ZapPat
10 kW
mikereidis said:ZapPat said:Maybe I'll make a mini adaptor board to convert a PIC's pinout to the infinion's, but only if this board proves to be worth it otherwise...I guess I'll know if it's possible to add regen (and worth it) when I get my controller in about a week.
Adapter board and PIC sounds like a lot of work. Do you have a PIC with hardware PWM or would you do that in software ?
I'm interested in e-braking, but unless I found a controller that does really good variable regen, I'd be more inclined to build a "variable e-brake add-on controller", that just dumps the power to a power resistor or light bulb. Perhaps a red brake bulb under my seat would provide a bit of heat in cooler weather, relocated farther back in summer.
This "variable e-brake add-on controller" would connect to the three phase wires in parallel with the controller. If engaged it must first disable the controller, perhaps through CTRAP or V-Brake signals or any other way to ensure speed controller won't put voltage on the motor.
I read something about an idea to use a brushed DC controller for variable e-braking. I'm not sure how well that would work with AC from motor, instead of DC. Also, would need 3 brushed controllers for all 3 phases. A single controller, would be "ghetto" I presume and the e-braking would pulse and not be smooth.
It seems like a waste though, just ignoring the existing nice 3 phase PWM high-amp and voltage circuitry on the speed controller. Would be ideal if same controller can be used for e-braking.
Check out the PIC18F2331/2431/4331/4431(All the same hardware, just different program memory and RAM. This PIC has VERY similar hardware as the infinion XC846/XC866. The pinout is different though, which lead to my idea of the mini adaptor board possibility.
As for the electric brake idea, I only see this being usefull on a [well designed] regen controller when the batteries are already close to full charge and would not accept more energy quickly. Of course having a warm toosh in cold weather does sound interesting, but maybe it would be better to heat up your handlebar grips instead, since fingers freeze faster than behinds... :wink: