Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:55 pm
Does anyone know what the black an white wires do?
Is it power and earth to the old board?
Is it power and earth to the old board?
Ok thanks
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i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Page 6 of 10
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 7:54 pm
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:17 pm
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:02 am
Sorry, I must have missed something, can we still not make use of the dc-dc converter?MrX wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:42 am
3. Lastly, I've made some waterjet cut blanking plates to close off cooling for the charger and DCDC inside the housing. This is just to remove them whilst they aren't doing anything useful and remove some weight from the assembly. Unfortunately it's not straightforward to do this, as some posts have to be machined down for these flat plates to fit, and this exposes one of the threads from the liquid side. I've hydraulically sealed this one, so it shouldn't be a problem (fingers crossed). If people want DXF files for these I can definitely send some links. They are definitely not perfect, and will need some modification to fit well. I did as best I could for hole placement for a first-pass. Fine for now though!
PXL_20211218_085640095.jpg
PXL_20211218_083238717.jpg
Tia
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:34 am
Hi Hans,Hans Gustafsson wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:12 pm Pinout with the colors for the resolver, suggestions and not verified.
With 12 pin adapter card and solder directly to the card.
Please forgive my stupidity, I am new to all of this.
So the resolver is detecting the rotation of the motor and feeding that info back via the board you have added, is that right?
I notice that you as well as MrX have removed the dc-dc charger, is this because you will use an aftermarket one?
Cheers
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:36 pm
Wow!
How did you guys get the dc-dc converter out?
It looks like I'm going to have to go in from the other side to get to the bolt beneath the capacitor
How did you guys get the dc-dc converter out?
It looks like I'm going to have to go in from the other side to get to the bolt beneath the capacitor
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:43 pm
So I've been having a bit of a think and due to the size of the mIni engine bay I am thinking of separating out the inverter parts from the inverter casing and finding something more suitable to house them. I'll probably then go for a separate dc-dc converter and charger in the back of the car.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:54 pm
That sounds very sane. The chances of that DC-DC converter and charger getting hacked are minimal
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:40 pm
Just popped a new vid up on my channel for anyone that hasn't stripped their EME yet.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2022 8:45 pm
Just saw it and will comment the same here. Why not cut it up and close with alloy sheet. I think it will be TIG weldable.
If you want to explore the option check the housing for the alloy markings.
If you want to explore the option check the housing for the alloy markings.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:28 pm
I see that's what Hans is doing, I'm hoping he'll pop some more progress up so we can see how it's progressing.
I had another look at this today and I really need to get two battery modules in the front if I can, for space and weight distribution.
To do this I need to reconfigure the layout if I can to have the HV connector on the side of the box. I have no idea yet if this is possible but it's something I need to look at.
Cheers Ev_builder
I had another look at this today and I really need to get two battery modules in the front if I can, for space and weight distribution.
To do this I need to reconfigure the layout if I can to have the HV connector on the side of the box. I have no idea yet if this is possible but it's something I need to look at.
Cheers Ev_builder
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:30 am
With this in mind what is the plan for the HV filter?EV_Builder wrote: ↑Sun Mar 20, 2022 8:45 pm Just saw it and will comment the same here. Why not cut it up and close with alloy sheet. I think it will be TIG weldable.
If you want to explore the option check the housing for the alloy markings.
Is the HV filter needed?
How is the top plate going to line up and connect to the bottom plate?
Cheers
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:39 am
Can you post pictures?
The top plate will be cut to. So its matching part can be reused then.
Maybe best way forward is by cutting out a piece of the case.
Then you get (ideally) one weld to make in both parts and they fit again.
If you post pictures it would help.
Import step is knowing if the alloy is weldable. Is there are marking on it? like AlSiMnMg etc.?
Second step is: build everything in the case what needs to stay there and take out whats not needed. Same for the top plate.
Third step: Cirgury; Mark where to cut and measure if the side wall piece would fit (welding) the casing again.
Fourth step: check the car for room of the dimension ed part;
Fifth step: do the cutting and welding and cleaning up of the welds.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:43 am
Hello everyone, I have a dumb question. What is the point and goal of hacking the BMW i3 controller?
My first idea would be to use the i3 controller with the i3 motor, so I don't really understand the concept of hacking it unless it's to improve the open inverter project and make it compatible with more cars.
I haven't seen any definitive post that the open inverter is compatible with the i3 motor. I took my car apart almost 2 years ago wanting to convert it to electric.
