I'm also struggling with parameter settings in general, throttle para settings in particular. Problem is I can't find a good in depth explanation anywhere - have I missed it? I'm using BLDC 3, 5 & 10kW for different applications. Shouldn't all of them behave exactly the same if used with same controller? I mean throttle response, acceleration, direction of rotation etc.
Unfortunately, GM have not provided any detailed instructions on setting up these controllers, so it is difficult to know what to enter for all of the settings.
Different motors may respond differently in regards to throttle response and acceleration as there will be substantial differences in the rotor mass and probably in the wire gauge and/or the number of turns per coil on the stator windings. Any variation in the stator windings resistance and inductance is likely to affect some aspects of the motor output.
However, I would expect the direction of rotation to remain the same on all three motors if the default wiring configuration has not been altered.
What do these lower 6 settings mean and how will it influence behavior of motor if lowered or increased? why can't lowest be 0V, highest 5V?
Here are the typical default values and my interpretation of those settings:
- Throttle maximum allowed voltage (V) 4.0
[Throttle protection error occurs at/above this voltage (if enabled)] - Throttle upper voltage fault exit value (V) 3.5
[This setting should be lower than maximum allowed voltage but higher than maximum valid voltage. An overvoltage protection error should no longer exist if the throttle signal voltage falls to/below this voltage] - Throttle lowest allowed voltage (V) 0.4
[Throttle protection error occurs at/below this voltage (if enabled)] - Throttle lower voltage fault exit value (V) 0.7
[This setting should be higher than minimum allowed voltage but lower than minimum valid voltage. An undervoltage protection error should no longer exist if the throttle signal voltage rises to/above this voltage] - Throttle maximum valid voltage (V) 3.2
[Maximum motor rpm will be achieved at this voltage] - Throttle minimum valid voltage (V) 1.2
[Minimum motor rpm will begin at this voltage]
If your throttle signal went from 0-5V instead of 1.2-3.2V it would prevent the main safety benefits of using the throttle voltage range protection function from working. If you didn't have a full 5V supply, you wouldn't get maximum rpm either.
What do these 2 do, why could it be useful to set a V range protection?
what's the difference between these 2 modes?
What exactly changes the pot to make motor spin forwards/reverse? can't be (only) POT or HALL selection, mine now decided to behave like a boat throttle; with both pot or hall throttle, on any of the 2 settings.
Enabling the
Throttle voltage range protection enable setting would allow the controller to safely stop the motor out in the event of a throttle voltage error.
If the +5V accidentally chaffed through the throttle signal wire, your motor would be stuck on full throttle regardless of the throttle position.
Similarly, with a Hall sensor throttle, a break in the ground wire could also cause the motor to run with the throttle fully released.
Also, with a boat type throttle, a voltage drop or a complete break on the +5v throttle supply could result in the motor going backwards with the throttle still in the Neutral position.
If you're not concerned about the safety of yourself or others, or worried about your vehicle suddenly taking off on its own when a wire breaks, then I guess you probably wouldn't bother enabling or setting the values for the Throttle voltage range protection.
The
Throttle mode selection determines which type of throttle is used:
The
1:Linear (conventional throttle) option provides a linear throttle from zero to maximum set rpm between the minimum and maximum valid voltage settings.
The
0:Hyperbola (Boat style throttle) option provides maximum set forward rpm at the maximum valid voltage setting
(3.2V) and maximum set reverse rpm at the minimum valid voltage setting
(1.2V). The zero rpm
(Neutral) should be around the 2.2V.
Rated phase current (A)
Sets the maximum permissible current pulses allowed to pass through the phase wires and motor windings, as the phase current is not constant it can be a lot higher than the constant battery current (35-70 Amps)
How much higher (%) can it be in order to set it so it matches the batt.current?
That statement was referring to a Smart Pie controller which typically has its battery current set to 18 Amps, but the phase current could still be set as high as 70Amps.
The figures I've seen for the VEC controllers are as follows:
Model Rated Voltage Rated Current Max Phase Current
VEC300-48 48V 120A 300A
VEC300-72 72V 100A 300A
VEC300-96 96V 80A 250A
VEC500-48 48V 200A 500A
VEC500-72 72V 150A 500A
VEC500-96 96V 120A 450A
With the 96V VEC300, the Maximum Phase current can be over 3 times that of the battery current.
Alan 
