IMAC&C aka IMA Control & BCM Gauge Combo

[retepsnikrep]

As you all know I've been tinkering with IMA control for a few years and the BCM gauge more recently. Well it all seems to be working pretty well as a combo over last few months.
So with Mike's agreement I have decided to release the 15 spare pcb's I have to UK/European owners only.
I know this may dissapoint some, but I don't want to compete with Mike in the US when he still has 100 MIMA or so boards available at a bargain price. I still use Mike's MIMA system albeit with the pressure sense buttons in my original PHEV 40AH Lithium car. It's a great system. The BCM Gauge of course remains available while stocks last.

I'll probably sell the 15 pcb's as a kit with all components apart from the 16x2 serial lcd screen. There will not be an assembled option at this time. It took me about an hour to build one today so it's not very difficult. The schematic will only be provided to purchasers, and updates to the code will be provided in hex form only at this time. Of course the code is still under development but the basics work well.

The IMA control integrates with the throttle, brake, clutch, for input at present. It also interogates the BCM data and uses the 5 way joybutton for user control/operation. The pcb also has inputs for the vss and map sensors but these are not used by the present code.

My present code has the core gauge functions, volts, temp, soc, amps and control over the IMA. It has a sport mode where when throttle depressed more than 80% gives full assist.

It has the 5 way joybutton cruise type modes.

Assist/Regen are controlled by cmdpwr pwm duty which goes from 10-90% 50% = standby
That gives 40 levels/units of adjustment for assist or regen with my system.

Up = Inc Assist or Dec regen by one unit
Down = Dec Assist or Inc regen by one unit
Left = Dec Assist or Inc regen by ten units
Right = Inc Assist or Dec regen by ten units

Centre = cancel and menu mode if held down.

All the levels are held until cancelled so you don't have to have hand on joybutton.
Pressing centre button, Brake, Clutch or engaging sport cancels previous settings.

So for instance when driving in top on the flat at 40mph one click right (10 units) gives me about 12A of assist which is held until i cancel it. If i then put my foot down sport mode engages, and you get whatever current the system can deliver at that rpm/soc/temp etc. When you ease your foot back off the throttle system reverts to standby/oem mode.

I'll post some more pics/video over next few days/weeks. But if anyone wants one then PM me.

Price £110 First come first served payment via paypal.

The new pcb uses the same programmer and software as the BCM gauge.

The latest software version is V4.06 attached to this post.

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Count me in, PM about to be sent.

[Hugh-Falls]

In a message on another thread you mentioned the possibility of controlling a stacked pair of IMA motors with one Insight controller. Can any of this Combo system be applied to EV control of an IMA motor stack? It appears that there may be considerable overlap.

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by Hugh-Falls

In a message on another thread you mentioned the possibility of controlling a stacked pair of IMA motors with one Insight controller. Can any of this Combo system be applied to EV control of an IMA motor stack? It appears that there may be considerable overlap.

That's the plan Hugh and one of the reasons i started on this project. That's also the reason I generate my own pwm in house so as not to need an ECM.

My EV plan is My IMA Control -> One MCM -> Four Paralleled MDM each driving a motor. I'll only use one set of position encoders as all stators and rotor will be locked together. The comms is/looks pretty simple between MCM & MDM. Im may try just two MDM driving four motors as an experiment as well.


EDIT

Couple more pics showing close up of assembled board and connected board in situ.

At the moment I have 9 wires running forward to the dash/footwell area.

Lcd x3
5 way switch x3
Throttle x1
Brake x1
Clutch x1

I could have shared +5v and Gnd for the switch and lcd but i didn't want them interfereing with each other. You can try this if you want. Reduces wires reqd by 2.

However installing 12 wires now gives us three spare for later use with

Map x 1
Vss x 1 (Cruise control)
Spare x 1


If you want to install or prep your car for this I suggest run a 12 wire coloured ribbon or multicore screened cable from front to back. leave at least 1.5m spare at front and 0.5m in back for connections. Wires need to emerge near MCM connectors in rear IPU and near ECM (passenger footwell for UK cars) or the brake / clutch pedals in front.

[Hugh-Falls]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

That's the plan Hugh and one of the reasons i started on this project. That's also the reason I generate my own pwm in house so as not to need an ECM.

My EV plan is My IMA Control -> One MCM -> Four Paralleled MDM each driving a motor. I'll only use one set of position encoders as all stators and rotor will be locked together. The comms is/looks pretty simple between MCM & MDM. Im may try just two MDM driving four motors as an experiment as well.

My understanding of your plan: The four MDM share input from your one IMA Controller and one MCM. The four stators and four rotors and one set of position encoders are a synchronized assembly. Each stator/rotor section will have a separate power cord connected to its own MDM output, however, you may try running a pair of two stator/rotor sections connected in parallel, each two stator/rotor section powered from its own MDM as an experiment.

