Hub Motors, brushless controller and... Does not work.

[Quantumflux]

I'm building an arduino controlled motorized platform.

So I have the following hub motor wheels (testing with these first) :

Amazon.com

I've connected them up to a cheap brushless controller, but they don't work:

1x DC 36V-48V 500W 17A Electric Bicycle E-bike Scooter Brushless Controller New | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1x DC 36V-48V 500W 17A Electric Bicycle E-bike Scooter Brushless Controller New at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Specifically, I have the Motor Hall connector, the motor 3 phase line connectors connected, up, as well as the throttle connector wired to +5VDC, ground and a constant 4.15VDC voltage (full throttle?). I've tried not having the 4.15VDC connected. I've tried various options of jumpering electric door lock, etc.. The self learning / identify the switch cable connected after (or before) power on, but nothing happens with the motor. I've checked with my multimeter that I'm getting correct voltages going /into/ the controller, but not sure how to verify beyond that.

So, looking for some help with the controller, or some type of manual verification/troubleshooting steps.. Or, if someone has a suggestion on another good 48VDC controller for those wheels (that is easy enough to wire up), I might buy another one and try it with one of the wheels.

I've also attached a picture of the "manual" itself it came with.

 

[NoPatience=ShortCircuits]

Once you wire up everything on the controller don't touch anything don't touch the throttle plug in the self learning wires together you might hear the motor spin but it's not moving that means it's rotating backwards unplug it then plug it back in then the motor should rotate forward once that happens unplug it then hit the throttle and check your speeds

 

[E-HP]

Specifically, I have the Motor Hall connector, the motor 3 phase line connectors connected, up, as well as the throttle connector wired to +5VDC, ground and a constant 4.15VDC voltage (full throttle?).

You didn't state it specifically, but am I to assume that you don't have an actual throttle to test with? Are your +5VDC, ground and 4.15VDC inputs to the controller's throttle connector?? I couldn't tell by your description. The controller connector has a 5vdc source/supply, a ground, and a signal input. Hopefully you didn't have an external source providing 5vdc and ground to the controller. I would suspect that could damage the controllers 5vdc supply circuit, which would disable most things, like the halls, throttle, PAS, etc..
Anyway, assuming that didn't happen, you could use a potentiometer across the 5vdc and ground of the controller's throttle connector adjusted so the center leg is at 4v or whatever the controller's full throttle range is. (after checking the controller still has 5V)

 

[Quantumflux]

The arduino will change the throttle voltage via a PWM DAC to control the speed through software - I don't have a hardware throttle handle. I've done this before with a different controller and it worked. On that other controller I had to jumper the "power locks" wires, but, it's not as clear on this model (and it has been long enough ago..)

With it only having the following connected:
Motor Hall connector (to hub motor)
Each of the three phase lines (to hub motor)
A +48VDC and ground connected to the "Power Supply Cord" (with the "electric door lock" wire not connected)
I've tried the self learning wires connected together (a bit confusing since there are two unlabeled one wire similar looking connectors, one white (which only connects to another white) and one yellow (which only connects to another yellow). I assume it's the white, but, some of the wires aren't the same as in the guide. I tried the yellow and none as well.

The voltage is exactly 0.0VDC (not floating) across the (now unconnected) +5VDC and Ground pins on the throttle. I have two controllers and it's doing the same thing.

I'm wondering if there needs to be something else connected or the "electric door locks" wire connected to something?

 

[Quantumflux]

Lol.
THe other wire on the power supply cord (electric door lock) needed to be connected to 48VDC as well... All set now, oops.

 

[Quantumflux]

Although these work for my prototype, I'll probably get new ones at some point. Any suggestions for a nice brushless controller for this use case? Don't need all of the bells and whistles..

 

[Quantumflux]

Although these work for my prototype, I'll probably get new ones at some point. Any suggestions for a nice brushless controller for this use case? Don't need all of the bells and whistles..

One other issue.. it appears I have to plug in and unplug the self-learning cable every time the controller loses power in order for it to work. Thoughts?

 

[E-HP]

One other issue.. it appears I have to plug in and unplug the self-learning cable every time the controller loses power in order for it to work. Thoughts?

The process isn't standard, but this video is consistent with most. Some differ in how you handle when the motor spins the wrong direction (blipping the throttle, redoing the jumper step, powering on and off, etc.). I'm still trying to collect/document all of the permutations as I come across them.

My backup controller works like the video.