My first idea would be to use the i3 controller with the i3 motor, so I don't really understand the concept of hacking it unless it's to improve the open inverter project and make it compatible with more cars.
I haven't seen any definitive post that the open inverter is compatible with the i3 motor. I took my car apart almost 2 years ago wanting to convert it to electric.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 7:34 am
Theres your answer 
"to improve the open inverter project and make it compatible with more cars."
Also other motors can be run with this inverter. Not sure if the i3 motor is anything special that would make it not run with the generic IPM algorithms
"to improve the open inverter project and make it compatible with more cars."Also other motors can be run with this inverter. Not sure if the i3 motor is anything special that would make it not run with the generic IPM algorithms
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 9:06 pm
That means that I can use the Open Inverter with the BMW i3 motor? Are there also other Open Projects, for example BMS?
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:53 pm
Does anyone have a supply for these bits that will deliver to the UK?Hans Gustafsson wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:19 pm The 12-pin connector from the resolver / motor temp that connects to the BMW brainboard, is the ERNI MiniBridge Koshiri Messerleiste 12-pin, geared, SMT, Art-No. 294920 and it is available for purchase mounted on a handy adapter card.
https://www.erni-x-press.com/en/artikel/kit/169219.html
https://www.erni.com/fileadmin/import/p ... 000162.PDF
https://www.erni-x-press.com/de/artikel ... 94920.html
Some are out of stock and some don't bring up England as a delivery destination.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:56 pm
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 11:26 am
Just speaking to an i3 owner who's trying to hack the motor to get more performance, he reckons the motor is good for 12,000 rpm, anyone got any thoughts on this?
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:13 pm
Hello all,
Been a while since I was last here, I haven't made significant progress myself. However, I seem to be chasing an issue where I have no bus voltage sense comms on my board. Has anyone else got to the point where they have an inverter operational and where they could check that the board is reading voltages? I don't believe the issue is the SPI bus, as I can communicate to the inverter via the ESP WiFi comms just fine. If everyone else is getting bus voltage fine then I might have to start digging on my own gatedrive PCB... This is the only thing stopping me from getting a motor spinning at this point!
Been a while since I was last here, I haven't made significant progress myself. However, I seem to be chasing an issue where I have no bus voltage sense comms on my board. Has anyone else got to the point where they have an inverter operational and where they could check that the board is reading voltages? I don't believe the issue is the SPI bus, as I can communicate to the inverter via the ESP WiFi comms just fine. If everyone else is getting bus voltage fine then I might have to start digging on my own gatedrive PCB... This is the only thing stopping me from getting a motor spinning at this point!
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:16 pm
I can recommend the SimpBMS for this, I have had one running the comms to the BMW i3 cell monitoring units already. Tom's code is solid and just works out of the box when programmed to talk to the i3 modules. Just don't forget the CAN Transceiver between SimpBMS and modules like I did!!!
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 1:36 pm
SPI is a separate thing as ESP / serial comms.MrX wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:13 pm Hello all,
Been a while since I was last here, I haven't made significant progress myself. However, I seem to be chasing an issue where I have no bus voltage sense comms on my board. Has anyone else got to the point where they have an inverter operational and where they could check that the board is reading voltages? I don't believe the issue is the SPI bus, as I can communicate to the inverter via the ESP WiFi comms just fine. If everyone else is getting bus voltage fine then I might have to start digging on my own gatedrive PCB... This is the only thing stopping me from getting a motor spinning at this point!
So I would start with measurements on the PCB.
From Chip to BMW part.
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 4:55 pm
Also, did you check the solder jumper? viewtopic.php?p=36365#p36365
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:12 am
Yep, solder jumper checked. Just in case this helps at all Johannes, I have confirmed 32V reg, and I’m supplying 30V to the DC bus. It seems to have around 1W of consumption on the DC bus side, I’m guessing from the isolated gate drive power.johu wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 4:55 pm Also, did you check the solder jumper? viewtopic.php?p=36365#p36365
Going to get a logic analyser from my mate and see what’s going on…
Re: i3 controller hacking from diyelectriccar.com
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 3:52 pm
Well that's strange. MOSI and *CLK cycling together, with no data. Garbage on SCK, and nothing on MISO. I'm also only seeing pulses at 1kHz intervals, so I suspect I need to get an oscilloscope on the thing.
Note there is one transition on MISO, which is when I turn on 30V to the DC bus to power the isolated side.
Note there is one transition on MISO, which is when I turn on 30V to the DC bus to power the isolated side.