Looking for a small VESC controller

[dutchlincoln]

Hello,
im looking for a small VESC based controller. Musct be fully compliant to vesc, ie: use and upgrade firmware, and use of vesc software must be possible.

50 amps and 60v is more than enough. i use 48V battery, and intend a 1000W motor for my build.

Bigger is possible naturally, but im somewhat limited with size as well.

tell me what you have for sale. i'm in Europe.

 

[A-DamW]

Hello,
im looking for a small VESC based controller. Musct be fully compliant to vesc, ie: use and upgrade firmware, and use of vesc software must be possible.

50 amps and 60v is more than enough. i use 48V battery, and intend a 100W motor for my build.

Bigger is possible naturally, but im somewhat limited with size as well.

tell me what you have for sale. i'm in Europe.

In no particular order:

VescLabs (Sweden, Vesc founder, very high quality)
VESC Minim 100V

Spintend (China, probably best value for money, good quality )
Ubox 100V 100A

Teamtriforce (UK, most expensive, very high quality)
A100S V4

 

[TPEHAK]

Maker X Go-FOC M100, not for sale though

Go-FOC M100

Compatible with VESC tool. Ultra small size, ultra-thin design, with heat dissipation shell and only 50*50*10mm ! Design based on vesc6,.high quality, high performance !

www.makerx-tech.com

 

[dutchlincoln]

Vesc is very nice, but still expensive compared to spintend. Would all accesoiries from VESC work on the VESC based spintend controller?

 

[neptronix]

I bought Spintend's accessories just so that i didn't have to mess with compatibility.

 

[phobos]

I had the ubox lite and it worked quite well but I ran it only at 48V and 3kw. Had it for 2 years. It comes with the harness but you have to get the bluetooth dongle if you want wireless connectivity

 

[dutchlincoln]

How are the opinions on makerbase here?

Still not sure if different acessoiries and boards work across vesc compatible boards?

For instance; does a spintend expansion board work on a Vesc of makerbase? And vice versa?

 

[mrmojorising]

From my knowledge the spintend adc adapter (assuming this is what you're referring to) works with any VESC device. It simply converts signals and supplies power to lighting, so there's nothing firmware related that stops it working. This would go for any other accessory that isn't tied with software so long as the inputs are matched correctly

Flipsky are another good budget option, especially for lower power builds like yours that don't get near the limits of the device. Yes they're not as good as the other devices listed, but if run within spec they work perfectly fine

I'd say there's more experiences and data with the Flipsky devices vs makerbase, which to me looks like a Flipsky rip off, so troubleshooting is easier

 

[dutchlincoln]

thanks, flipsky is quite affordable indeed. I will make a compare, thanks!.
Important to me, is that there is a decent display support. I will read myself into it.

 

[dutchlincoln]

Just ordered the Spintend. Included board, som accesoiries like throttle etc. Still $402 though...


Any tips on small turn signal lights?

 

[mrmojorising]

Any tips on small turn signal lights?

Cafe racer style mini turn signals are probably your best bet, easy to find on AliExpress or Amazon. Example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009515910376.html

The Spintend ADC board should make them super easy to hook up

 

[dutchlincoln]

Thanks, will take a look.

Do you know if the spintend output had a intermittent, or continious output, or is it adjustable in the software?
Been looking around a bit, but i like the " waterfall" style lights, who demand a continuous voltage, in contrary to a regular bulb/led.

 

[dutchlincoln]

From my knowledge the spintend adc adapter (assuming this is what you're referring to) works with any VESC device. It simply converts signals and supplies power to lighting, so there's nothing firmware related that stops it working. This would go for any other accessory that isn't tied with software so long as the inputs are matched correctly

Flipsky are another good budget option, especially for lower power builds like yours that don't get near the limits of the device. Yes they're not as good as the other devices listed, but if run within spec they work perfectly fine

I'd say there's more experiences and data with the Flipsky devices vs makerbase, which to me looks like a Flipsky rip off, so troubleshooting is easier

Would the vesc addons also work on Spintend? Like GPS modules etcetera?

 

[A-DamW]

Would all accesoiries from VESC work on the VESC based spintend controller?

Would the vesc addons also work on Spintend? Like GPS modules etcetera?

They should.

Across the the dozens of manufacturers of Vesc based controllers I have seen, they all have fairly standard I/O:
CAN-bus, ADC1-2, PPM/Servo, UART, Halls, 3v, 5v, etc.

Some minor variations would be things like a power switch, or onboard Bluetooth.

Probably the biggest difference would be the connectors, the esc may have PH 1mm pitch headers, and the module may come with JST 2mm for example, easily solved.

 

[dutchlincoln]

Great! Thanks! And now... the waiting begins.... shipping... patience... Arrrgh...

 

[mrmojorising]

Do you know if the spintend output had a intermittent, or continious output, or is it adjustable in the software?
Been looking around a bit, but i like the " waterfall" style lights, who demand a continuous voltage, in contrary to a regular bulb/led.

That's a good point, I'm not actually sure how the spintend adc board outputs to the indicators and whether it controls the flashing or simply enables output. You might have to reach out to spintend to confirm

 

[dutchlincoln]

That's a good point, I'm not actually sure how the spintend adc board outputs to the indicators and whether it controls the flashing or simply enables output. You might have to reach out to spintend to confirm

Yes, but after my purchase i havn't got any response... Will try again.

 

[SimonKagstrom]

I have the Spintend 100v / 100a variant, as descbribed on this conversion thread, including the adapter board.

It works well and was a breeze to setup for my 12V lights. As for the turn indicators, it should just turn on/off the 12V output on those pins. Mine are simple bulbs. A word of warning though: It contains a speaker which outputs a beep when the turn indicator is active "to not forget to turn off the indicator".

I can assure you there's no risk of forgetting, with that speaker! The beep noise is horrible, and the only forgiving feature for that is that some bug causes it to be silent every 5th or so start. Might be a good idea to simply desolder the speaker.

 

[dutchlincoln]

ok, so: continuous output you say.
The speaker, also continuous? Seems odd..

 

[SimonKagstrom]

ok, so: continuous output you say.
The speaker, also continuous? Seems odd..

Yes, the light and sound are synchronized, so when there's light, there's sound. Quite irritating.

It also seems to be tied to a timer, so the blinking might not always start immediately when you turn it on, if you hit the middle of the timer.


These are the great misfeatures of the adapter board, but in general I'm happy with it. My moped has the full sets of lights thanks to it, and I also drive an esp32p4-based VESC display (link to another thread here) off a 12V connector on the adapter board.

 

[lnanek]

It also seems to be tied to a timer, so the blinking might not always start immediately when you turn it on, if you hit the middle of the timer.

That sounds non-continuous, actually. Like the VESC or board is turning the power on and off to cause the blinking.

I think he's hoping to have power the entire time the turn signal is on because he wants a tail light that plays an animation.

The docs do say the controller itself has continuous 12V output:

So I imagine he could just wire the tail light to that through a three way switch on the handlebar and skip the ADC board entirely.

 

[SimonKagstrom]

That sounds non-continuous, actually. Like the VESC or board is turning the power on and off to cause the blinking.

I think he's hoping to have power the entire time the turn signal is on because he wants a tail light that plays an animation.

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood. Yes, I think it powers it off between blinks.

 

[dutchlincoln]

i'll just wait until its here. Best safe bet..