Tesla Setup FAQ

The following are FAQ's for setting up the Tesla boards. More information is available on the support threads of the forum. If you ask a question and get an answer, please add to this page.

If I bought a fully built board from EVBMW, do I need to do initial programming? All fully built boards from EVBMW are programmed and ready for testing and use. Firmware updates may be accomplished over the web interface and may be downloaded here : https://github.com/jsphuebner/stm32-sine/releases

Do I need to do any testing or change any settings before I get started?

It is recommended to perform initial tests at a low DC bus voltage in order to confirm correct operation of the drive unit and logic board. The voltage should be between around 40 and 100v dc. Some parameters need to be set to enable operation at these voltages. UDCSW set to 0. UDCMIN set to 0. You will need to perform a manual precharge or set UDCSW to about 10v less than your test voltage and use drive unit contactor control. Don't forget to reset these parameters to their original values when finished testing.

Also, some parameters need to be adjusted for your application. See the parameter descriptions. If you don't know where to start, take a look at the Parameters thread here: https://openinverter.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=195 or the configuration files here: https://openinverter.org/wiki/Configuration_Files

Can I power up the board and make changes without the high voltage?

Yes, Once 12v power is applied to the board or drive unit the wifi interface becomes available. Simply connect with any wifi enabled device (laptop,phone,tablet etc) to the wifi access point called inverter. The passphrase is inverter123. Once connected point any web browser to 192.168.4.1 to bring up the interface. Note some devices may complain about not being connected to the internet but just ignore.

How is the pre-charge setup?

The precharge system behaves as follows :

Upon application of 12v power, energise precharge contactor.

If after 5 seconds the measured voltage at the drive unit (UDC) does not exceed the UDCSW parameter we shutoff the precharge contactor as it is assumed the precharge has failed in some way.

If during those 5 seconds UDC exceeds UDCSW we leave the precharge contactor energized and wait for a start signal. Once start signal is received we close the main and open the precharge contactor.

How do I "tune" my car/setup?

First you want to find a flat surface - a parking lot etc. so you can drive and stop without checking traffic. Change only one parameter at a time and save settings that work!

1. set fslipmin so that you feel car taking off smoothly and try to change it by +/-0,1Hz and check differences in starting. Save when satisfied.

2. lower boost value in 100pts until motor jitters at start. Then return it to last good value.

3. try lowering ampmin in 0,1 increments and observe throttle travel. When throttle is not just smooth but becomes sluggish return some previous increments until throttle reaction is acceptable.

4. change fweak value in +/-10Hz increments from starting point and observe torque in starting. This value is very dependent on battery voltage and is very subjective.

Now you find a hill or ramp and set car on it. You want to hold car in position on slope just using throttle pedal. If there parameters are not good motor will jump or will feel sluggish

1. add boost if motor is oscillating if it is smooth reduce it in 100pt increments untill you get oscillation. Then return to last good value 2. reduce/increase ampmin in 0,25 increments untill you get oscilation in motor and return last good value

Now set the car into a hill to set fslipmax. Warning full throttle will be used. Be sure there is no other traffic! Set fslipmax to chosen value (guess it at 2xfslipmin if you have no other way) and try to take off with full throttle. If car feels sluggish with full throttle you have to add more slip. If motor starts to jitter there is too much slip. Try to reduce it in 0.1Hz increments.

When you feel satisfied with settings save them and go on setting regen and braking effect.

How do I set up my throttle?

The throttle programming procedure documented is a little misleading. You don’t look at potnom to do it.

You look at pot in the spot value menu when the pedal is at resting position for the potmin number, then push the pedal and hold on full throttle and refresh the web interface to get the potmax reading.

In the parameter section of the web interface, use these two numbers for potmin and potmax and flash the board with the new values. This saves your expected min and max of the pedal you are using. The sweep is then averaged by the logic.

To get the graphs or gauges you have to select L next to the spot value you want to observe. Then under spot values you press show gauges and that will bring up a new window with a gauge for each parameter selected. If you want to show them on a running graph, go down to plot and a graph will appear at the bottom of the screen.