Paul & Sabrina's cheap DIY 144v motor controller

[MPaulHolmes]

Sure! The driver/DC-DC is VLA500-01 or VLA502-01 (either one will work).

Oh, this would be faster. hahaha:
http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/docs/bg2a_application_note.pdf

http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/docs/vla502_01.pdf

http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/app/vla502_applnote.pdf

[wakinyantanka]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I made a driver board based on the BG2A board from Powerex. I haven't sent it in yet. It can drive dual 1200v 1200amp igbts no problem. Powerex says it works for anything they sell. It's just a bit over $100 in parts (including the price of the board). There are 2 drivers/power supplies. Here's a picture of it:



It drives to +15v and down to around -8v for shutoff.

This would work well for mosfets too. It might be a better choice for the SR controller, due to the absurdly awesome drivers.

This is exactly what I was thinking about when I asked Jack to comment on the IGBTs that I found. Driving dual 1200A IGBTs

[adamj12b]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I made a driver board based on the BG2A board from Powerex. I haven't sent it in yet. It can drive dual 1200v 1200amp igbts no problem. Powerex says it works for anything they sell. It's just a bit over $100 in parts (including the price of the board). There are 2 drivers/power supplies. Here's a picture of it:



It drives to +15v and down to around -8v for shutoff.

This would work well for mosfets too. It might be a better choice for the SR controller, due to the absurdly awesome drivers.

Well you took my idea. LOL ask for driver suggestions from me and then take it to the extreme. One thing though, These modules are only rated to run 600V modules to 600A and 1200V modules to 1400A. Testing will have to be done to make sure they are not overloaded with larger modules.

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

Sure! The driver/DC-DC is VLA500-01 or VLA502-01 (either one will work).

Oh, this would be faster. hahaha:
http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/docs/bg2a_application_note.pdf

http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/docs/vla502_01.pdf

http://www.pwrx.com/pwrx/app/vla502_applnote.pdf

The VLA500-01 is the module that will want to be used. The VLA502-01 is ment to drive the NFH modules. These modules usually range from 30 to 70kHz!! They cost more and you will not want to use them for the low frequency modules.

These are the ones I plan to use as there really is not any other suitable driver out there for high input capicitance modules. I just have not had the money to buy 2 for testing.

-Adam

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by adamj12b

I just have not had the money to buy 2 for testing.

-Adam

You and me both, brudda.

[mrbigh]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

You and me both, brudda.

We should organize a group buy for this VLA500-01 because the minimum order generally is Qty 4 pcs and no many dealers seem to stock these.
I'm good for at least 2 pcs.

[adamj12b]

Originally Posted by mrbigh

We should organize a group buy for this VLA500-01 because the minimum order generally is Qty 4 pcs and no many dealers seem to stock these.
I'm good for at least 2 pcs.

I'd organize that!!

More the better!! They have about a 1 month lead from digikey. But I have a powered dealer close to me. I will give them a call.

I will track some prices down tonight!

Anybody interested, PM me so I can keep track.

-Adam

[wakinyantanka]

Originally Posted by adamj12b

I'd organize that!!

More the better!! They have about a 1 month lead from digikey. But I have a powered dealer close to me. I will give them a call.

I will track some prices down tonight!

Anybody interested, PM me so I can keep track.

-Adam

I'm In! Let me know when, where, and how much.

[sawickm]

DC/DC Power ???

In reading this thread about the new "Driver PCB" I have some questions.

From what I understand the Powerex VLA500-01 is a combined Gate Driver & DC/DC Converter. The VLA500-01 Gate Driver has up to 12 Amps of drive current, similar to the Micrel MIC4451 now being used on the ReVolt. The only difference is the VLA500-01 has an on-board DC/DC converter replacing the EC4A DC/DC converter on the ReVolt now.

This is my question, do you still need a regulated +5V & +15V to run the VLA500-01? If you do an additional multiple output regulated power supply would be needed to run those VLA500-01 too right?

Could the Micrel MIC4451, and a Simple Isolated Switcher Supply be used instead of the VLA500-01 ? The Simple Isolated Switcher Supply would use an un-regulated +12V Battery (Vin) and output +15V (Vcc) and -8V(Vee)?

National Semiconductor has a whole series of Simple Switcher - DC/DC Converters.

-Mark

[adamj12b]

Hey mark,

The mic4451 is not quite the same as the driver that's in the vla500. The vla500 can drive very very large devices with huge input capacitance. The mic4451 can only drive to I think 61nF while each cm400du-12f is 110nF. To power the vla500 you will need 15vdc. The gnd will be shared with the pwm ground so it's not a big deal. It will just require a boost converter to boost the 9-14v battery input to 15 for isolation.

-Adam

[sawickm]

Originally Posted by adamj12b

To power the vla500 you will need 15vdc. The gnd will be shared with the pwm ground so it's not a big deal. It will just require a boost converter to boost the 9-14v battery input to 15 for isolation.
-Adam

Hi Adam,

I was just looking at the PWRX BG2A reference design that Paul based his PCB from. It shows that you need +15V and +5V, the on-board opto ic's use the +5V off of pin1, and shared GND pin6. You could use the +5V off of the Controller PCB for those opto's right.

Hey, looking at other IGBT driver PCB's I found this website: IGBT-Driver - Power Electronics: Home High end stuff !!! I like the way that they mount the diver PCB right to the IGBT's and connect them to the controller with a ribbon cable interface.

-Mark