3 phase motor controller for high power systems
This is the hardware repository of a 3 phase inverter brain, UNTESTED but designed with the following specs in mind:
- Compatible with VESC firmware and software tools
- Embedded security features (overcurrent protection, pwm overlap elimination, etc)
Microcontroller
The core of the system is a 32 bit ARM Cortex M4 MCU (STM32F405) running ChibiOS RTOS.
Communication interfaces
- CAN bus for control, configuration and monitoring
- USB for light usage, firmware upload/upgrade and configuration.
- UART, I2C and ADCs and GPIOs available
Motor inputs
- Bus Voltage (differential)
- Phase current (differential)
- Phase voltage (differential)
- Gate driver fault
- Power_good from gate driver
- Motor temperature
- Hall/encoder
- Resolver
Gate driver outputs
- PWM high/low
- dynamic gate drive current (pwm)
- 24v power
You can also check the layout here
Made open source with KiCAD, an open source EDA tool.
Interface boards
This controller can be interfaced directly to a power stage, or through an interface board. An example of interface board is at adaptor boards/power_integrations_2SP0115T2A/ and looks like this
An example of system assembly is also included in this repository
Control board setup
First you need to flash the VESC bootloader. To do so, connect a STLinkv2 to connector J9. In a Linux machine open a terminal and clone the bootloader repository:
git clone git@github.com:vedderb/bldc-bootloader.git
cd bldc-bootloader
make upload
<- this will compile and flash the bootloader
Next step is to flash the VESC firmware.
git clone git@github.com:vedderb/bldc.git
Make sure you go to conf_general.h and uncomment the line #define HW_VERSION_PALTA. This will enable all the features especific to this high power control board.
Configure the DEADTIME required for your power switches, look for the line #define HW_DEAD_TIME_VALUE 181 // 1.4usec in hw_palta.h
cd bldc
make upload
<- this will compile and flash vesc firmware
Connect the board via USB (conn J4) and launch the latest VESC-tool.
- Press the connect button (top right). The status bar should show your PALTA board connected.
- Load a sample configuration for this board, you probably need to tune the deadtime compensation field.
- Run the motor setup wizard.
System setup
A high power controller would generally need a battery, wiring, contactor, DC link, gate drivers, switches, an interface board, 3 current sensors, a heatsink and a motor. Make sure you have everything you need and you understand all the connections and dangers involved, especially the safety related stuff.
License
This documentation describes Open Hardware and is licensed under the CERN OHL v. 1.2