Grin Phaserunner suite help!

[JGarcia975]

Hello,

I'm attempting to connect to a Grin Baserunner L_10 controller via USB serial data cable to my windows 11 pc.

I've followed the write-up on Grin's website about loading the drivers for the chipset for virtual com port serial connection but I can't get it to recognize my controller.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to what I'm doing wrong or haven't done.

I'm a newbie to ebikes and electricity but I have been using a pc for 25 years both at home and work.

Just to give you an idea of my background and ability to understand technical issues

I'm a retired mechanical designer so I know how to read drawings and diagrams.
.
I've tried everything I know and have been trying to do this for a week.

Please help.

Below is a screen shot of my device manager showing to chipset and virtual serial port COM 3

 

[kuromaku]

Win11 user here as well. If you plug your USB-serial cable in after the Phaserunner Suite has started, it *should*, after a few seconds, automatically detect it:



If the cable was plugged in before starting PRS, then the Phaserunner Suite won't autodetect it, but you can use the same dropdown to select the correct port:


HTH.

 

[lnanek]

Make sure the controller is on as well. I had to short some pins on mine. Or hold down a button on my miswired MF switch the whole time.

These FTDI drivers have always been dicey, though. I keep an old Windows laptop and a Mac around and try multiple.

 

[JGarcia975]

kuromaku I tried it both ways and it shows the COM3 but still says controller not connected.

 

[JGarcia975]

Make sure the controller is on as well. I had to short some pins on mine. Or hold down a button on my miswired MF switch the whole time.

These FTDI drivers have always been dicey, though. I keep an old Windows laptop and a Mac around and try multiple.

How do you short pins? What do you mean miswired MF switch?

 

[SnowRocker88]

Was this ever resolved? I'm also having issues connecting to my controller. With my 52v battery, it will power on (red light stays lit) but my computer won't connect to it. My Serial adapter is recognized and assigned to COM3 but won't connect to the controller when COM3 is selected.

Have tried powering on and off while connected. Connecting before powering on, connecting after powering on, restarting my computer, updating the Serial Adapter driver (to the one linked in the Grin pages)...any thoughts?

 

[slaphappygamer]

I haven’t had this issue with my BaseRunner, but have had comm issues with other devices.

I would try another usb port, if you can.

I like to wipe male ends with my shirt. If there is dirt and oil, that you can’t see, it will impair communication. Perhaps get a Qtip, or some other soft probey utensil, to clean the controller TTL port with isopropyl alcohol, with the bike off of course.

I would also try to “Uninstall device” in the Device Manager, reboot, and reconnect the TTL/usb cable. Let windows auto install the driver again. Or try grins linked driver again.

You can also try this TTL/USB to 9 pin mains adapter. 9 Pin Main to TRS Communications Adapter

Or make one if you are able to.

It would be interesting to know how the OP fared on their issue.

 

[SnowRocker88]

I haven’t had this issue with my BaseRunner, but have had comm issues with other devices.

I would try another usb port, if you can.

I like to wipe male ends with my shirt. If there is dirt and oil, that you can’t see, it will impair communication. Perhaps get a Qtip, or some other soft probey utensil, to clean the controller TTL port with isopropyl alcohol, with the bike off of course.

I would also try to “Uninstall device” in the Device Manager, reboot, and reconnect the TTL/usb cable. Let windows auto install the driver again. Or try grins linked driver again.

You can also try this TTL/USB to 9 pin mains adapter. 9 Pin Main to TRS Communications Adapter

Or make one if you are able to.

It would be interesting to know how the OP fared on their issue.

Thanks for the response. Mine actually came with the 9 Pin Main to TRS Com Adapter. I opted to buy one of the baserunners they sold that had the TRS port issue so they included one. I did however discover the likely culprit in the meantime. I was using my existing TTL cable which only has 3 contacts and I noticed the Grin version uses 4 contacts. I have ordered a Grin TTL cable and will report back when I give that one a try. Should be here this Sunday.

 

[lnanek]

If it has enough settings exposed for your purposes, using the Android app and a USB on the go adapter instead of the Windows program bypasses a lot of driver difficulties.

Equipment like this often uses some ancient FTDI USB driver that is always breaking on various versions of Windows. Back when I worked for a company that made such equipment I always kept a spare Windows machine back on the last known version of Windows that was compatible.

Sometimes it was possible to get the driver working with enough registry and device manager hacks and whatnot, sometimes it wasn't. Keeping an air gaped computer on an ancient version of Windows that only ever received data via USB flash drive was just easier.

 

[slaphappygamer]

Glad you are finding the issue!

I use this cable.

Suamdoen USB to 3.5mm Audio Jack... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J3XS7DQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My BaseRunner came with one and I have it running in the frame above the BB to the rear rack so I can change settings. I expected that it would take a while to tweak and peak, so I installed it and have the cable in a much accessible place. BaseRunner lives in the frame.

I bought another from Amazon to use for my CycleAnalyst. That way I don’t have to take the other from my BaseRunner.