Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Mitsubishi hybrid drive unit hacking
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I made another small contribution to this VCUs code.

In my code i included undervoltage safety so that car would notify the driver of inverter nearing to low battery voltage. I thought to setup two phases. The first phase is when battery would pass the mark of 3.3V per cell (316Vdc). The second phase is when cells pass the 3V per cell (288Vdc).
I made a mistake of simply turning ON Error and Voltage light for first phase. The second phase would trip inverter into error state.
So for testing i was driving for quite some time under 316Vdc (i removed one battery module for testing) and suddenly at 288Vdc i got to a point where it tripped! This is not a good option as those lights give you false sense of security and that trip in the end comes as a real surprise.

Second iteration works to put the VCU into "Turtle mode". I formed a pedal map 2 so it only provides about 50A worth of torque. That should be something the driver would notice but it would still allow them to drive to nearby EVSE.

Code: Select all

bool turtlemode = false; //turtle mode because of low voltage
....
void turtle_mode(); //declare a function
....
const int pedal_map_two[21][22] = { //pedal map for turtle mode
    // Backup
    // map 2..
    /*250*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*500*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*625*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*750*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*1000*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*1250*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*1500*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*2000*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*2500*/ {0, 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*3000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*3500*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*4000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*4500*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*5000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*5500*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*6000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*6500*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*7000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*7500*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*8000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
    /*10000*/ {0, 0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8},
};
....
void turtle_mode() { // function itself
if (turtlemode == true) { // put the car in turtle mode if active
  active_map = 2; // set the active throttle map to no. 2
  if (timer1000_1.check() == 1) 
  {
    digitalWrite(OUT11, !digitalRead(OUT11)); // Flash the Error LED at 1s interval
  }  
}
}
....
void canRX_389(const CAN_message_t &msg)
{
  chargerHVbattryVolts = msg.buf[0] * 2; // Charger HV Battery Voltage
  chargerACvolts = msg.buf[1];
  chargerHVcurrent = msg.buf[2] * 0.1;
  chargerTempCH = msg.buf[4] - 40;
}
....

void loop() //main function
...
turtle_mode(); // run the function inside main function
...
case driveForward: //when in forward mode you need turtle mode the most
...
 // See if voltage is enough
if (( chargerHVbattryVolts <  316) && (chargerHVbattryVolts >  288) ) { // take information from charger and DCDC to observe HV voltage value
        turtlemode = true; // Turtle mode, alowed motor torque is reduced!
}

else if ( chargerHVbattryVolts <=  288)    { // stop with error if you are pushing it...
  VCUstatusChangeCounter = 0;
  VCUstatus = 7; //Error state ON!
}

else {
  turtlemode = false;
}

arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I started fiddling with the VCU code for my Megane viewtopic.php?t=6114

This car has a "Start" button and it provides 12V to one wire that obviously served as a start signal for bunch of components including starter.
As i reviewed my processes i found a redundant step i cant use since my car doesnt have two position key lock...ignition and start.
Rather it looks like this...
Car is stationary
1. I press the Start button an go to precharge 5. I plug in the charging cable and begin charging
2. Neutral
3. FWD
4. REV
6. Error state

This makes the "Ready" state redundant and looks like i can move from "boot" state directly into active state
Do you think i can manage to use "boot" state as a default state as well as previous "ready" state. This would mean i can effectively move the code from the "ready" function and drop it into "boot".... Would that work?
User avatar
midway
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:52 pm
Location: Ural
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by midway »

When I press the brake, power is supplied to the VCU, and if I press the "Start" button while the brake is pressed, the relay to support the 12V power supply is turned on and the VCU goes into "READY" mode. If I press the "Start" button when the engine is not rotating, the VCU turns off the power support relay.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

Not connected with previous post...
Mazda motor broke crossmember to which i welded third motor mount to. It broke diagonaly across some lightening holes which were there from OEM.
Just to be clear, i put 3mm inox plade under the (drawn) formed cross mount and welded it at the farthest points of the box. I guess that was not enough. But it broke diagonaly between welds which looks as torsion damage. I rewelded and strengtened the part as of then.
Now with that done i went for a test drive. Here is what was present before but i ignored it... i think it has to do with VCU and software...

When acceterating hard from say 40km/h to 100km/h i feel vibration that seems like bad shock absorbers across bumpy road. But the road is flat! Well this is amplified if i accelerate into a turn... left or right. Looks like CV joints or tripods are struggling to transfer torque. It is just observation but seems solid one as if i go to Normal mode without regen i see smooth acceleration with not much beatback. Did anyone notice similar behaviour?

