FisherPrice Problems

[Bruce C.]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Bruce,
The 336, as with most clamp on ammeters and VOMs are only good to 400 HZ. The output of the speed controller is a 2 kHz rep rate so the pulses are even shorter than that. That allows for a lot of error to build up at less than full throttle. I am guessing that you might be reading 50-60% of what is actually taking place. It is a good tool to check between motors and will give accurate results when the controller is producing full throttle. It is a tool many teams don't have in their tool box but should.

Al - Thanks. I knew the output of the Victor was pulsed, but didn't realize the rep rate was that high (Note to self: Read the nice manual.) I was also thinking the meter would read the average current under the pulses, regardless of width, a holdover from my old "analog thinking."(<sigh> I miss the days of the old Simpson 260.)