K8055 + Sabertooth + Wiper motors

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

adbgg you are correct, you will use the Brown/Green for slow or Brown/Red for high speed.

The metal housing is probably connected to Brown, you have to make sure the frame won't short this to earth ground.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

So would you want to use the high speed wire or the slow speed wire, or is there a way to hook both?

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

adbgg, if you want, you can read my post in Racingfr, :
http://www.racingfr.com/forum/index.php ... =0&start=0

you can see some pictures about motors , you see the modification, and how connect cables to the motor.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Frakk,


So would you want to use the high speed wire or the slow speed wire, or is there a way to hook both?

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

What do you think?

Do you want to feel smaller bumps and kerbs racing, or you want to use it for a rocking chair?

It is possible to connect Red+Green and use Brown for other motor connection, but I don't know what that does to these motors. You could try and tell us what happens.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

good idea of simplicity,, i like it

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hello all,

I've just included a picture to explain the configuration of the 2 speeds in X-SIM with analog integer option (K8055 - Sabertooth) :



As you already know :

Fast speed :
100% is full speed in positive direction (5V)
0% is full speed in negative direction (0V)
50% is stop (2,5V)

Slow speed :
60% is slow speed in positive direction
40% is slow speed in negative direction
50% is stop

With the picture, you can see the speed of the motor when the initial position has not reached the consign.
The motor turns in fast speed when the consign is far away
The motor turns in slow speed when is consign is almost reached.
Then the motor stop at the consign.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

Just a video to show the next step. Wiper motor controlled by Velleman software.
The wiper motor is connected to the Sabertooth.
The Sabertooth is linked to the K8055, and everything is controlled through the Velleman software (speed and direction).
Everything seems to work fine.

Here is the video, nothing awesome, but just for the fun :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbhPugbAYJ0

Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

Just a new picture concerning this project :

In order to supply the wiper motor, you will need a 12V supplier supporting a lot of amp. I've bought a 500W PSU with 2 rails 12V1 and 12V2 supporting 15A. I hope it is really 15A because I trust what is written on the PSU. But I've also heard that is not always the case (be carefull before buying a PSU). I hope this PSU would be enough.

Anyway, it is easy to start the PSU without motherboard (connect green cable from the 20+4 pins, with a black one), but I've read many times on the web that it is also better to place a resistance de puissance (I don't konw the word in english) linked to a 5V output. Mine is 4,7 Ohm / 10W. It is a kind of minimum charge for the PSU to operate normally and to give a 5V and a 12V stabilized.

To explain the picture :

- MOLEX gives the 5V (red and black cables), and the 12V (yellow and black cables).
- SWITCH is connected to green and black cables from the 20+4 pins.
- A resistance de puissance is connected to the 5V, in order to charge a minimum the PSU (very hot after few miniutes, need a fan).
- 12V from the MOLEX is used to supply the Sabertooth.

The wiper motor is suppplied by the Sabertooth.
My first test has been realised with only 1 wiper motor. I fear that I could not do the same with 2 wiper motors because I believe that I must supply 12V with 20A or 25A to use 2 wiper motors at the same time ?
Any suggestion about this problem will be appreciated. Maybe I need to link 12V1 and 12V2 together but I don't how how to do.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

The resistance between 5V and Gnd is not necessary. I never used one and I never had problems. The 5V rail has nothing to do with the 12V rails.

To get the most out of the 2 12V rail, you can connect them in parallel to provide 30A. This will help if one motor needs ~20A and the other one only needs ~5A for example.


Keep up the good work!

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hello Frakk,

Please have a look at this page from sabertooth website. I have replicated the same with a resistance.
But, they are also using a battery, and I don't know if it should be the case with my/our project

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/app ... xguide.htm


A question : do you know how I can identify the 12V1 and the 12V2. I don't know where are the cables between the 2 differents rails 12V. THANKS.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

Strange combinaison proposed by Dimension Engeenering, but it seems it could solve problems that sometimes occurs with PSU.
I've got a problem with my PSU : sometimes when quickly changing the direction of the wiper motor, my PSU switches off.
So, I sent a message to Dimension Ingeenering, and they replied that it probably comes from the PSU itself, and a battery in parallel may solve the problem to absorb spike of current.

IMPORTANT : The Sabertooth is a regenerative card. It means that the card can send back current to the battery (or the PSU), when the motor is slowing down or inversing direction.

I give you the picture of the Dimension Engeenering website, that you can find yourself if you look at Sabertooth or Syren boards.


I've bought a battery but I had not the time to try it yet.
Bigtalltim suggests a capacitor to absorb spike of current. Maybe it is a good solution.
In fact, I don't know exactly what to do.

Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

My PSU seems to work gine for few days. I had not the time to try the battery, so I suppose the problem came for somewhere else.
Other information for all the forumers who want to try the K8055 + Sabertooth :

PLEASE CHECK VOLTAGE !

