Paul & Sabrina's cheap DIY 144v motor controller

[jedsmd]

Originally Posted by duncan

Hi Guys
Got the cooling plate attached also the two end plates,
Paul has sent the software so I will have to fight with that
keep fingers crossed

Controller looks great!

Love the angles and side guards on the end plates, they give it a very solid appearance.

[mrbigh]

How BIG the controller box is? looks huge!!!

[jedsmd]

Originally Posted by mrbigh

How BIG the controller box is? looks huge!!!

It's pretty big: 15" x 12" x 5" (38 x 30 x 13cm).

It would be nice if there was a middle brother between this and the original 500 amp open source controller.

[duncan]

Hi Guys
Finally got the courage to tackle the scary PiCkit

All went well
until I got
Warning ------.hex contains code that is located at addresses that do not exist on the 11AA010
----- is the location I had saved the file that Paul sent me

I'm still a little unsure about the wiring to the PiCkit

On the board the first pin was not connected to anything (the furthest into the board)
I have treated this as the pin furthest from the triangle on the piCkit

So I have wired the pin on the board (had a blue wire on it) to the pin next to the arrow
The next one to that to the next pin (purple)
The next one to that to the next pin (grey)
The next one to that to the next pin (white)
The next one to that to the next pin (black)

I have a power light and a blue active light on the PiCkit

[MPaulHolmes]

I think you need to select the dspic30f4011 device. Maybe a different microcontroller is selected. I'm on my phone, but will be on the computer later

The yellow dot on the board (closest pin to you) goes with the pin that has the triangle. The 6th pin is unused. Verify that the dspic30f4011 is loaded:
Go to
Configure->Select Device...

Then in the box that says "Device:", select dapic30f4011.

Also, to load the hex file, go to
File->Import...
And select the hex file.

[duncan]

Hex file loaded successfully!!!

I think I didn't hit the "apply" button first and then the import file

Now it all works

I will test it with a little motor then install it in the device!

[duncan]

Successful test with small motor and 12v battery!

Now I have got to finish doing the concrete floor then I will be allowed to fit it
With a bit of luck this weekend!

[MPaulHolmes]

We will have to do the PI loop differently if you want a really fast response from the throttle. I finally learned how it works while doing the AC controller. What you have now may turn out to be a bit too conservative for you, but maybe not. Just let me know.

[duncan]

Hi Paul
Re - Throttle response
I will get it driving - and I'm due at a track on the 30th - see what it feels like then
(if it hasn't broken something else on the car!)

What sort of response will it have - 0.1 seconds??

Also what is max current set to? - is it 1000amps or 1200amps ???

[MPaulHolmes]

I don't know what the response time is in your motor's case. The throttle ramp rate is maximum, but the PI loop may need to be tuned for faster response. It's set for 1000amp at the moment. Do you want 1200?