Better cruise control with CA3 using Grin components

[haulincolin]

I really want the ability to do cruise control, but I really don't like the way the Cycle Analyst cruise control function works. It always feels like it's simultaneously too hard to get it to set when I want, and too easy to accidentally set it when I don't want. If I want to bump it up or down a little, there's no way to do it except to start over with trying to hold my throttle perfectly still at the correct spot. What I really want is the normal functionality of car-style cruise control:
1. Control speed, not power
2. Easy to slightly increase or decrease set point
3. Ability to pause and resume previous speed

Here's the plan I came up with.
1. Set up a Cycle Analyst preset specifically for when I want to use cruise control with throttle control set to speed and appropriate limits set (but not with cruise control function enabled).
2. Set up a Grin aux pot and a toggle switch that switches the CA throttle signal input between my normal throttle and the aux pot signal.
3. When I flip the switch to the aux pot, it acts as a throttle that stays where I put it, meaning I can nudge it up or down just a little at a time, and switch back and forth between it and my regular throttle, so it will "resume" my cruise speed where I left it.

I think it's pretty simple and will work, but I'd like to know if anyone else thinks this is crazy, or won't work for some reason.

 

[lnanek]

There's mechanical cruise controls out there too that might be simpler. This one you can just push against the brake lever with your thumb at whatever speed you want it to keep:

https://a.co/d/07ClKQ8k

 

[haulincolin]

Thanks for the suggestion. I like the simplicity of that solution although it doesn't do quite everything I want since there's no way to "resume" your previous cruise speed.

 

[lnanek]

For electrical instead, feels like you could just run 5V to the pot, then go from the wiper to your physical toggle switch, then a diode, then CA throttle input. Meanwhile hall sensor throttle signal out would go to a diode and throttle input as well. Saves having to switch configs on CA to use the pot via aux input or not.

Then when your toggle switch is on, and the pot is twisted enough to output more voltage than the hall sensor, it would override the throttle automatically. You could also turn it off from the toggle switch without twisting the pot. Also could disable by twisting the pot to output less voltage than the throttle. Basic diode OR. Just takes whatever voltage is higher.

I have a toggle switch on my bars myself that switches between throttles: Amazon.com: 3 Speed Switch 22mm 7/8in Motorcycle Handlebar Switch Ebike Handlebars Bars for Ebike Bike Motorcycle Accessories for Electric Offroad Motorcycle Modification : Automotive

I've been intending to remove the spring from one of them for the same reason as you.

So using a pot instead of a second throttle isn't much different. Matching voltage ranges is more annoying is all. The pot will output 0-5V minus .7V due to the diode, and the throttle would be 0.8-4.2V minus .7V due to the diode. Throttle mapping on CA could be used to take into account that 4.2V - .7V is now full throttle instead of 4.2V.

Getting the POT voltage range to match the hall sensor signal output range could also be accomplished using extra resistors on one end/extra diode for more voltage drop/trim pots adjusted with screws instead of the dial on the main pot. Technically you could also just not twist too far, but I think CA will see an invalid throttle voltage range and kill power when you do.

Someone smarter than me might know if the diode is actually needed after the hall sensor too. I think you can kill a hall sensor if the voltage on the signal line is high, which is why I added it.

 

[lnanek]

Search is saying there's scooter throttles with built in cruise control functionality:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricScooters/s/AfEgrWj1Gu

Like:

OrangeRear button - Attention !for spiny v2, keep this cable UNWIRED! the button has cruise function internally.

Two way throttle SPIN-Y2 for diy escooter diy ebike

Spin-Y2 Two way throttle for diy escooter diy ebike Electrical Spec: Maximum Hand grip, specially at full throttle! Bidirectional operation (forward accelerate, backward e-braking) Remapped 0-3.3v signal, extend the hall range to get more interference immunity, and safe for VESC and similar...

spintend.com

And ebike modules:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_msYMSKr

So maybe there's off the shelf modules for this anyway.