Curtis Controllers
History
The history behind the brand company legally parenting the Curtis controllers is that of none other than the illustrious Curtis Instruments, Inc., which has proudly been in business ever since the early 1960’s, respectively holding a few decades of product growth knowledge and service industry - standard expertise alike under its corporate belt. Mount Kisco, a medium-sized city within beautiful New York, is where the company’s main HQ is planted, and it remains there since its first founding. Mr. Basar Alp was currently welcomed onboard not too long ago as the company VP of Engineering, and the business has had numerous executive leadership role changes since its birth more than 50 years ago already.
And as of late, Stuart Marwell is the President and CEO of Curtis Controllers. Mr. Marwell was invited to a roundtable discuss in Mumbai, India, in 2010, to discuss his latest endeavors and strategies with numerous panelists of much interest, his invitation coming from former U.S. President Obama himself. He gladly accepted the invitation and brought the best of himself and his company forward, proud to have achieved such recognition as a business.
Furthermore, to ask the history of the Curtis motor controller would be to further inquire about the meaning and history of the general motor controller itself, one used by any brand or business today. And that is what will be explored next, to offer more background. First of all, for those new to motor controlling devices of any form, such as the 5 kinds that Curtis offers, take the following information in…..
Firstly, a motor controller, when explained in the simplest terms derivable, is basically a device --- or even any combined group of such devices --- that mainly exists to govern an electric motor’s performance, respectively. It is often referred to as an MC as well. And it might engage Manual or Automatic modes, based on the user’s preference. Either of these two modes will be used to properly start one’s motor engine up, to stop it as well, to choose a forward rotation, to select a backward or reverse rotation in turn, to choose or regulate one’s speed, pre-setting it, even, to limit or regulate one’s torque, and even to detect and further prevent faults that may lead to overloading, overheating and other risks associated with them.
And moreover, the history of motor controllers relates to the history of motors and motor technology, as a greater - sum whole. And motor technology itself carries quite a vast, historical evolution of its own, which has seen many countries. In 1910, as one prime example, Hitachi released its very first 5P induction motor, for which a controller was later built. It became a milestone achievement that would later open the door to more possibilities, eventually landing us to where we are today, in the world of advanced technical motor controllers of many kinds. And today’s top - selling brands are those of Kelly, OEM, Curtis, and several others.
Model Types & Their Applications, Features, Part Numbers & More
Currently, there are but dozens and dozens of modern models on the market, but those of the Curtis brand are the ones we’re going to specifically aim at looking at under a closer lens. And on that note, by the way, Curtis sells motor speed controller products, five types, to be specific. These are the AC Motor Controllers, the SepEx® Motor Controllers, the Brushed DC Permanent Magnet Controllers, its own varied Series Motor Controllers, and some programming for these as well.
Before assessing the information provided below, do keep in mind that each of these motor controller products, as is required by law, carries with it an Ingress Protection Rating, which is more often referred to as its IP Rating. The rating may fluctuate from motor controller to motor controller, but the brands that tend to keep those of their products at the best of ratings tend to exemplify top-notch industry standards and thus make greater sales & revenue metrics as a whole.
And international standard EN 60529 is the governing entity that works to define these ratings within their proper allocation and jurisdiction, respectively. Two main factors are always taken into account when rating, and those are intrusion protection and moisture protection. The former will be represented by the first digit seen in the code while the latter will constitute the second, to follow suite.
The range within the first mentioned category will start from “no special protection to 100 % dust tight”. The second’s range starts at “no protection”, as well, and tops off at “fully protected against immense immersion and its prolonged effects”. And IP Ranges from 65 to 68 while always ensure maximized “dust tightness”. So keep this in mind when reading the IP Ratings below.
AC Motor Controllers
1. The AC F2A - 24 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] N/A.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
2. The 1222 - 24 to 80 VDC
- Electric Power Steering (EPS) application.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 70.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed.
- CANbus: Yes.
3. The 1232 e - 24 to 96 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 150 - 250.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: None.
- CANbus: Yes.
4. The 1232 SE - 24 to 80 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 250 - 375.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
5. The 1234 e - 24 to 96 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 150 - 250.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
6. The 1234 SE - 24 to 80 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 350 - 500.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
7. The 1236 e - 24 to 80 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 350 - 550. IP Rating: IP 65. Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
8. The 1236 SE - 24 to 80-VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 450 - 650.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
9. The 1238 e - 24 to 96 VDC, traction or pump applications.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 550 - 800.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
10. The 1239 e - 60 to 144 VDC, traction application only.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 550 - 650.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
11. The 1298 - 24 to 24 VDC, inter-combined AC traction & DC pump.
- Current (2 min) of [A] 250 - 300.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- Control Type: Speed or Torque.
