VESC - Installing a bootloader

Jamy · January 24, 2018, 11:49pm

If you have a VESC with a firmware already installed you can flash the bootloader from VescTool. If somehow you accidentally removed the firmware from the device you’ll need the STLink to recover it.

I had the misfortune to have used a bad USB cable and broke my firmware during a config upgrade on my FOCBOX. In case that happens, you have to use the STLink tool to flash any firmware (I used 2.18 firmware file) back to the device. I don’t have the instructions for that nearby, but if needed I can go look them up

TLDR; if there’s a firmware on there you can flash bootloader via VescTool.

cliofreak · January 25, 2018, 12:12am

Thanks Jamy! That sounds pretty simple then. SO the VESC TOOL will have the latest firmware automatically on it or do I need to direct it to somewhere?

Jamy · January 25, 2018, 12:14am

Vesc_tool will have the latest 3.XX firmware. I’m not sure if that’s compatible with Metr, but if it isn’t you can always downgrade

cliofreak · January 25, 2018, 12:15am

I think it is. SO just to confirm… My Vesc absolutley does not currently have a Bootloader on it. So, with VESC TOOL, this doesnt matter? The tool puts a bootloader on it or acts as the boot loader?

Jamy · January 25, 2018, 12:18am

Vesc tool will ask you if you want to install a bootloader when you connect it

cliofreak · January 25, 2018, 12:19am

Cheers man! Ill give it a go and it it goes tits up, the STLink is in the mail.

Riako · February 19, 2018, 3:54pm

Hey Jamy, so what was yours wiring diagram to the Fox ? Did you use the 3.3v ? Or just Rst Swdio Swclk & Gnd ? Thanks for your help

Jamy · February 19, 2018, 4:13pm

It’s all back in my Raptor 2, but I got a picture here. I soldered to each of the pins above the cap (which was a pain in the ass because there was solder already in there…

The ground pin was the worst so I just connected elsewhere to ground.

So, tldr; connect to: RST, DTO, GND, CLK, 3.3

Riako · February 19, 2018, 10:39pm

Perfect ! Thank you, treenutter and JdogAwesome a lot guys

makeflyeasy · March 2, 2018, 5:35am

Ken_Chen · March 6, 2018, 5:56am

Hi All, does anyone can share the link of the bootlaoder file for VESC 6? thanks.

scepterr · March 22, 2018, 1:45am

Bump @JohnnyMeduse have vesc 6 bootloader hex you can post?

JohnnyMeduse · March 22, 2018, 1:48am

Hummmm… I don’t have it… I usually program them with the bootloader from the 4 and upgrade them after

scepterr · March 22, 2018, 1:49am

Lol ok…if that works, I’m good

scepterr · March 22, 2018, 2:48am

Ok a little heads up for anybody that get stuck in the blue light only situation where you have corrupted or no firmware/bootloader.

Just flash the corresponding vesc_default.bin for your vesc version using stlink, then you can connect with VESC Tool and flash bootloader, change firmware etc

RedEagle · March 22, 2018, 2:54pm

Anybody tried uploading bootloader/firmware with vesc tool? I’m having mixed results…

Bjork3n · March 22, 2018, 3:03pm

Yes! I did with my maytech vesc. Was super easy, vesctool did all the work, no need for st-link.

moronicity · April 25, 2018, 7:18pm

Im getting the blue light only on my VESC. I am unable to upload anything onto the VESC using the STlink via Ubuntu. Any other ideas?

moon · June 11, 2018, 1:46pm

Another bump…

Did you find the bootloader or did you do what johnny did and upgrade it in the VESC tool?

This must be what I am looking for?

https://github.com/vedderb/vesc_tool/blob/master/res/firmwares/60/VESC_default.bin

Eboosted · September 14, 2018, 4:57am

@Blasto I connected everything but the 3.3V and I can’t connect the FocBox via ST-Link. Should I power the FocBox to be able to connect? or should I connect 3.3V pin from ST-Link to 3.3V pin from FocBox?