Update 2020-04-17
Great progress. Bench tested and ran into a problem I could use some help with (see below)
Arrived
Bones Swiss 6 Bearings
Decided to go with some quality bearings for the build
Evolve 6" Tires
I cranked down the trucks to just before the bushings started to bulge and I was still able to get the 7" tires to impact the board relatively easily. Even though I really like to the look of the 7" tires I decided to go with the 6" Evolve tires instead. These ship from SoCal and arrived quickly. Here’s a shot comparing the 6" and 7" tires on the Janux 4.25" hubs:
Flipsky VX2 Remote
I ordered this about 5 weeks ago from banggood and it finally arrived. I love the feel of this remote in the hand, the bright screen with telemetry, and the rechargeable battery. The thumb wheel feels solid and appears responsive.
Latching Waterproof Button
To enable control of the BMS from outside the enclosure, I needed a latching, waterproof button. I like the quality here but it’s a bit big (hole diameter is ~0.7"):
New
No major additions to the design at this time.
Changed
Motor Spacers
As part of the integration process I began putting together the hubs, adapters, bearings, tires, etc. and ran into an interesting issue. I’m having aluminum spacers made and will need to get longer M5 socket head bolts to mount the adapters to the motors. This should allow a near flush mount of the adapter against the hub.
Complete
Test Wiring Complete
All hardware attached as per the wiring diagram. Power buttons work and LEDs light up.
Remote Programming
Powered on the remote and adjusted the settings.
- Battery Cells: 12
- Pole Pairs: 14 < Can someone verify this please? I cannot seem to find definitive data on the 58kv motors.
- Speed Option: mph
- Wheel Type: HUB motor
- Wheel Diameter: 150
- Throttle Calibration: Completed
- Pairing: Completed
- ESC Type: FSESC
VESC Programming
Watched videos, read, and reread the VESCtool Manuals. Started cautiously.
Auto Connect
- Connection to Primary VESC immediately successful
- Firmware needed updating. Updated to 4.2.
- Disconnected, connected to 2nd VESC. Updated 2nd VESC firmware to 4.2.
- Disconnected, reconnected to primary VESC.
Setup Motors FOC
- Medium Outrunner
- Battery Cells Series: 12
- Battery Capacity: 12.000 Ah
- Direct Drive: Checked
- Wheel Diameter: 150.00 mm
- Run Detection Button- Success! Both motors detected and settings seem reasonable.
Setup Input
- PPM Remote
- Didn’t change anything on first screen
- Didn’t change anything on next screen
- Finish- tested: nothing!
- Checked wiring schematic vs VESC connector and shuffled the pins around.
- Tested again: Remote makes motors spin and I get full telemetry on the VX2!
Bench Test (partial failure)
This is where the problem arose. The remote is super sensitive, just a small flick past center dead zone and the motors attempt to go full speed. Once they get to nearly 100% duty cycle one (or both I can’t tell) appears to vibrate and loses most of its speed before trying to ramp up again. It sounds bad:
Debugging:
- Disconnected CANbus cable
- Connected VESC1 to motor1, ran Setup Motors FOC- success. Spun motor up to full- one drive spins up, no vibration, remote still super sensitive.
- Connected VESC1 to motor2, ran Setup Motors FOC- success. Spun motor up to full- one drive spins up, no vibration, remote still super sensitive.
- Connected VESC2 to motor1, ran Setup Motors FOC- success. Spun motor up to full- one drive spins up, no vibration, remote still super sensitive.
- Connected VESC2 to motor2, ran Setup Motors FOC- success. Spun motor up to full- one drive spins up, no vibration, remote still super sensitive.
- Connected CANbus cable again- both drives spin up and vibration is back
- Changed remote to VESC2, both drives spin up and vibration is still present
- VESCtool / App Settings / PPM / General Tab / Multiple VESCs Over CAN: Changed to False, wrote change to VESC- one drive spins up, no vibration, remote still super sensitive.
- Turned on stream realtime data and stream realtime app data, VESCtool / App Settings / VESC Remote / General Tab / Control Type: Changed to Off, wrote change to VESC.
- Set remote to mode H. Pushed remote thumbwheel full forward: VESCtool reports 99.2% throttle
- Set remote to mode M. Pushed remote thumbwheel full forward: VESCtool reports ~75% throttle
- Set remote to mode L. Pushed remote thumbwheel full forward: VESCtool reports ~50% throttle
- VESCtool / App Settings / VESC Remote / General Tab / Control Type: Changed to Current, wrote change to VESC. Once remote gets past standard 15% deadzone, motor speed goes to full before VESCtool reports remote getting to 25% throttle.
Help Needed
VESC Output for given Remote Input
From the above testing and debugging it appears that the VESC output to the motor is set to ramp at a rate at least 10x that of the remote input. I have looked around the tool, the manuals, and the forums but I’m failing to find a location where this can be manipulated. I have tried adjusting the Throttle Curve but even at -80% Exponential this change only makes the most minuscule difference. I don’t need to change the curve, I need to change the multiplier. For example, I would assume at 50% throttle I would hit 50% motor speed and at 100% I would hit max motor speed. Can someone point me in the right direction here?
eLofty 58kv Pole Pairs
I’m seeing conflicting information on how many pole pairs the 58kv motors use. If someone who uses these drives could verify this info that would be helpful.
What’s Next
- Fix VESC Programming
- Bench testing completed without failures
- Get tubes and tires mounted
- Get spacers installed and adapters mounted
- Mount wheel to the adapters
- Finalize foam placement in the enclosure
- Wire routing for the motor leads
- Wire routing for the sensor wires
- Wire routing for the buttons
- Mount buttons, cable glands, and charge port to enclosure
- Mount enclosure to board
- Test ride
Research
Nothing in addition to previous posts.