- VCL: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
SepEx® Motor Controllers
1. The 1243/1243 CAN - 36 VDC, traction application only.
- Armature Current of (2 min) [A] 200 - 350.
- IP Rating: IP 53.
- Control Method: Speed.
- VCL: None.
- CANbus: Yes.
2. The 1244/1244 CAN - 80 VDC, traction application only.
- Armature Current of (2 min) [A] 400 - 700.
- IP Rating: IP 64.
- Control Method: Speed.
- VCL: None.
- CANbus: Yes.
3. The 1266 A/R - 48 VDC, traction application only.
- Armature Current of (2 min) [A] 275 - 350.
- IP Rating: IP 53.
- Control Method: Speed.
- VCL: None.
- CANbus: None.
4. The 1268 - 48 VDC, traction application only.
- Armature Current of (2 min) [A] 400 - 500.
- IP Rating: IP 64.
- Control Method: Speed.
- VCL: None.
- CANbus: None.
Brushed DC Permanent Magnet Controllers
1. The 1210 - 24 V, Mobility Scooter vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 45 - 70.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
2. The 1212 - 24 V, Mobility Scooter vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 45 - 70.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
3. The 1212 C - 24 V, Industrial vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 50.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
4. The 1212 P - 24 V, Industrial vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 50.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
5. The 1212 S - 24 to 36 V, Industrial vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 50.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
6. The 1220 - 24 V, Industrial vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 50 - 70.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
7. The 1228 - 36 V, Mobility Scooter vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 70 - 110.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
8. The 1229 - 24 to 48 V, Industrial vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 24 - 48.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: Yes.
9. The enAble 40 - 24 V, Power Wheelchair vehicle type.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 45 - 70.
- MultiMode®: Yes.
- CANbus: None.
Series Motor Controllers
1. The 1204 M / 1205 M - 72 VDC, traction or pump application.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 275 - 500.
- IP Rating: IP 54.
- CANbus: None.
2. The 1207 B - 24 VDC, traction application only.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 250 - 300.
- IP Rating: IP 54.
- CANbus: None.
3. The 1209 M - 72 VDC, traction or pump application.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 275 - 450.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- CANbus: None.
4. The 1216 - 24 VDC, hydraulic pump application.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 300 - 360.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- CANbus: None.
5. The 1221 M
- 72 VDC, traction or pump application.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 275 - 550.
- IP Rating: IP 65.
- CANbus: None.
6. The 1253
- 80 VDC, pump application only.
- Armature Current (2 min) of [A] 600.
- IP Rating: IP 54.
- CANbus: None.
Programming products
1. The 1313 Handheld Programmer This programming and diagnostic tool comes with its own manual and 360 %, as well, both viewable on the main Curtis Instruments Inc. products page under “speed motor controllers - programming”. It comes in English and French datasheets you can easily view or download off the page, at no cost. It’s a powerful and intuitive supplemental product altogether, effectively combining troubleshooting potential with detailed programming functionalities for use with all motor controllers that can be programmed or re - programmed within the Curtis brand, as well as their control systems.
2. The 1314 PC Programming Station This additional top-quality add on product offers the same free viewing and datasheets on the same site page and is made to mainly allow the user a Powerful Windows® interface by which he or she can do more. Troubleshooting or recording parameters are functions it allows as are adjusting all settings. This 1314 model is even compatible with every type of MC or charger that is microprocessor-based and sold by Curtis. It can also work within their respective serial or CAN-bus interface alike, offering the best to both.
We’ve rightfully assessed not only the long and proud history of motor controllers made by Curtis, as well a brief snippet of the industry term in general and where it first started. We’ve also gotten to explore the specs detailing controller products from five different arenas, and we’ve even assessed them in comparison to one another. And there were 32 varying products we got to break down in this technical review, looking at all kinds of factors like CAN-bus compatibility, Armature current limits, voltage and much, much more….
Curtis Controllers have been featured all over U.S. and foreign media, carrying a rich and diverse sales history that has equated to thousands of sales and over 50 years of business success. Curtis sells numerous types of speed MC’s for use with various electric engines. One may find out more at the Curtis Instruments homepage, run by the subsidiary parent company of Curtis Instruments, Inc.
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