Mobility Scooter

What is the brand , model and year...?

Any of these look familiar?

http://www.scooterpartscatalog.com/controller-scooter-bike.html

more here...

http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/throttle-pots.html

http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/speed-pots-potentiometers.html

PWM type speed controllers

Unfortunately the sticky labels have been obliterated over the years. A guess being approximately 15 years old possibly a bit longer. It belonged to my mother and I inherited it 5 years ago when she died. No bill of sale and it was purchased back east not here.

I realize this is lousy information to work with. I was hoping to reverse engineers it using a similar or 'typical' controller schematic. I suspect several different makes / models of a similar type and vintage would have something similar.

The controller I have is quite a bit more substantial than what I see in the pictures you sent. There are two sets of #10 Ga wires to battery leading me to suspect it also does a series / parallel voltage swith for low to high speed switching .

Molded into the back of the controller case it does say "Shoprider International Inc." followed by Pihsiang Machinery Mfg. Model 1208

Case measures 6" X 6" and 1.5" deep.

Anything familiar here....

http://www.shoprider.com/

The Cooper looks like a newer version of what I have. Thanks!

Thanks Solar Eagle! Good stuff to begin with. At a rough estimate I think the motor is likely a 300 watt or greater size motor. With its gear box It has approximately the same size as the electric starter in a Honda car.

These prices are much better than the $300- $500 quoted by the repair shops.

It may be just as easy to replace everything provided I can find a controller of sufficient power.

Some pictures of the scooter and the controller would help to ID it.

Some of the older scooters did not have electronic speed control. They used a high wattage pot or resistor bank. Also some have bypass contactors. The accelerator would at full speed engage a micro switch and bypass all the speed control devices to save power. This micro switch could be bad or jammed or the contacts on the bypass contactor could be welded shut. The bypass contactor would look like the old starter motor solenoids on an automobile. That is what they used should be able to get one at auto parts store. If it has a resistor bank there would be a couple of contactors.

If it has an electronic controller it may also have the above bypass switch and contactor. If in engaging the accelerator the vehicle does not move until full throttle the pot is bad or wiring problem as an open. If it goes to full speed immediately look at the switch and contactor.

The controller is electronic. I have it now on the desk next to computer. Unfortunately I do not have a working camera at this time. Your description matches the behaviour mine displays suggesting the pot got moisture inside. When we lost the house I had no place to store the scooter inside and storing it outdoors in winter killed it. We were lucky to find an abandoned mobile to live in. It just did not have space for the scooter as well.

Other then the controller any other contactors on the scooter. One is usually there for applying power from a key switch or on/off switch to the controller. Any others?

Also the pot should have numbers on it. Maybe able to get one at your local electronic supply store.

The key switch harness goes right into the controller. The interior board has three relays all of which are similar to automotive relays often rated for as much as 30 amps.

These relays have the same configuration and pin numbering as the ones I see in cars like FORD or GM but are Curtis brand made in Mexico.

If I traced the wiring completely I suspect one of them has the coil connected to key circuit.

Unfortunately the scooter frame itself is under cover and buried under a foot of snow. This year I removed all electrical parts. I have no access to drive motor at the moment.

Okay with that info google Curtis controllers they have been making speed controllers for small electromotive equipment for years. See if the controller matches up with one of those.

I did a search on Google & found this site shoprider.com

Maybe they could help with a diagram or possibly help you get hold of the manufacturer of the controler to get more information.

There is also a list of manuals on the same site at shoprider.com/manuals

Thanks!

I downloaded the manual. Looks like the motor is around 330Watts capacity.

My model is older than what they illustrate. Naturally They want to know date of purchase and serial number. This is something I can't provide since I don't know it.

There is no serial number in the location illlustrated in the manual. Guess older models had it someplace else. Unless I can connect up with some old timer in their servicce shop who remembers stuff from 20 years ago chances are slim. But at least I now know who sells them. If the price is not too bad maybe a replacement controller would also work. Have to find out what shipping cost and customs duty across the border would cost. That might prove to be a deal breaker.

At any rate I am much further along than I was before. Thanks!