I've made several tests, and it seems important to check the 5V to supply the K8055 and also the 12V to supply the Sabertooth.
Indeed, the USB cable doesn't supply all the time exactly 5V. You can sometimes realise that it delivers only 4,5V. It is important because the output voltage signal from the K8055 will determine the speed of the wiper motor. 5V = full speed in one direction, and 0V = full speed in the other direction.
0V would not be difficult to reach (no power). But if you supply 4,5V to the K8055 instead of 5V, you will not get +12V output from the SAbertooth, but only 10V or 11V.

So, I suggest to check the following voltages :
- Check that the K8055 is supplied by a good 5V
- Check that the Sabertooth is supplied with a good 12V

My tests revealed :
- When the wiper motor is NOT connected, I can pick-up +10,7V and -11,7V output voltage from the Sabertooth (no load).
- When the Wiper motor is connected, I can pick-up +9,7V and -11,0V output voltage from the Sabertooth (full speed in both directions).

As you can imagine, the speed of the Wiper motor is not the same, depending on the direction.

Regards.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hello all,
Just a video to show the voltage difference between full speed in both directions.
I was surprised but there is nothing serious. It is just something to keep in mind when using Wiper motors and Sabertooth + K8055.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFfPkJyXJLs

When K8055-DAC1 is at 0V, the Sabertooth output is at -10,9 V at its maximum.
When K8055-DAC1 is at 5V (really at 4,6V maximum), the Sabertooth output is at +9,8V at its maximum.

Consequently, the speed of the Wiper motor depends on the direction.


Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

I've got a new and surprising problem with X-SIM and my Wiper motor.
I've configured a simple profile in X-SIM, using analog integer mode. Only one speed (positive = 100%, negative = 0%, stop = 50%).
When I try with the testplugin of Force sender, my wiper motor moves very slowly, and this is not expected.
When I try the speed of the wiper motor, using the interace setting menu, everything is ok. For exmaple, when I fill in 100% in the field the wiper motor turns in full speed. When I fill in 0%, the wiper motor turns in full speed in the other direction.
But when I try with the button START button and moving the slider of the testplugin, the wiper motor turns very slowly to reach the consign.

Any suggestion to solve this new problem ?

Many thanks in advance.

-------------------------------

SOLVED.

Bad configuration of X-SIM from my part.
A second axis were remaining in blank.
Axis deleted and everything seems to work as previously.

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

A new video to show the basics of wiper motor controlled through the Velleman Software.
You can see on the video the connection between the wiper motor, the frame and the potentiometer.

I think it is a good video to understand the functioning of a project based on this kind of solution (K8055 + Sabertooth + Wiper motor) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVJk_zWGivM

Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

The last project...under construction.
This is also a prototype, bigger than the previous one. This project will normally show how to use 2 wiper motors, with a configuration like SCN5 (brake = 2 wiper motors up, throttle = 2 wiper motors down....). I have also a simple solution to place the potentiometers. I hope it will work easily.

I continue to build the frame...so it will take few days.

Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

great job adbgg

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi all,

The last picture...and also the last idea concerning the potentiometers.
I wanted to keep the 2 slide potentimeters. My idea was to place its just under the frame, near the center.
In this way, the potentiometer will reproduce the movement of the frame, but with a lower amplitude (small potentiometers).



I had not the time to try this new frame yet.
But, I will keep the forum informed about the later tests, off course !

Regards

Re: Small Prototype / VM110 + Sabertooth 2 x 10A

Hi Adbgg - its really taking shape!

I have almost the same concept for a frame - my latest prototype has a universal joint directly under the seat which is where most of the weight is supported, and actuators with a big range of movement connected close to the drivers feet where the force from the seat and driver is at its weakest...

On a design point, I think it is interesting to note that this solution using linear pots is similar to Deriys rotary ones, but without any of the drawbacks!
For anyone who has not studied Deriys design, it uses pots that are not attached directly to the motor, but are indirectly attached to the motor (via the frame base) instead... he has an arm and ball joint linkage to convert the near linear movement of the frame into rotary movement
This solution just uses the near linear movement of the frame to drive a linear pot - much simpler, and less to go wrong!! :clap:

This approach means that we don't have any of the bother of having to calculate reduction ratios, or include complex linkages (or try to buy 45 degree pots) - a cheap linear pot and a simple piece of wire will do; and it is possible to ensure maximum range usage by simply moving the pot closer to (or further away from) the fulcrum where the range of movement is reduced.

I really like this approach for it's simplicity, and for the fact that it can be so easily adjusted to ensure that the whole range of movement is utilised for best position feedback!

This approach is now an important piece of my design for reasons of pure simplicity!

Nice work Adbgg :

Tim