shipping your motor.
• Use the ACIM Motor Characterization Procedure (Chapter 8A), which has the controller “learn”
the motor parameter data. The procedure should take about half an hour and can be done
on the vehicle. Go ahead and complete setup steps 1 through 11 of the Initial Setup before
conducting the ACIM characterization procedure.
For SPM motors, use the SPM Motor Characterization Procedure (Chapter 8B), which has the controller
“learn” the motor parameter data. The procedure should take about half an hour and can be done
on the vehicle. Go ahead and complete steps 1 through 9 of the Initial Setup before conducting the
SPM characterization procedure. Using the SPM Motor Characterization Procedure is the only option
for obtaining motor data for SPM motors. Note, for SPM motors, there is no motor poles or feedback
sensor direction parameters, as obtaining this data is part of the SPM auto-characterization routine.
ACIM:
If Curtis has given you the values for Motor Type, FW Base Speed, and Field Weakening and you
have set them on the controller (see ACIM Field Weakening Control menu, pages 56–57), complete
the these initial setup procedures prior to ne-tuning the motor. If you will be using the automated
Motor Characterization Procedure, that will come later—aer you have completed steps 1 through
10. Following the motor characterization, complete the initial steps prior to completing the ne-
tuning in Chapter 9.
SPM:
For SPM motor applications, start these initial setup procedures now. e SPM motor characterization
will be preformed aer you have completed steps 1 through 9. en complete steps 12–14 prior to
completing the ne-tuning in Chapter 9.