Votol EM150/2 "communication abnormal" issue w/ CAN Bus

[EVGator]

I ordered a QS138 70H V3 kit that came with a Votol EM150/2 CAN Bus motor controller, but am having an issue connecting to it with the PC. It seems that I am not the first to have this problem as I've seen several instances of a connection issue with the Votol controllers across this forum. I've also got a troubleshooting email chain going with Damon Wong from QS motor. Everything I learn will be documented here.

The main issue: When trying to connect to the EM150/2 controller, I encounter an error message that states "Communication abnormal, no response". So it seems that I am never able to establish a connection over CAN bus between the PC software and the controller. I am curious to hear from others that are using standard USB/Serial connectivity, and whether they've had more connection success than CAN Bus or not.

The setup:
-Windows 10 PC running the Votol EM-2SP Software
-USB to CAN adapter provided by QS Motor w/ the drivers included
-72V battery powering the controller, and B+ connected to the e-lock wire.


What have I tried so far?
-Changing COM ports and using 1-9 to try to connect (no change)
-Grounding the CAN adapter to the controller (no change)
-Turning the controller on and then trying to connect with the software vs trying to connect with the software first then powering the controller


Picture of the error message



The drivers that I am using on my PC

 

[Oldspot]

I feel your pain now 5 months of frustration
Qs say download the driver, I’ve done it a multitude of times and the YH340 (from memory) never comes up
A friend has taken my PC formatted it and reinstalled windows 10 he is trying to get the driver on there.
This weekend is the next try.
My project is finished, battery installed it even has mudflaps and a horn!
QS 4kw Votol EM 200 sp
Anyone please offer advice
If I can’t win this weekend I am willing to trailer my project to anywhere in the uk to someone who can fix it!
Maybe someone can remotely look at my pc and help.

 

[amberwolf]

If it makes any difference, there are some USB to serial drivers (which are probably used as the front end of the USB-CANBUS adapters) that Windows10/etc will not "allow" to be installed. (or if installed, will be blocked from use).

There is at least one webpage out there about this, but google's not being cooperative in finding them. Not sure any of the info on them would be helpful, but it's possible.

It has something to do with attempting to prevent usage of "pirated" chipsets / drivers, but it breaks real legitimate ones too. Prolific is one chipset I remember being mentioned.

EDIT:
This page
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1998882-win-10-removing-support-for-usb-to-serial-converter-chipset
discusses some of the issues and fixes; can't say if any will apply to you. It's not the page I remember, which was much more technically detailed, so if I find that one I'll post a link to it.

 

[EVGator]

I feel your pain now 5 months of frustration
Qs say download the driver, I’ve done it a multitude of times and the YH340 (from memory) never comes up
A friend has taken my PC formatted it and reinstalled windows 10 he is trying to get the driver on there.
This weekend is the next try.
My project is finished, battery installed it even has mudflaps and a horn!
QS 4kw Votol EM 200 sp
Anyone please offer advice
If I can’t win this weekend I am willing to trailer my project to anywhere in the uk to someone who can fix it!
Maybe someone can remotely look at my pc and help.

Are you running the serial version of the controller or CAN? I hope that you are able to get it working after waiting that long.. If I can't figure it out, I'm going to ditch the Votol and go with another controller.

Good luck my friend.

 

[EVGator]

If it makes any difference, there are some USB to serial drivers (which are probably used as the front end of the USB-CANBUS adapters) that Windows10/etc will not "allow" to be installed. (or if installed, will be blocked from use).

There is at least one webpage out there about this, but google's not being cooperative in finding them. Not sure any of the info on them would be helpful, but it's possible.

It has something to do with attempting to prevent usage of "pirated" chipsets / drivers, but it breaks real legitimate ones too. Prolific is one chipset I remember being mentioned.

EDIT:
This page
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1998882-win-10-removing-support-for-usb-to-serial-converter-chipset
discusses some of the issues and fixes; can't say if any will apply to you. It's not the page I remember, which was much more technically detailed, so if I find that one I'll post a link to it.

Thanks for the info amberwolf! It seems that the Prolific drivers have been impacted the most by this Windows 10 update, as well as the "clones". That forum confirms that the FTDI drivers should be fine for use with Windows 10, as many people chose to buy that type of adapter to replace the others. The USB to CAN adapter that came with the kit uses an FTDI chipset, and the correct drivers seem to have been installed by Windows automatically. By correct drivers, I mean the ones that came in the zip folder that QS had me download. So I'm wondering what else could be going wrong if not the drivers..


Drivers from QS:



Drivers installed on PC for COM Port 3:

 

[Oldspot]

Sorry late reply, it’s CAN, Votol em200sp
Hopefully with a very helpful friend we should get somewhere this weekend.
Fundamentally I haven’t got halfway down the first page, download-tick, install driver-fail

 

[Oldspot]

I don’t know if I can be much help, got a friend on it.
He cleaned up my computer (Win 10).
Changed back language to Chinese front English
Win 10 blocks the driver, you need to revert back so it will

It works, brilliant!

 

[EVGator]

Glad you got it working Oldspot, that's great news!
So you reverted back to Windows 8 since you're saying 10 blocks the driver? Any way you can share a picture of the USB to CAN adapter that you're using? I have ordered a new one from Electro & CO since I believe mine is trash.

 

[Oldspot]

Hi sorry haven’t got a pic, got mine from them, ordered on a Thursday, arrived uk Tuesday am.
Fantastic service!!
I got mine working on first go, then it went to “abnormal” again
The wire had pushed back in the connector now back fine again.
Good luck

 

[bobob1236]

Glad you got it working Oldspot, that's great news!
So you reverted back to Windows 8 since you're saying 10 blocks the driver? Any way you can share a picture of the USB to CAN adapter that you're using? I have ordered a new one from Electro & CO since I believe mine is trash.

have you got yours running? i have the exact same problem with my em200/2 sp

 

[EVGator]

Update: I ended up purchasing a programming cable from Electro & Co. and that did the trick. The programmer looks identical to the original one that I used, so I am not sure what is different. Perhaps the software on the mcu?

Hit up https://www.electroandcompany.com/ if you are running into the same issue.

 

[Oldspot]

Good news, every day is a school day.
Started mine 12 months ago! Finally I feel like it’s working well.
Still I would like to tweek some settings. I can’t get my FNR switch to select neutral is there something I should set.

 

[yoedz]

I ordered a QS138 70H V3 kit that came with a Votol EM150/2 CAN Bus motor controller, but am having an issue connecting to it with the PC. It seems that I am not the first to have this problem as I've seen several instances of a connection issue with the Votol controllers across this forum. I've also got a troubleshooting email chain going with Damon Wong from QS motor. Everything I learn will be documented here.

The main issue: When trying to connect to the EM150/2 controller, I encounter an error message that states "Communication abnormal, no response". So it seems that I am never able to establish a connection over CAN bus between the PC software and the controller. I am curious to hear from others that are using standard USB/Serial connectivity, and whether they've had more connection success than CAN Bus or not.

The setup:
-Windows 10 PC running the Votol EM-2SP Software
-USB to CAN adapter provided by QS Motor w/ the drivers included
-72V battery powering the controller, and B+ connected to the e-lock wire.


What have I tried so far?
-Changing COM ports and using 1-9 to try to connect (no change)
-Grounding the CAN adapter to the controller (no change)
-Turning the controller on and then trying to connect with the software vs trying to connect with the software first then powering the controller


Picture of the error message
View attachment 316780


The drivers that I am using on my PC
View attachment 316781

don't check can enable, only change baudrate to 115200 and open port then connect

 

[osama Abu Shrifha]

I have a tracktron with a votol 100 48v on it. I opened the program and connected the connection to a laptop. They showed up and settings, but the tracktron got stuck on the barking.

 

[Jordan325ic]

I want to report a success here, and exactly what I have to do to get past the 'communication abnormal' issue with the Votol software with a CANbus controller which has plagued me for at least a year or two. Finally got it to work.

Setup:
-Votol EM-150 S/P-2 (SP2) (the SP uses CAN communication)
-Driver install file: PL23XX_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v402.rar
-Computer: Lenovo P15V w/ Windows 10 Pro
-Adapter: Two-wire electrical-taped Votol USB adapter (Purchased here


Way back when I first got my controller working a few years ago, I was eventually able to connect with great struggle, then a few years and laptops went by and I forgot the voodoo required. I just re-learned what it was. The magic is this:


My process:
1. Install the prolific driver listed above.
2. Plug in the USB adapter. If it doesn't register immediately as the driver in the Device Manager in the photo below, manually update the driver to prolific.
3. Once the USB adapter successfully shows up as a Prolific Comm Port, then check the properties in Device Manager. It will show up as Version 3.8 or higher. This is the issue. 'Update' the driver to the old 2009 version 3.3.10.140. Once you can get the driver to show the version listed below move onto the next step.
4. Open the Votol software, change the speed to 115200 and CAN-enable. Turn on controller. Now you should be able to 'Open' the correct Comm port and 'conect' per the Votol manual.


However the next time I restart my computer, the Prolific Driver automatically 'updates' to the 3.8 driver. It must be manually forced back to the old version listed above every single time. This was the trick that I had forgotten. Also I have only ever been able to successfully connect with the small electrical-taped adapter shown below, there are others that say they are compatible but I've never had them connect successfully. With the method above I can finally connect consistently to the Votol controller.

Message me for a copy of anything you can't find.