So after having problems with not being able to flash the motor with the Stlinkv2 to set the 52v battery settings. I waited a few weeks and finally a new 48v 8 pin controller arrived for my 48v motor and VLCD5 display. It took an afternoon to open the motor and replace it. Not hard to do but time consuming.
I was able to flash the motor and go out on a long bike ride. I did notice an Error message that appeared at first E02 just after i start the display which I read it could be a hall sensor or short circuit? But this only happened a few times and its not shown again.
I used the bike for a few long rides with a 52v battery and really like it compared to the 250watt Bafang BBS01b with open source software update. Its not quite as accelerating but more than makes up for it with the torque feeling of pedalling where your effort is not a frustration like it is on the Bafang. Its really nice off road in the woods and i feel much safer on it off road. I am very happy switching over for this ride feel. I can eventually get up to the same top speed as the Bafang 23 mph and use a throttle to hold it at that speed so i dont see any point to use the Bafang. (but at least Bafang is simple to install, flash and is reliable)
After a few long rides (65 miles done total) over a few days after about 10 miles i got down to 2 bars left I got error message E08 which i lookup and find its about low battery alarm. So something about my battery settings. I am near home so overnight I recharged the battery to 100% which should make this E08 problem go away. The bars show full on the display but after about 30 seconds riding the display shows E08 and the motor stops assistance and the throttle stops working. If I turn the display off and reset then I can use the motor again for about 30 seconds or about 6 to 8 pedals or so and then E08 message and no motor use. Very frustrating. This E08 problem does not go away.
I thought maybe i set the battery level incorrect on flashing for it to work out the correct readings. This battery is a new 52v 16 AH Samsung. So did i flash the motor with the wrong settings? I went back to the software and opened it to see what the setting are. To my surprise it seems the wrong settings it shows are 10 cells for 52v battery. So then i go back and try to flash the motor with the correct settings that i researched which also show if you hover over the cells field that gives hint what number to put it for 52v should be 14. I am sure i set this correct when i flashed the motor.
The other setting was the battery voltage cut-off it shows 29v. I don't think I calculated that at all and used the default (it worked when i was able to first flash it and ride) and so researched and found my cells are type 18650 so it should be 3v x 14 = 42v cut off.
I hook up the three cables and the motor wont flash. Its like i have the same problem as the first broken controller where it wont communicate with the motor when the three wires are connected.
But i figure out some useful things which i want to share in quick summary:
1) Software is buggy on recording settings. Do not trust the history for what you see for past flash runs.
2) The StLinkv2 with comms problem can be used without 5v cable and this will fix the communication problem. (i think as there is no error message in the logs and it looks good flash run and the display notices the impact of flashing)
Buggy Software
What i noticed is there is a bug in the java software. It records your previous settings in the top right as a list with date that you can click on. If you use up/down arrows it does not update the display. You have to click on the flash run to load the settings. Not all the settings will load. It does not keep the battery settings. The cells show 10 but it should be 14. I did runs where i flashed with 14 and it does not show.
I wonder if the software is even picking up the battery settings and flashing the motor with the correct settings? It seems to save the wheel size correctly in the left panel is remembered.
ST Link flash problem
I actually bought another controller (my third) as the delivery time from China takes so long as I got impatient so ordered another with fast shipping from Germany a few weeks ago while waiting. AliExpress really sucks as it holds the item for a week before shipping and uses slow shipping. AliExpress from Germany finally shipped but it still hasn't arrived in the short shipping time they promised.
I do more reading on the forum as I think maybe it was never the controller that was faulting and it is the USB Stlinkv2 that has the comms problem as really it cant be two controllers in a row that failed. So unlikely. I read that some ST Link v2 clones can have problems if you have the battery power on and connected and it makes it look like the controller works but it doesn't. The doc says this about the problem:
Step 4. Disconnect your battery before connecting. At least some ST Link clones will be damaged otherwise and will then appear to work, but will not connect.
So I ordered a new STLink v2 clone replacement. It has not arrived yet as shipping is slow. Why does everything have to come from China. In the UK its really hard to get electronic components quickly or cheaply. Anyhow with some more reading and lateral thinking i wondered how was i able to flash the motor on the second replacement controller if the STLinkv2 was supposedly fried since that was probably my first problem that prompted me to buy a replacement controller?
I think this was the root of my problem all along. I probably missed this step with the fiddly cables not working and left the battery on and half fried the usb st link? Or maybe on the second controller the 5v cable did not connect fully and allowed the flash to happen.
So i hooked up the STlink cables and left out the 5v connection cable and turned the battery and display on and the logs show that I was able to flash the motor.
Well that is some useful info to know. Now it appears that i can flash the motor and not need to wait for a replacement STlinkv2 or use a third controller.
Flashing the motor with the right battery settings
In the software I put in new battery settings and flash the motor but was not able to get past the E08 problem. I tried with my 52v battery and 36v battery. Both after 30 seconds of motor use show E08 and stops use of motor. Same problem with a 36v battery also has this E08 message. Maybe its a more serious problem.
Battery 52v:
52v 16AH 14S -5p
Using authentic Samsung 3200MAH 18650 cells
Installed with A 45AMP BMS FOR UPTO 1500W OF CONSTANT POWER
Battery 36v:
36v 19.2AH LG brand I assume 10 cells.
I put screen shots of the Java app that I used to flash the motor. Maybe someone here can figure out what settings I should put in to get this motor to work with these batteries or have some advice for me on how to get this motor working. I only changed the settings on the first screen and not changed the second or third screen.
What should i be putting in to get these batteries to work with this motor so i don't have this E08 error?
52v flash settings:
Screen 1: https://ibb.co/SdN9Rrh
Screen 2: https://ibb.co/WDx15JS
Screen 3: https://ibb.co/3Y4hHcz
36v flash settings:
Screen 1: https://ibb.co/nzX4Typ
Screen 2: https://ibb.co/h9ypBKz
Screen 3: https://ibb.co/k0BKTnX
If you want i can do a video of me flashing it, and then what the display shows when it turns on after running the throttle for 30 seconds to show the E08 error.
I really hope i don't have a broken motor and have to replace the whole unit. At least the motor is not that expensive.
Thanks
Carlo