DIY Open Source Tesla Controller
 

So I just wanted to introduce this project on Ecomodder. I have been working for the past few months with several donated Tesla Model S parts. Front and rear drive units and a 10kw gen 2 charger so far. I am developing fully open source control boards for these and other OEM hardware. All files are on my github : https://github.com/damienmaguire

I have just finished bench tests of a logic board to run the Large rear drive unit. Latest video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swmaLyUEmO4

Enjoy:)

Unless you have the actual operating "code" I would equate DIYing that system about as risky as DIY'ing your own pacemaker...get lucky and you're OK, don't and you aren't.

Especially, if it (controller) decides to act-up/quite at speed...without YOUR control or consent.

A lovely bit of engineering. Opens up a whole world for using scrapped/accident damaged Teslas.

Don't worry!

Nobody's tough as Jack!

I would disagree. Jack already has built his own AC controller and has firmware to drive it. That is debugged and running in at least one vehicle.

A pacemaker needs to run - literally - 24/7 for the rest of your life. If the car controller has a fault - it can display a fault code and stop. Much like the original Tesla controller would throw a fault and either stop the car or coast it to a stop. Either way, you are only inconvenienced ... not dead.

Just my opinion ...

Back to the topic though ... in this case, Jack appears to have removed the brains of the Tesla unit and replaced them with his own board, re-configured to fit into the same space as the original Tesla board. It drives the Tesla power electronics, using the same connectors that the old brain did, and monitors the fault signals from the Tesla secondary driver boards.

This is the second way to get a Tesla drivetrain on the road ... when it is not in a Tesla vehicle.

The other way that I have seen so far is using EVTV's GEVCU board and it's accompanying software to send the Tesla brain the CANbus signals that it wants to see, using the timing that the Tesla brain appears to want to see. Jack Rickard and his crew have a lot of hours and effort into the many revisions and iteration that method has required.

If I had the cash, and the access to crashed Tesla auctions, I'd give his new board a go. Jack has been around for quite a while. He's an enthusiast. And if .. sometime .. he does get tired of the project ... you have all you need to fix it if there is a problem. Source code, board design, bill of material ...

It's an AC 3 phase system. Anything fails and the motor looses significant power or coasts to stop. My series DC motor is more prone to overspeed on failure of controller.

Thanks for the support guys. Currently working on reverse engineering the front drive unit.

Hit another good milestone today. Got the inverter back on the rear drive unit and did a few runs. Not until I was editing the video did I realise I was running the motor in reverse:D

https://youtu.be/3ch3A4J3nIY

Anybody else think the Tesla gearbox looks a lot like a Ford F2/350 transfer case with the gear reduction unit pulled off? Near as I can tell looking at the bodiless one at the store in my town they are pretty much built out of existing parts, the unique bit is mostly the software and battery pack.

Cool integration without having to do all the development.. Grand business planning.!

HAhaha! Subscribed to another amazing thread just to follow the knowledge and experimentation.