CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 49,801	$ 41,142
Cost of sales	(33,693)	(25,308)
Gross profit	16,108	15,834
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(14,037)	(10,263)
Research and development expenses	(5,870)	(3,677)
Acquisition costs	(1,535)	0
Operating (loss) income	(5,334)	1,894
Interest expense	(423)	(76)
Interest income	16	31
Foreign currency (loss) gain	(213)	118
Other income and expense	87	(22)
(Loss) income before income tax	(5,867)	1,945
Income tax benefit (provision)	1	(406)
Net (loss) income	(5,866)	1,539
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	53	36
Net (loss) income attributable to Sevcon, Inc. and subsidiaries	(5,813)	1,575
Preference share dividends	(433)	(440)
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders	$ (6,246)	$ 1,135
Net (loss) income per ordinary share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.51)	$ 0.33
Net (loss) income per ordinary share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.51)	$ 0.32
Weighted average shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	4,148	3,469
Diluted (in shares)	4,148	4,929