My current Quad-Stack design provides for all four sections to be connected internally in parallel with ONE external power connection which I had planned on running from a standard industrial controller. However, the layout of the existing Insight IMA case will allow separate power inputs to be added with no other changes to the existing design. Adding the individual external power connections will provide some additional flexibility.

Most of the parts for my Quad-Stack motor are in hand and a fixture is being designed to enable safe assembly of the four motor sections.

If you and Mike can agree that my use of your IMA Controller for this EV use is not a violation of your agreement, I would like to purchase one of your Combo kits to try out your drive idea instead of the commercial controller.

[retepsnikrep]

Hugh

Your request is fine in this context and i'm happy to assist you where I can. I would appreciate info from your own system inc drawings and specs etc. How are you assembling the four motors and how you connect them to gearbox etc etc etc. I might copy your ideas/design I suggest start a new thread if you havent already and post some info on your setup. I may have overlooked or forgotten it.

Be aware of course that i haven't tried driving/using an MCM without an ECM connected yet, but ASFAIK there is only one more line from the ecm we may need to fake that is engine torque. we have looked at it but it never seemed to change/do anything

I haven't tried paralleling MDM's either so that might be interesting but the signals are logic level between them and MCM so should be OK. We won't need all the connections but that is for another thread.

PM me your details and i'll send a board. i have not got all the parts for kits together yet so may be a few weeks before i can send it. Unless you just want the pcb and can source the simple parts yourself.

Peter

[jonnyvtec]

Excellent news Peter. Thank you.

I'm definatley in.

In terms of the connection to the MCM and BCM in the IPU is it a case of splicing into the correct wires? (no scotchlocks)

16x2 the only option or is there the chance of a 20x2 at production Version 1?

Im thinking of mounting the gauge in the top of the speed surround so its above the speedo readout in terms of line of sight and Id like a wheel mounted controller. Does the 5 way require a CVT reel for mounting to the steering wheel?

Will sport boost also ignore the stock ~7 second current limiter?

Thanks
Jon

[faxe]

Peter, - Is or will there be a FAS function in your system. ?

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by jonnyvtec

In terms of the connection to the MCM and BCM in the IPU is it a case of splicing into the correct wires? (no scotchlocks)

You can connect how you like I spliced into the wires. (stripped the insulation back and soldered to the bare part.)

Originally Posted by jonnyvtec

16x2 the only option or is there the chance of a 20x2 at production Version 1?

You can buy a 16x2, 20x2 or 20x4 serial lcd if you want I can adapt the software to support them all but possibly not all at the same time or straight away.

Originally Posted by jonnyvtec

Im thinking of mounting the gauge in the top of the speed surround so its above the speedo readout in terms of line of sight and Id like a wheel mounted controller. Does the 5 way require a CVT reel for mounting to the steering wheel?

The manual cars have the necessary wires in the cable reel but no connectors, it should be possible however to use them with a bit of fiddling. I cheated and bought a couple of CVT cable reels from the US as they had the connectors fitted.

Originally Posted by jonnyvtec

Will sport boost also ignore the stock ~7 second current limiter?

If you had a BCM gauge you would see that seven sconds was very optimistic it actually cuts back after about 3-4 seconds on stock system. With the IMA control you get max power for as long as batteries can supply it. The BCM itself is still in control of temp/soc safety so it will restrict you if you abuse it and heat up the batteries!!

Originally Posted by Faxe

Peter, - Is or will there be a FAS function in your system. ?

I have never investigated this or considered a need for it here in UK so it doesn't have it built in. I have no plans to implement it. But as we are discovering more about the IMA control like the start cycle etc It is/would be possible to command the regen to stall the car on request and then start it with another push of the button or clutch. That can be for later version of the software. As you already have MIMA with FAS and a BCM gauge fitted I would stick with that unless you are buying another car?


If you closely at the pics i posted below you will see three components are not fitted to the pcb at this time.
Resistors R3 and R4 are only reqd if you want to use the two click button or two resistive pressure sensor systems i experimented with a while back. C9 depends on what we connect to the spare input later

If you want to keep up with software development once you get a system you will need the programmer here or equivalent and the software at the bottom of the webpage. I suggest order one now they take a while to arrive http://www.piccircuit.com/product.php?id_product=25

I'm hoping to get a few kits made up in time for the UK owners day, PM me if you want one. It only contains the switch and pcb components no interconnecting wire etc. Depending on the weather one lucky member may have it installed on the day if they do the prep work


Edit

Video Demo

You Tube

You Tube

Click back later if does not work straight away.

[MN Driver]

Peter, seems you may eventually convince me to pack my bags, load my Insight on a boat, and cross the pond to live over there. I'll also be watching for updates on the stacked IMA motor progress too, it is actually holding me back from my current plans, if yours work out better I may want to do what you are doing but at this point I'm still looking at the easier route of bolting on components already together but the idea of keeping the Insight with all stock drive components would be really cool. I love the sound of the Insight electric motor. Does the sound the motor makes under acceleration and regen seem noticably louder with the increased power you are pushing through the motor with your other mod for higher power with the 20Ah lithium pack?