VESC setup - Tutorial on setting up your vesc based speed controller

In this tutorial we will go through how to setup your Vesc based speed controller. This is important to get use of the available functions of the speed controller and to get your Electric Skateboard to operate smoothly. The tutorial will include the basics, more advanced setup tutorial will be included in another tutorial.

Before starting we need to get all the materials and applications ready. Start by downloading the free Vesc tool from here. Then turn on your skateboard and connect an Micro-usb cable to the speed controller and into your computer. 

 

1) Click on "Connection"

 

 

2) Connect your VESC to your computer with an usb cable and choose the right port in vesc tool. Then press the connection symbol to the right. 

 

 

3) Now press "Motor Settings" and then "Motor Setup Wizard"

 

 

4) Press "Next"

 

 

5) Choose "Yes"

 

 

6) Choose whether to use FOC or BLDC, if you choose BLDC, skip to step 16. Then press "Next"

 

 

7) Press "OK"

 

 

8) Set settings accordingly:

Motor current max: 60A or less, this decides torque 
Motor current Max Brake: Can be customised, depending on belt tension and desired brake strength

Battery current max: Max continuous Amp on battery, for our 10S3P this is 45A. 
Battery current max Regen: Calculated by number of parallel group X 4, for example our 10S3P has 3 parallel groups. 3x4 = 12. This can be higher at own risk!

Then press "Next"

 

 

9) Choose "yes"

 

 

10) Set cutoff accordingly

Battery Voltage Cutoff Start: 29,00 V
Battery Voltage Cutoff End: 28,00 V

Then press "Next"

 

 

11) If your configuring a motor with sensors choose "Hall sensors" otherwise choose "sensorless"

Then press "Next"

 

 

12) Set up FOC settings in this order. 

Notice that this will spin your motor, make sure nothing is in the way and you VESC is powered by a battery. Also make sure the motor is spinning freely, remove the belt from the motor. Press the buttons in the order described in the picture. 

 

 

13) If everything went correct it should now look like this, press "Next"

 

 

14) This step is only available if you chose "Hall sensors" in step 11

Press buttons in order according to the picture, motor will slowly spin. Then press "Next"

 

 

15) You have now finished the Motor Setup Wizard, Congratulations! skip to step 23

 

 

16) You've chosen to setup your Vesc with BLDC. Choose BLDC and press "Next"

 

 

17) Set settings accordingly:

Motor current max: 60A or less, this decides torque 
Motor current Max Brake: Can be customised, depending on belt tension and desired brake strength

Battery current max: Max continuous Amp on battery, for our 10S3P this is 45A. 
Battery current max Regen: Calculated by number of parallel group X 4, for example our 10S3P has 3 parallel groups. 3x4 = 12. Can be higher at own risk! 

Then press "Next"

 

 

18) Press "Yes"

 

 

19) Set cutoff accordingly

Battery Voltage Cutoff Start: 29,00 V
Battery Voltage Cutoff End: 28,00 V

Then press "Next"

 

 

20) If your configuring a motor with sensors choose "Hall sensors" otherwise choose "sensorless"

Then press "Next"

 

 

21) Make sure nothing is in the way of the motor as the motor will spin up. Also make sure the motor is spinning freely, remove the belt from the motor. Press buttons in correct order according to picture 

Then press "Next"

 

 

22) You have now finished the Motor Setup Wizard, Congratulations!

 

 

23) Next step is to setup the remote. Start out by choosing "APP Settings" in the left menu

 

 

24) Press "Input Setup Wizard"

 

25) Press "Next"

 

 

26) Choose whether you have dual or single VESC Setup 

Then press "Next"

 

 

27) Choose PPM input 

Then press "Next"

 

 

27) Choose duty cycle in the drop down menu

 

 

28) Connect your remote and give full throttle input

*Notice the green bar changing as you control the trottle. 

 

 

29) Then full negative input

*The green bar is now red due to braking/reverse

 

 

30) Then back to neutral

 

 

31) After you've done this press "Apply", then "Write Configuration To Vesc"

Is optional to change "Postive Ramping time". This setting changes how long time it will take the vesc to go from 0% power to 100% power. The lower the settings the more "kick" you will get from your Electric skateboard

Then press "Next"

 

 

32) You're now also finished with App Setup Wizard, Congratulations!

 

 

OPTIONAL STEP, 32)

If you're going to use a Metr module together with the vesc, this step is necessary. Go into "App Settings" and "General", then under "App to Use" choose "PPM and UART". Then press "Write APP configuration"