Motor Configuration
There are several configuration items that relate to the type and specifications of the connected motor.
Note
Certain controller models are compatible with certain motor types. For instance, some Phoenix controllers are for use with brushed motors, while other controllers are designed for use with brushless motors.
Brushless DC (BLDC) Motors
When using a brushless DC motor, the controller performs the electrical commutation of the rotor. In order to do this, it must be able to sense the position of the rotor so it can manipulate the electrical fields appropriately.
This sensing is performed either using dedicated hardware (sensors) or by measuring the back EMF on the rotor windings. In order to interpret these signals correctly, the following paramters can be set:
Motor Type
The motor type describes the characteristics of the motor and sensors:
- Number of motor pole pairs
- Physical arrangement of sensors
- Whether sensors A and C should be swapped in software (to match actual wiring of the system)
- Whether the sensor signal is active high or low
Electromagnetic Brake Control
Many Phoenix controllers incorporate circuitry to control an electromagnetic brake. The controller energizes the brake when appropriate to allow the motor to spin. Parameters that can be configured for the electronic brake include:
- Disabling the EM Brake feature
- Brake delay: the delay after decelerating before the EM brake is de-energized.
Troubleshooting
- Verify correct wiring
- Verify that throttle input is at an appropriate level
- Check for fault codes (depending on model, may be indicated by a flashing LED or reported by diagnostic software).
- Check for Stop Diagnostics reported by CAN Bus 10FF03 status message. Also see System Status Message and Special Diagnostic Commands.