jeff.page.rides said:
Before the new Firmware having a coaster brake motor had 2 advantages. (1) I could pull backward and brake and (2) I could preset the torque Sensor, by holding backward brake pressure on the torque sensor when it turned on. This allowed me to put in my small amount of effort (week arms) and the torque sensor would register that I was putting in a large amount of effort. If I didn't pull back hard enough then the motor wouldn't have the power I need to ride. If I pulled back too hard then when I went to stop rotation it would jerk some before it stopped rotation or went to brake. Over time I learned the exact amount of pressure to get it right where I wanted it.
With the new firmware and the right settings, I can ride without pulling back on the torque sensor as I turn on the power-assist. But if I use just the weight of my arm hanging off the crank in the brake direction everything works much better especially in E-MTB.
Today I rode 36 miles and the only changes I made were, Changing back and forth from eMTB and the Power-Assist settings with Max 700 Watts and Max 15 amps, set at a multiplier of 6.0. If I pull on the crank with the weight of my arm I like eMTB mode way better. If I just turned it on with no pressure on the cranks then I like the power-assist mode.
I am so grateful for all your work so that I and many others can enjoy hand-cycling and others that ride recumbent trikes and don't have the power to do it on their own. Although I have learned the right amount of pressure to put on the cranks so the torque sensor works for me with the original firmware. It's not something that I wanted to pass on to others because you really can apply more power then is safe, because the motor wanted to just keep moving forward. When I stopped the forward rotation then there was no resistance on the brakes with the original firmware. Now with the changes in 20 Alpha 10, no matter how high I trick the torque sensor to turn it up it stops in just a second or so on its own.
In an earlier post, I listed all my settings. And where I've been using the new firmware for the last couple weeks. I'm not totally sure what each setting does.
I'd like to know if one of these settings is the one for the torque sensor so I can set it where I want it without having to use any back pressure to trick the torque-sensor into thinking I am applying more pressure than I am?
Here are the main settings I'm using below.
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Thanks again, Jeff
It is very good that you have explained, in detail, how you actually use the TSDZ2. Because I can now clearly see what parameter you would like to configure. And that is the
ADC torque sensor offset. The
ADC torque sensor offset is calibrated during every power-up. The system usually measures the resting torque value from the ADC for around three seconds and calculates the average value.
When applying backward torque and letting it calibrate with a lower value it actually tricks the system into believing that you are applying torque when you have the pedals resting. So when you do actually apply torque it seems you are pushing much harder.
There is no way to change the offset in the Alpha 10. But what could be implemented is a way to change the calibration value from the display so it does not need to be calibrated every time you start the system. Basically you could choose between automatic calibration every system startup or manual calibration. Manual calibration is done once and would save around three seconds of startup. But this can be dangerous if not properly configured and the bike might accidentally apply power for users that have the
assistance without pedal rotation enabled.
Another solution that would be safer is to add an offset to the eMTB. You mention that the Power Assist works fine with lower torque but eMTB is lacking unless applying backward torque when calibrating. Can you confirm that you can use Power Assist to your satisfaction without applying backward torque during calibration but the eMTB needs the backward torque to work to your satisfaction? If this is confirmed I can give it a thought and come up with a solution.
Thank you!
That is, as always, very interesting to see! 
