This probably sounds stupid but I ordered Maytech’s VESC or in general a VESC without first checking that VESCs has a speed limit (ERPM) of about 100,000 (or 60,000, can’t recall the exact number). That means I can not properly run a 820kv motor (very small and very light) using VESC.
My project is not related to skateboards or drones, it is a class project and I wanted to use VESC for two reasons:
1- It has Serial pins so I can measure current , temperature and rpms and log them
2- It seems to have a nice bi-directional positional control thus I was hoping to use it in a robotic application.
I also do not need a very high speed (rather I need a high torque) but I can not use gears (project requirements) as well as low kV (means more weight) outrunners (weight requirements).
So I was hoping if anyone here can help me set this up as I am pretty confused about the motor and battery parameters. (I know this is easy stuff but when I use low amps in bldc-tool, the motor is not detected).
Also I am using FW 2.18 and not using VESC-tool because for some reasons, I am unable to update the firmware from BLDC as well as from VESC tool. Everytime I update the FW, it says it is updated but when I reconnect my VESC, the same old FW is detected in it.
I also emailed MayTech’s support who actually first gave me VESC-tool application (which I had already tried) and when I complained about firmware not being changed after update, the sent me a link to STLink which I still have to buy.
So I have two queries really:
I need to run 820kV outrunner (very slow speed) with VESC, please tell me if that is possible on 4.2 hardware with 2.18 FW
I am unable to use the TX RX pins as I have tried 3 Arduino VESC libraries and non of them seems to get any data from the TX pin, is there anything else I should do?
or I have Lipo batteries the one I currently have is Tiger Atomic Platinum 3500 mAh 5C 6S (the site link is currently down).
To be honest, I will use any volts which will give best torque and slow speed (under 3000 RPM). I have already tested my project with Inrunners (but with sensored and with Maxons controllers) and simple Maxon DC motors and now I want to try Outrunners
It´s really hard with that motor.
Test it with a 4s battery - with a 7 pole pair motor on 820kv this will bring you up to 85.000 erpm max.
You could then limit max erpm to 60.000 and you´ll be fine.
I will check it but what should be the battery cutoff start and battery cutoff end in the case when I am using supply? I suppose it does not matter in that case ? Is it reasonable if I further decrease the max eRPM to 20,000?
I tried the motor and VESC with power supply on 12V with 5A battery limit, 20,000 ERPM max and the motor does not even move in this configuration (that means before when I was using the battery, the motor was moving a in a jerky fashion though the detection says bad parameters recieved), now it is not moving at all.
Is there anything else I can try with this VESC? I don’t think that I have burned it as it never actually worked properly in the first place for me to burn it later
The following are my settings. No the motor was not detected neither it moved when I set the 12 V as max battery voltage. However on Read Default Config and then writing them makes the motor turn a bit (around 360, using arrow keys and then stop suddenly after each key press)
I have already followed these steps before. Though I did follow them again.
I have the VESC-tool executable.
I run them and connect to the VESC (in limited mode)
I went into Firmware tab, under Bootloader I tried to upload the bootloader (I suppose I had to use the second image, in first image below)
Then I waited like a minute and then restarted the VESC.
I then tried the firmware update under Include Files. It says that the firmware is updated, upon re-connecting the VESC, there is always the same FW 2.18 instead of 3.X.X
I think I might give up on this VESC. I don’t think that this is going to work as I tried PPM signal (which worked using Arduino, Servo and in BLDC-tool I used Displayed Only option). but when I tried UART, it did not work after too many attempts, nor did motor detection worked. Lesson Learnt: NO MORE CHINESE PRODUCTS
I used Maxon Inrunner Motors and their drivers to drive them. Now I understand that I can use the same driver if I had a sensored outrunner motor. But I checked and found that there are no sensored outrunner motors under 100g weight (basically all low kV outrunners in range of 50-300 kv are too heavy for my application).
So can anyone suggest a small under 100g (or around 150g is fine) outrunner motor that is sensored? I might be able to use it with Maxon Drivers
Other than that, can anyone also confirm that if I buy VESC 6.0 (which looks really cool btw), will it work for very small outrunner motor or is it specially designed for only skateboards and co?
I am inclined towards using VESC instead of a simple ESC for two reasons, I need position control and data logging. Thus with ESC I will have to use current sensors.
By sensored, I meant the hall sensor. For position control, I will of course add in the encoder. However Maxon Controllers requires that inrunners have hall sensors for better performance so I suppose if Iam going to use outrunner with Maxon drivers I better buy outrunners with hall sensors (and then add encoder myself)
and can you confirm if VESC 6.0 works for outrunner motors with 900kv - 1400kv ? Knowing that I would like to avoid making any changes to VESC 6.0 hardware like for example changing the shunt resistor for small motors etc. ?
P.S: I just want to be really really really sure before I order any more hardware. I would also like to know if VESC 6.0 has bootloader capabilities because I guess Maytech does not have boot loader and their support sent me a link to buy STLink hardware which is another headache (for me at least now)
(for me at least now)