Circuit setups for pulse motors

[casman1969]

Here's a shot you may like...
It is the center tap of one of the drive coils in relation to ground (- of battery).

[hoptoad]

@Casman,
It is a little hard to see the pix, but I think I can see enough. Judging by the waveforms, they are voltage Traces? If so, then an inverse (almost) of the waveforms would apply in calculating current. However even assuming they are voltage, judging by the waveforms, I would say that you are actually using less current than your meters say. But you are probably also producing significantly less output current than appears to be evident. The sudden short burst of current from capacitor to battery is causing large peak currents to weight the average current reading towards the peak current reading.

Analogue meters are better than digital meters at averaging this current reading, but still fail to reflect a true average when pulses are intense, and large, but for a very short duration.

Still, even stating this, the fact you are able to charge, not one but two batteries, with such little drop in supply voltage, suggests very high performance. Well done Casman 

[casman1969]

Hopttoad,
Thanks. Now I'm just embarrased by my rinky-dink scope and ordered a PC dual trace yesterday. You're right of course on the pulse width of the charge ckt. Making improvements every day but would really like to break the supply battery + then pump my charge back into it. Running out of those 3A reeds but boy do they come in handy.
Dual trace will at least allow me to time it all MUCH better than at present. I will mechanically shorten those drive pulses.

I will get-er-done!

Carl

[casman1969]

Oh, and by the way..,
Those pulses you're seeing that going to the charge battery did'nt come out quite right. They are much more uniform 20V+ peaks with a litle more duration. Don't know how that pic occured but shortly thereafter the digital scope said enough already and quit. Time to retire it.

[Nastrand2000]

One thing to help make your reed switches last longer is to use them to fire your trigger coil instead of your main coil.
Jason