To confirm this i will change throttle map upload and test drive... stay tuned...
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

midway wrote: Sat May 24, 2025 7:10 am When I press the brake, power is supplied to the VCU, and if I press the "Start" button while the brake is pressed, the relay to support the 12V power supply is turned on and the VCU goes into "READY" mode. If I press the "Start" button when the engine is not rotating, the VCU turns off the power support relay.
i am trying to built my circuit now....
if i understand correctly your process works like this...
1. you press "brake" to power VCU temporarily
2. you press Start button connected to enable pin
3. VCU commands one relay to latch 12v power to supply itself
4. VCU goes to ready state (or would it be better to go to neutral immediately?)
.......
if you want to turn VCU off you need to have two conditions met...
1. motor is not turning
2. remove 12v from enable pin

or is your system different? how?

edit: what about charging signal. how do you activate VCU when charger is connected?
User avatar
midway
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:52 pm
Location: Ural
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by midway »

arber333 wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 3:56 pm i am trying to built my circuit now....
if i understand correctly your process works like this...
1. you press "brake" to power VCU temporarily
2. you press Start button connected to enable pin
3. VCU commands one relay to latch 12v power to supply itself
4. VCU goes to ready state (or would it be better to go to neutral immediately?)
.......
if you want to turn VCU off you need to have two conditions met...
1. motor is not turning
2. remove 12v from enable pin

or is your system different? how?

edit: what about charging signal. how do you activate VCU when charger is connected?
Yes, that's right. When you connect the charging plug, the contact pulls the optocoupler LED to ground, the relay is triggered and turns on the power to the vcu and charger.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

midway wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 1:13 pm Yes, that's right. When you connect the charging plug, the contact pulls the optocoupler LED to ground, the relay is triggered and turns on the power to the vcu and charger.
I tried to wire one side of the brake switch but i couldnt make it work 100% as the body vcu goes to sleep after some time and my VCU would turn on by itself. The same happens if i use reverse relay....
I am now testing the other side of the brake switch where it gets power from the body ECU. Whenever i unlock the car or open the door after a long time off this ECU starts and provides 12V power. I will use this with one power relay. This will provide power for my VCU and then i will provide signal from START button to go into Neutral and Drive/Reverse mode.
Charging mode will route power from another relay which will turn on VCU from the other side of the relay when EVSE is connected via PP line.
i will post some photos in Megane EV section whwn i can confirm operation...
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

UH! I found out alarming fact!
Last year i bought one Outlander inverter P/N 9410A081 in the photo...
o-8ca32155ffdf042e850c1f5b9a9903e7-mitsubishi_outlander_xenon_valdymo_blokas.jpg
I figured it is from 2017 vehicle.

When i was installing it it was in no way different to other rear Outlander inverters.
Now that i have setup VCU and tested throttle i could hear inverter coming online with PWM noise. I see throttle behaving OK.
Screenshot 2025-06-17 202827.png
But i coudnt get it to run in Drive.
So i recorded VCU report:
Screenshot 2025-06-17 202937.png

And when i couldnt get anything more from VCU i connected CAN reader and saw 0x289 telegram as it reports status... I immediately saw B7 was not in range odf 00 - 04 but rather 10 - 14! Could there be other differences in CAN reports between inverters? Anyone seen this?
Screenshot 2025-06-17 205247.png
Next i observed the 0x287 command telegram...
I saw that B6 will come online with 03 value whenever i request direction...OK
Screenshot 2025-06-17 205625.png
I see B3 and B4 show 27 10 value for 0Nm

When i press throttle in REVERSE i get motor spinning
Screenshot 2025-06-17 205733.png
BUT when i tried to do the same in FORWARD i cant get the motor spinning, i only hear PWM hum.
CAN is stuck in 27 10 value!
Screenshot 2025-06-17 210048.png
I suspect this to be a problem with VCU code. But the same code runs in Mazda just perfect. I only used slight differences in transition from drive modes as i dont differentiate between ignition and start inputs, i only have start button.

Any thoughts?
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I managed to move the car now. Looks like there are some differences in CAN telegrams, but not much and i managed to go through my code and correct some timers so the code would work directly...

