stock ASI BAC355, 55A controller

Timpo

Well-Known Member
Looks like some of the Rad bikes (RadRover 6, RadCity 5, etc.) come with ASI BAC355, which is a 55A controller. 😲
I heard ASI is a very good company, I guess Rad is stepping up their game.
 
Looks like some of the Rad bikes (RadRover 6, RadCity 5, etc.) come with ASI BAC355, which is a 55A controller. 😲
I heard ASI is a very good company, I guess Rad is stepping up their game.
Indeed ASI makes quality controllers.

 
Exactly the thing we need to see more of.
 
Good question Timpo. With that kind of amperage listed, the 500w rating seems way out of place?
 
Yeah also the bikes with the Rad 55A controller (ASI BAC355) are rated at 750W.
I wonder how they're restricted? By the display?
They are probably doing a special production run from BAC and the controller itself is the limiter.

Results with ASI controllers can be a mixed bag. My BAC800 (predecessor to the 855) on my Cyc X1 gen1 is a trouble-free monster (I chickened out at 60 amps of output on mine; I think it peaks at 90), but it was also programmed by a specialist aftermarket shop who really knows what they are doing.

On the other hand, CYC offered BAC855 and BAC2000 controllers stock on their motors for a couple of years and were never able to shake away the bugs. The controllers had issues inside of them that did not mix with the motors well, and Accelerated Systems proved either unable or unwilling to rectify the bugs. CYC eventually abandoned them with the gen3 motors they just released a few weeks ago. My sugqestion is to wait and let the early adopters take any incoming arrows in the back for you. Watch the Rad user groups and see what people's experience is.
 
Be interesting to see how badly RAD has them locked down too. Fingers crossed SOMEBODY there has come to their senses with at least some of this.
 
... it does seem like just a matter of programming (maybe that's what you meant?)
Yes exactly. I believe ASI keeps at least some level of core programming proprietary on these specialty batches. This was an issue with the controllers CYC supplied factory-stock with their motors, which then ran into some issues which could in some cases not be tracked down and corrected by end users with ASI tools, or CYC themselves. The main CYC user group came to the informal conclusion that only ASI was going to be able to solve the issues and they didn't seem inclined to do so.

Worth mentioning is I have one of these motors in almost its earliest gen 1 form, with an ASI aftermarket upgrade controller on it, but that controller was sold by ASI as a factory-stock unit and my seller flashed it with his own secret recipe of settings. So its not like it couldn't be done. Lets hope the Rad bikes don't go thru what the CYC motor people did.
 
What do you mean by the famous 35A controller?
If you're talking about Bolton / Electro Bike World / Big Game Bikes, they're 17A nominal, 35A peak.. it says on the sticker.
Yes. Thats what I mean. 35A Peak DC current, 70-80A Peak phase.
 

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Spec. sheet has some nice detail, including the firing order for the hall sensors, but I see very little detail regarding the parameters that can be set/adjusted to meet user requirements/druthers. I get where RAD may have a lot of this locked down, but what if the controller is purchased on the aftermarket? Is it even available on the aftermarket, or is this intended for sale to manf's only?

Some other things missing is regarding the type PAS (power vs. speed) and if there's a choice there. Is this a "soft start" mush box that forces users to deal with slow spool up times, or will it allow FULL power on demand (without delay)? Better, is there a choice of spool up times?

Ability for torque sensing input/configuration?

Appears to be a good start, but way more questions than answers at this point.... -Al
 
I think given the generally non-technical nature of the RPB customer, there is not going to be any support for user configuration other than what might be possible if an end user has some sort of tool similar to the Penoff (3rd party) software that opened up the door on the Bafang mid drives..
 
I think given the generally non-technical nature of the RPB customer, there is not going to be any support for user configuration other than what might be possible if an end user has some sort of tool similar to the Penoff (3rd party) software that opened up the door on the Bafang mid drives..
Agreed, but using a 3rd party adapter to access feature settings no big deal here, and I think many others would agree. If the right features were available, it would beat the heck out of shopping for/installing a 3rd party controller to accomplish the same thing, no?
 
Okay so I guess I didn't quite understand the technicality.

So which one is superior? The KT 35A controller (Bolton) or BAC355?
BAC is superior in quality and features. Also has FOC so higher topspeed is possible.
I would say older BAC350 ( now BAC355) is propably the base from which Grin Baserunner z9 is developed. In terms of battery peak current its less but close to KT 35A controller. Phase current is less (less torque). Grin Phaserunner is based on BAC850 (now BAC855) and is max 96A phase amps and about 50A battery current max.
 
I think Bolton or any other 3rd party controller should be based on BAC355, BAC555 or BAC855, instead of KT.
For me, prior to making any kind of call like this one, I'd want to know a LOT more about the BACxxx controllers.

For starters, I can configure a KT, using the available parameters (that are changed through the display keyboard), to make a bike behave the way I want it to.

Also, for my purposes, it's NOT just about how efficiently it can pass power from the battery to the motor. I want a reasonably good display available that CLEARLY show how many watts are in use real time. I want a POWER BASED PAS system that's not dependent on how fast I'm going or forcing me to ride any faster than I want to. I want outstanding LOW SPEED CONTROL (under 10mph) that leaves me with an easy to control bike on tight twisty tails and multi use paths.

Oh, and it would be nice if it were readily available and reasonably priced!

Show me a controller like that, then we can talk.....

I couldn't care less what it's based on. -Al
 
So you want a reasonable price and good display.

I think 3rd party companies like Bolton should focus on ASI, no KT.
Luna has ASI BAC800.

Also, looks like the ASI controller is compatible with EggRider, which is much cleaner than CycleAnalyst.
Based on what Tempo? A controller that's not even set up for PAS at a close out price with no harness? What are you looking at? Have you ever used an Egg Rider? I would NOT count that as even decent as compared to others.....

Power based PAS?

You're going to need to do a LOT more to convince me.....
 
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