Are these cheap "sinewave" controllers really sinewave or just simulated?

[speedyebikenoob]

So I've been looking for a motor controller and I'm seeing a ton of these "sinewave" controllers. https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32946685967.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.45903191eKjpWj&algo_pvid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161&algo_expid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161-11&btsid=0be3769015977507727646416ed2b4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Are these really sinewave controllers? I'm skeptical because the sinewave controllers I've heard of are pricey. Is it just simulated? If it's simulated does it actually feel like a sinewave controller? I like the smooth power delivery. I used a square wave controller previously with my cycle analyst which I set to torque mode, and I was happy with the power delivery. Thoughts?

 

[E-HP]

So I've been looking for a motor controller and I'm seeing a ton of these "sinewave" controllers. https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32946685967.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.45903191eKjpWj&algo_pvid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161&algo_expid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161-11&btsid=0be3769015977507727646416ed2b4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Are these really sinewave controllers? I'm skeptical because the sinewave controllers I've heard of are pricey. Is it just simulated? If it's simulated does it actually feel like a sinewave controller? I like the smooth power delivery. I used a square wave controller previously with my cycle analyst which I set to torque mode, and I was happy with the power delivery. Thoughts?

Those are KT sine wave controllers. I have an 18FET version. It's silent. The connectors appear show that it supports a display, so if you're not getting the bluetooth version, you need to factor that in. I can't read French, so I'm not sure it's the same version, but mine supports regen. That's a good price though.

 

[speedyebikenoob]

So I've been looking for a motor controller and I'm seeing a ton of these "sinewave" controllers. https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32946685967.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.45903191eKjpWj&algo_pvid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161&algo_expid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161-11&btsid=0be3769015977507727646416ed2b4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Are these really sinewave controllers? I'm skeptical because the sinewave controllers I've heard of are pricey. Is it just simulated? If it's simulated does it actually feel like a sinewave controller? I like the smooth power delivery. I used a square wave controller previously with my cycle analyst which I set to torque mode, and I was happy with the power delivery. Thoughts?

Those are KT sine wave controllers. I have an 18FET version. It's silent. The connectors appear show that it supports a display, so if you're not getting the bluetooth version, you need to factor that in. I can't read French, so I'm not sure it's the same version, but mine supports regen. That's a good price though.

Gotcha, how's throttle response and power delivery though? I don't mind the noise, but I hate the jerkiness and twitchiness of square wave controllers. Is it smooth and linear like an ice throttle?

 

[E-HP]

Gotcha, how's throttle response and power delivery though? I don't mind the noise, but I hate the jerkiness and twitchiness of square wave controllers. Is it smooth and linear like an ice throttle?

I don't have experience with a lot of controllers like the folks on this forum. The power was smooth. I'd still be using it, but I wanted more flexibility to run different voltages. My current controller is punchier with respect to acceleration, but the KT's have open source software available that provides a lot more features, so I plan to resurrect it at some point.

 

[Balmorhea]

how's throttle response and power delivery though? I don't mind the noise, but I hate the jerkiness and twitchiness of square wave controllers. Is it smooth and linear like an ice throttle?

Throttle response characteristics are not related to the wave form the controller uses. There are entire threads on the topic here at E-S if you’re interested to do some reading. You might try a different throttle before swapping your controller. Potentiometer throttles usually work in place of Hall throttles, and they tend to be much more linear. Hall throttles vary a lot between different models.

 

[speedyebikenoob]

how's throttle response and power delivery though? I don't mind the noise, but I hate the jerkiness and twitchiness of square wave controllers. Is it smooth and linear like an ice throttle?

Throttle response characteristics are not related to the wave form the controller uses. There are entire threads on the topic here at E-S if you’re interested to do some reading. You might try a different throttle before swapping your controller. Potentiometer throttles usually work in place of Hall throttles, and they tend to be much more linear. Hall throttles vary a lot between different models.

Hm, I guess I'm mistaken then. I'd assumed sinewave would be a torque based throttle rather than the square wave "speed throttle". Is this not true? I'm actually okay with the throttle response right now with my cycle analyst in torque throttle mode and a magura throttle. Without it, it would be very hard to ride as my bike is a 3300 watt middrive and the gearing is very low. If a sinewave already does that for me though and is not much more expensive I thought why not consider it. Unfortunately, I have to replace my old controller though, it just died on me.

 

[speedyebikenoob]

Gotcha, how's throttle response and power delivery though? I don't mind the noise, but I hate the jerkiness and twitchiness of square wave controllers. Is it smooth and linear like an ice throttle?

I don't have experience with a lot of controllers like the folks on this forum. The power was smooth. I'd still be using it, but I wanted more flexibility to run different voltages. My current controller is punchier with respect to acceleration, but the KT's have open source software available that provides a lot more features, so I plan to resurrect it at some point.

Gotcha, what's your current controller?

 

[E-HP]

Gotcha, what's your current controller?

An 18 FET Powervelocity, also sine wave.

 

[999zip999]

The powervelocity 18 fet can be BT how many watts you need and what motor ?

 

[Baron]

So I've been looking for a motor controller and I'm seeing a ton of these "sinewave" controllers. https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32946685967.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.45903191eKjpWj&algo_pvid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161&algo_expid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161-11&btsid=0be3769015977507727646416ed2b4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Are these really sinewave controllers? I'm skeptical because the sinewave controllers I've heard of are pricey. Is it just simulated? If it's simulated does it actually feel like a sinewave controller? I like the smooth power delivery. I used a square wave controller previously with my cycle analyst which I set to torque mode, and I was happy with the power delivery. Thoughts?

I have that controller, it feels like a square-wave at startup (you can feel/hear a slight vibration in your bike coming from the motor) but after the first 10 feet or so it gets smooth/silent and feels like a sinewave.

I also have a PowerVelocity controller (seller on these forums) which is a "true" sinewave controller and feels much smoother/quieter at startup. So I think your KT controller is "simulated sinewave" based on having used a true sinewave controller.

 

[pullin-gs]

So I've been looking for a motor controller and I'm seeing a ton of these "sinewave" controllers. https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32946685967.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.45903191eKjpWj&algo_pvid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161&algo_expid=582dcfbc-7b7c-42a9-8956-f310824fc161-11&btsid=0be3769015977507727646416ed2b4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Are these really sinewave controllers? I'm skeptical because the sinewave controllers I've heard of are pricey. Is it just simulated? If it's simulated does it actually feel like a sinewave controller? I like the smooth power delivery. I used a square wave controller previously with my cycle analyst which I set to torque mode, and I was happy with the power delivery. Thoughts?

I have a 38A sinewave version of same controller......I was skeptical also, so I scoped it.


This is not a sinewave. It is a trapezoidal waveform.

 

[MadRhino]

Most controllers that are sold as sine wave are not real sine wave. Look for field oriented controllers.

 

[Balmorhea]

Most controllers that are sold as sine wave are not real sine wave. Look for field oriented controllers.

The output of an FOC controller isn't a sine wave, unless the back EMF from the motor is a sine wave. So in many cases, it's better than a "pure" sine wave.

In all cases, the wave shape is constructed electronically to approximate the ideal; the only actual sine waves in the electrical world are those that come from rotating machinery originally.