Terminal Strip

Figure 9-10 Curtis throttle potentiometer with high pedal disable switch (note three switch contacts at left).

Figure 9-11 Curtis replacement accelerator pedal throttle potentiometer .

a fault input mode that turns the controller off in the event an open potentiometer input is detected (for example, in the case of a broken wire)—a condition that would result in a runaway—you are covered in both instances by using the Curtis controller and throttle with high pedal disable option. Figure 9-11 shows that the throttle potentiometer wiring goes directly to the controller inputs, with the interchangeable potentiometer leads and the common and normally closed contacts wired as shown.

Auxiliary Relays

Figure 9-12 shows these highly useful auxiliary control double-pole, double-throw relays in both 20-amp-rated 12-volt DC (on right) and 120-volt AC coil varieties. A typical use for the AC coil type would be as a charger interlock. Wired in series with the on-board charger, AC voltage sensed on the charger’s input terminals would immediately disable the battery pack output by interrupting the auxiliary battery key switch line, which, in turn, opens the main contactor. DC coil uses are limited only by your imagination: additional safety interlocks; voltage, current, or temperature interlocks; and controlling lights, fans, and instrumentation.

Terminal Strip

Whatever you’re doing in the electrical department, a simple terminal strip like the one shown in Figure 9-13 makes your wiring easier and neater. Using one or more of these as convenient tie-off points not only reduces error possibilities in first-time conversion wiring, but also makes it simpler to track down your connections later if needed. Of course, it’s only as valuable as your hand-drawn sketch of what function is on which terminal.