Vesc and flipsky for e-bikes

[jpc6000]

First phaserunner, then asi bac controllers and now another flipsky

It look like type 75100 is but there is also makerbase 75100

I want to buy controller, I see different types pro, versions
With aluminium pcb without, different firmware versions, price

Which should I Try?
Or is 75200 better?

And it's not watertight. For e-bikes necessarily.
And problems with overheating, are maybe cooling fans needed?

+/- 70V x 70A max.

 

[stancecoke]

Which should I Try?

I don't know, if you are aware, that the VESC is mainly used for scooters and skateboards. For bicycle use, it has quite poor options. A rudimentary PAS (only exotic quadrature PAS) is implemented, but no torquesensor and no common China display is supported. If you want to go just with throttle and are happy with a smartphone as display, you can go straight forward.

I've added support for a Bafang display and T15/17 bottom bracket torque sensor to the Flipsky, but I got some feedback, that my solution doesn't work for all Bafang displays. :-(

VESC - Flipsky 75100 V2 with Bafang Display and T15/T17 BB-Torque Sensor

The Flipsky 75100 is available at a very reasonable price and in a pedelec-compatible housing. However, the VESC is hardly suitable for e-bikes due to the lack of display and torque sensor support. This has challenged my tinkering instinct ;) Luna Cycle has already implemented the Bafang...

endless-sphere.com

 

[AdR]

@stancecoke - Do you know if there is any support in VESC to turn on brake lights from regen braking.
Thanks.

 

[chuyskywalker]

VESC is a very good controller (if it's a motor, vesc can move it, basically), and goes very deep into making motors work, but once you pull back and start looking at other systems that are bike specific (pas, brakes, lights, horns, 3spd switch, on/off, etc) it definitely starts lacking.

You can supplement a lot of that with this: Ewheel ADC adapter V3 for diy ebike escooter with vesc

There's also nothing wrong with using a CycleAnalyst to integrate a lot of these items as well, it's just not as plug-and-play as it is with the grin controllers, but by no means hard.

 

[stancecoke]

You can supplement a lot of that with this

It's strange to add additional hardware, as everything can be done by the VESC itself. But you have to implement the wanted functions by yourself. By directly adding the code to the VESC firmware or by a lisp script.

 

[neptronix]

Avoid flipsky at all costs. Really bad build quality.
I bought one of these units and it will nor program.

See my experience on the last page:
Successor to the infineon clone controllers in the 1000-2000w power range?

 

[chuyskywalker]

It's strange to add additional hardware, as everything can be done by the VESC itself. But you have to implement the wanted functions by yourself. By directly adding the code to the VESC firmware or by a lisp script.

Yes and no; many vesc boards just don't have enough inputs to support everything the ADC device does, but it also simplifies a lot of the wiring you might have to otherwise do (relays, inputs, outputs, power distro, etc). You could probably do a lot of that, yes, with some LISP coding and lot of secondary hardware, but the ADC makes it much, much easier. And for $36, that ease-of-use is a solid value.

 

[stancecoke]

but the ADC makes it much, much easier. And for $36, that ease-of-use is a solid value

If you want the features, that are offered. I want none of them. I want a cheap Chinese display as a Speedo and to set the assist level and I want a bottom bracket torquesensor. Both is working on my Flipsky. With no additional PCB, just modified connectors.
I seem to be lucky, my flipsky works like expected, but I read reports about the bad hardware quality also.

 

[jpc6000]

I don't need torque sensor, use only throttle, safe and easy
I saw on flipsky website tft screens

I read that also bafang screens working
Brake, lights, horn, all these things don't need done by an controller
I saw info that some flipsky controllers doesn't firmware upgrade, but on vesc information stays how to upgrade
ADC makes it more easier, what is ADC?

There are standard, pro version and v2

The first looks easier to make watertight and the cheapest.

 

[jpc6000]

And there is also bluetooth, can they all work with bluetooth module?
And version anti spark



And water cooled version
Are there overheat problems
Can surround with cooling fins

 

[chuyskywalker]

Voyage Systems is one of the few other plug-and-play VESC displays out there, but it's real pricey. Has some pretty dang cool features added into it, but $$$

 

[scianiac]

Any VESC can work with a bluetooth module, some have it built in.

Honestly though I would buy a spintend or a MakerX which are only very slightly more expensive and much better made. As many have experienced the flipsky VESCs do work but not always well so can be down to luck if you just plug it in and it works of you have to tune it to get it work well, better designed VESCs can still require tuning sometimes but it's less likely. Depends on a lot of factors as to how well it will work.

 

[neptronix]

I use a spintend with bluetooth and ewheel adapter.
The packaging of the controller sucks but it's a very nice unit and very compact for the power it can put out.
No flaky stuff to think about when programming it, well documented and supported. Worth the extra coin.

 

[jpc6000]

I have bought two spintend controllers



Lite version



150A version

next time some flipsky, but the different versions
Make me do some more research