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From: dumbledoo on 26 Jan 2010 14:06
Can someone recommend an off-the-self solution for a motor driver
board? I've found a few that are close to what I need but none are
quite exactly the solution I'd like. For example here are a few I've
found:

http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/758
http://www.roboteq.com/brushed-dc-motor-controllers/brushed-dc-motor-controllers-selector.html
http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html

The one from Pololu seems like the closest match to what I need (5
volt logic level commands for direction and PWM) but I like the
complete packaging of the controllers from Roboteq. Also, for the
electric vehicle application I intend to use it would work best with
torque or current control (not speed control).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
From: D Yuniskis on 26 Jan 2010 14:44
dumbledoo wrote:
> Can someone recommend an off-the-self solution for a motor driver
> board? I've found a few that are close to what I need but none are
> quite exactly the solution I'd like. For example here are a few I've
> found:
>
> http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/758
> http://www.roboteq.com/brushed-dc-motor-controllers/brushed-dc-motor-controllers-selector.html
> http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html
>
> The one from Pololu seems like the closest match to what I need (5
> volt logic level commands for direction and PWM) but I like the
> complete packaging of the controllers from Roboteq. Also, for the
> electric vehicle application I intend to use it would work best with
> torque or current control (not speed control).
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Have you codified your actual *requirements* (i.e., for the
*motor* end, not the "control" end)? You need to think
about how much power you need from the drive train.
This will depend on what sort of wight you are moving,
how quickly you want to accelerate, friction losses
(throughout the drivetrain as well as "tire to road"),
top speed, etc.

This will determine the coltage and current capabilities
that you need from the motor system. Then, you can
look for a controller that will handle those.
From: dumbledoo on 26 Jan 2010 16:30
On Jan 26, 2:44 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote:
> dumbledoo wrote:
> > Can someone recommend an off-the-self solution for a motor driver
> > board?  I've found a few that are close to what I need but none are
> > quite exactly the solution I'd like.  For example here are a few I've
> > found:
>
> >http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/758
> >http://www.roboteq.com/brushed-dc-motor-controllers/brushed-dc-motor-...
> >http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html
>
> > The one from Pololu seems like the closest match to what I need (5
> > volt logic level commands for direction and PWM) but I like the
> > complete packaging of the controllers from Roboteq.  Also, for the
> > electric vehicle application I intend to use it would work best with
> > torque or current control (not speed control).
>
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Have you codified your actual *requirements* (i.e., for the
> *motor* end, not the "control" end)?  You need to think
> about how much power you need from the drive train.
> This will depend on what sort of wight you are moving,
> how quickly you want to accelerate, friction losses
> (throughout the drivetrain as well as "tire to road"),
> top speed, etc.
>
> This will determine the coltage and current capabilities
> that you need from the motor system.  Then, you can
> look for a controller that will handle those.

Well, based on the examples that I posted I would have guessed I was
looking for something in the 300 - 500 watt range (20 volts, 20 amps
continuous).
From: D Yuniskis on 26 Jan 2010 17:27
dumbledoo wrote:
> On Jan 26, 2:44 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote:
>> dumbledoo wrote:
>>> Can someone recommend an off-the-self solution for a motor driver
>>> board? I've found a few that are close to what I need but none are
>>> quite exactly the solution I'd like. For example here are a few I've
>>> found:
>>> http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/758
>>> http://www.roboteq.com/brushed-dc-motor-controllers/brushed-dc-motor-...
>>> http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html
>>> The one from Pololu seems like the closest match to what I need (5
>>> volt logic level commands for direction and PWM) but I like the
>>> complete packaging of the controllers from Roboteq. Also, for the
>>> electric vehicle application I intend to use it would work best with
>>> torque or current control (not speed control).
>>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>> Have you codified your actual *requirements* (i.e., for the
>> *motor* end, not the "control" end)? You need to think
>> about how much power you need from the drive train.
>> This will depend on what sort of wight you are moving,
>> how quickly you want to accelerate, friction losses
>> (throughout the drivetrain as well as "tire to road"),
>> top speed, etc.
>>
>> This will determine the coltage and current capabilities
>> that you need from the motor system. Then, you can
>> look for a controller that will handle those.
>
> Well, based on the examples that I posted I would have guessed I was
> looking for something in the 300 - 500 watt range (20 volts, 20 amps
> continuous).

That's in the ballpark of a heavy-duty electric wheelchair (assuming
your motor is 80% efficient). Is that roughly the performance you
are expeecting (assuming your goal is to move a person)?

If so, why not just cannabilize an electric wheelchair for
motor(s) *and* controller?
From: Richard Torrens (News) on 31 Jan 2010 14:35
In article
<37f96a71-597e-4835-acd5-aae602e76781(a)h12g2000vbd.googlegroups.com>,
dumbledoo <j.hop.97(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Can someone recommend an off-the-self solution for a motor driver
> board? I've found a few that are close to what I need but none are
> quite exactly the solution I'd like. For example here are a few I've
> found:

> http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/758
> http://www.roboteq.com/brushed-dc-motor-controllers/brushed-dc-motor-controllers-selector.html
> http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html

> The one from Pololu seems like the closest match to what I need (5
> volt logic level commands for direction and PWM) but I like the
> complete packaging of the controllers from Roboteq.

See
http://www.4qd.co.uk/prod/Prog150 Pro-150 (Programmable 150)

> Also, for the
> electric vehicle application I intend to use it would work best with
> torque or current control (not speed control).

In theory, if anyone's that much into C programming, they could adapt the
existing softweare to give such control.

The software has internal current limit based on a motor current
measirement.

Unfortunately the programmer who did the software for us is no longer
available but the basic software contro is excellrent and well proven.

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