Hall sensor device wiring. How to find which is which?

[NeilP]

I have a device (pedal sensor) that is three wire, and the controller plug is three wire, Ground, 5v and green signal return

The device is potted, so cant see the device pinout and not sure on wire colour codes.

Without plugging it randomly into the controller in different combinations till it either works or lets the smoke out, is there a way using a DVM to determine which device wire is which?

 

[cohberg]

You could try using a multimeter to pin it out. There should be minimal amounts of resistance between the V+ and V-/GND and something close to 10kΩ between the GND and sensor pin

The three pins of the hall sensor
o-----------------o-----------------o
V+---(~100Ω)--(V-)----(10kΩ)--GND

 

[NeilP]

ok, thanks I 'll get thd meter out later

I actually wired it to the bike yesterday and am wondering that there must be something more going on with it than a badic hall sensor

From what I understand, a hall sensor will just produce a pulse when the magnet is passed rapidly by it

but this sensor seem directional. I have not actually checked to see if itvonly hascoutput in one direction of magnet travel. or if the pulse produced is different, but I can say that thepedal sensor only fires the controller and sets the motor spinning when I pedal BACKWARDS

Any ideas on how these pedalec sensors work?
When I first posted the question I was unaware that this was not a straight hall sensor. but now I see it is directional I am totally confused

 

[cohberg]

From what I understand, a hall sensor will just produce a pulse when the magnet is passed rapidly by it

Hall sensors are sensitive to the direction (north/south pole) and strength(and thus distance) of the magnets, unlike a reed switch which just pulses in response to a magnetic field.

Any ideas on how these pedalec sensors work?

I don't have a pedal sensor (and not to insinuate that you installed it wrong) maybe you have the sensor on backwards?
I personally have rewired a throttle and installed the hall sensor backwards. When i plugged it in the controller saw that it was "fully depressed" and my bike shot off into a wall

 

[NeilP]

Bt even so I could not see how the pulse is different...maybe it is a waveform .pulse shape thing?

It is possibly on the wrong way..there was no indication of which side to mount it on the bike.


But it took 4 different bottom bracket/ crank swaps before I managed to get it to fit at all in conjunction with the 3 ring front crank...so I was hoping to avoid swapping it around again!

 

[cohberg]

Bt even so I could not see how the pulse is different...maybe it is a waveform .pulse shape thing?

Well if you look at the data sheet for a generic hall sensor, if the magnets were orientated so that only the south side were facing the hall sensor, there is a possibility of magnet not registering at all. In your case, the pedal sensor only records backwards pedaling.

But it took 4 different bottom bracket/ crank swaps before I managed to get it to fit at all in conjunction with the 3 ring front crank...so I was hoping to avoid swapping it around again!

I see you dilemma. Can you flip the sensor only (so keeping the bracket in place) so the the "north" side of the hall is facing your magnets?

 

[NeilP]

Ah yes, I see what you mean, it is only held on with 2 screws, should be possible Cant remember thete being any orientation lugs

Times like this when I wish I had a scope

It has been fitted since April now, but have not connected it to my backup controller while my 65 amp one was being repaired. The bike is my only transport for the 16 mile round trip to work, so I did not want to experiment connecting unknown devices, just in case something shorted.
Now Lyen has sent the big one back I have two working controllers and can finish all the final bits

 

[NeilP]

Although flipping it in the bracket will change it end to end, might be what it needs.. magnets will pass in other direction, though if it is a N/S thing putting the rotor on other way may also work