New speed controllers
 

In case you did know we are getting new speed controllers this year. They are the Victor 884 as opposed to the older 883's. Innovation First says that they can handle a greater maximum current of 40A continuous. Does anyone know what the maximum current of the 883's had?

Thanx

We had Victor 884s last year no?

Or was it the year before last (2001)?

884s were optional last year. The 883s were provided in the kit.

im pretty sure we didnt....i dont have our robot sitting next to me, but I think that we used 883's.

ah i see jeff....but that doesnt answer my question....what was the maximum current on the 883's?????

To clarify about the Victors...
 

Last year, the 883's were standard and included in the kit, but the 884's were available and legal.
The 883 has a lower output limit of 10%, meaning that you can apply either 0% (in the dead band), or something between ±10% and ±100% to the motor. They noted that since most robots wouldn't move with less than 10% power, it wouldn't matter anyway.
When the 884 was introduced, they quoted a lower limit of 3%, meaning that any value between ±3% and ±100% was now possible. They rationalized that robot arms and other apparatus might require that extra degree of control, and that the 884 would provide it.

(from the Innovation First website, Victor 884 page )

According to the published statistics in the Innovation First literature (from last year), the 883's were to be connected to 30 A circuit breakers (the self-resetting blade fuse ones). The 883's maximum reccomended current (for continuous use) was listed at 40 A, like the 884, and it looks like they were, electrically speaking, capable of much higher loads for very brief periods.

-Tristan Lall