Electric go kart Controller design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: harrisonlf_
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 18, 2019, 05:02:07 pm
content: I started an electric go kart project but I'm stuck with how to get the motor controller to work. i'm using a 48v 1800w bldc motor w 4 12v batterieis in series.I'm having some problems getting the controller working. i'm using a super sketchy chinese motor controller that came with the motor but it doesnt seem to be working when everything is connected. no wiring diagram was provided.Would it even be possible for someone new to electronics to create a motor controller for this application or should i stick with trying to get the controller to work?Also when looked at the controller there were 12 mosfets but when i was looking online most controllers only had 6 for a 3phase motor. Does anyone know why there are 12?

author: mvs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2019, 05:15:40 pm
content: Quote from: harrisonlf_ on January 18, 2019, 05:02:07 pmThere might be some sequence of actions to get it on. Do you have user or service manual?Quote from: harrisonlf_ on January 18, 2019, 05:02:07 pmMOSFETs can be connected in parallel to increase current handling capability and reduce RDSon.

author: max_torque
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2019, 07:16:29 pm
content: Go here and digest:http://scolton.blogspot.com/p/motor-controllers.htmlLots of good info on all sorts of motor controllers. As a beginner you have no chance of making your own and making it work (realistically) far better to either make the one you have work or to buy one that does!Motor controllers are the classic case where people who don't understand the complexities and subtleties inherent in high power electronics say "i'm not buying that $300 motor controller when a few mosfets are just $20, so i'm going to make my own" usually, several thousands of dollars later they are no closer to making a working controller.......(Hint the reason a decent motor controller costs money is nothing to do with the part it has inside it, and everything to do with the amount of time and effort that went it to making it work robustly and reliably.......)

author: timpattinson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 04:41:23 am
content: I see two options:1. Trawl ebike forums, as far as i'm aware there are some suprisingly decent chinese controllers for this power level that are well known/documented in hobbyist communities.2. Buy a pre made VESC (https://vesc-project.com/)Again, a motor controller isn't a great beginner project.

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 08:18:51 am
content: The Great Scott YouTube channel has a few motor controller projects that may be interesting for you.

author: dmm2018
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 07:18:42 pm
content: Quote from: harrisonlf_ on January 18, 2019, 05:02:07 pmDoes the BLDC motor have position encoder signal output?You may consider using a hand drill (something else) to turn the shaft of the motor and measure the line-to-line (or phase) back-EMF voltages as well as the position encoder signals. With these information, you probably can figure out the wire connection between the BLDC and the controller (power converter). For BLDC motor the controller needs to know the position of the rotor in order to drive the power converter in the correct sequence.

author: harrisonlf_
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 04:53:51 am
content: the package came with no paper work so i'm assuming there is no service manual. when i searched it up the model number online nothing came up either

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 05:09:00 am
content: Just curious:Does your Cheap Chinese Motor Controller have electronic components in it, or is it just an aluminimum box with wires sticking out?