@midway, i noticed that in direction FORWARD motor would start rather soft. And in the REVERSE direction it would bang on the mount and generaly push faster. Did you notice anything similar with your car?
I run my motors in reverse and i am wondering if inverter is aware of that and would reduce accelaration in direction it thinks it is RWD? Any ideas?
marucha79
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2022 6:28 am
Location: Poland
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by marucha79 »

Gentlemen, I joined today to your's club. I had first ride my Part-lander - Peugeot Partner Electric from 2005 year, which was "reelectric" using Outlander parts. Thanks to all, who help me sharing code or expiriences, especially @aot93, @arber333, @tom91, @mane2. Sounds like a Oscar speech, but I'm really happy, that made this mad project :) I will share details of course, but must be sure that it's good and reliable enough. Not tested charging yet, for example.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

marucha79 wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 9:24 pm I will share details of course, but must be sure that it's good and reliable enough. Not tested charging yet, for example.
Nice!
I did that mistake and of course my BMS graphically complained and showed one cell was dropping.voltage while accelerating... it scared the sh...t out of me and I immediately went to disassemble that box... sure enough I forgot to torque one bolt of 200 🤕.
when sorted out I was happy I made distributed boxes per 60kg instead of one big 150kg box in the back... that would be a pain in field repair...
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

While driving Megane EV with Mitsubishi drivetrain and VCU I noticed slow power raise.
While drive is nice and smooth i noticed rather sluggish torque response in the range from 90km/h to 120km/h. Field weakening or power reduction to protect small battery? I use the same code as in Mazda here: viewtopic.php?p=66695#p66695
Could be that the car is heavier as well, but torque response in lower RPM region is on par with Mazda.
I think motor is not different in power. Actually i use the same model F1E1A2B5Z...

Difference could be in the inverter. In mazda i use P/N 9410A163 from 2020 but here i got P/N 9410A081 from 2017 Outlander. Is there really such a difference? did any of you noticed a difference?
User avatar
midway
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:52 pm
Location: Ural
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by midway »

arber333 wrote: Fri Aug 08, 2025 8:47 am While driving Megane EV with Mitsubishi drivetrain and VCU I noticed slow power raise.
While drive is nice and smooth i noticed rather sluggish torque response in the range from 90km/h to 120km/h. Field weakening or power reduction to protect small battery? I use the same code as in Mazda here: viewtopic.php?p=66695#p66695
Could be that the car is heavier as well, but torque response in lower RPM region is on par with Mazda.
I think motor is not different in power. Actually i use the same model F1E1A2B5Z...

Difference could be in the inverter. In mazda i use P/N 9410A163 from 2020 but here i got P/N 9410A081 from 2017 Outlander. Is there really such a difference? did any of you noticed a difference?
I also noticed a small difference from replacing inverters. Newer ones give more torque.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

midway wrote: Fri Aug 08, 2025 9:36 am I also noticed a small difference from replacing inverters. Newer ones give more torque.
Thanks for the user experience info
When i come from vacation and when i receive heater pads from aliexpress i will have to remove battery boxes for upgrade.
Then i will be capable to replace inverter with newer one and test it out...
marucha79
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2022 6:28 am
Location: Poland
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by marucha79 »

My Part-Lander get hiccups due to cooling problem. Inverter temp1 exceeds 85 deg. and inverter shut off. Maybe my pomp is to weak - it's Bosch PAD. What type of pomp do you use with Outlander stuff? I know, that I made fault, because there is no narrowing between coolant circulation and expansion tank, fluid level in tank increases while pump is on. It is easy to fix. But I will ask you to check my system of cooling if there are any another faults: bottom of the radiator -> pump -> charger -> joint to expansion tank -> inverter -> motor (we are going down) -> radiator top. Generally it's sequence like in OEM, but unfortunately there are some siphons, which I can't avoid. Any suggestions?
User avatar
tom91
Posts: 2753
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:15 pm
Location: Bristol
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 717 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by tom91 »

Show us some pictures of your setup.

Is the coolant getting warm? I would measure it to make sure the heat is actually getting into it.
Creator of SimpBMS
Founder Volt Influx https://www.voltinflux.com/
Webstore: https://citini.com/
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I dont think this is correct. Probably you have a lot of air still in system. you need to deair so that you almost dont hear the pump.
1. i think your header tank connection should be before pump so its suction would pull fluid rather than push it in header.
2. radiator input should be lower because heat is rising... then it should exit through the upper port. Also bubbles are also rising. You need a port to deair on top of radiator.

To deair use simple brass valves that i solder to 18mm copper tube and I leave enough of the valve to attach 10mm tube which I use to such air out manually. Usually works without me gulping a lot of coolant :)...
20231028_233126.jpg
https://mazdamx3ev.wordpress.com/2023/1 ... ng-piping/
for radiator i use from Fiat Siecento. You still get parts and tubing for them and its still low enough to fit easily.
i find inverter and motor surprisingly do not heat up much even while driving fast. Problem are chargers that heatup the system surprisingly much. This is why you need those fans.

EDIT
Outlander system is monitoring temp via CAN and you can make a simple arduino CAN reader to show temperatures of different devices in system...
marucha79
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2022 6:28 am
Location: Poland
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by marucha79 »

Some elements are seen here.

Fluid isn't warm, CAN reports that only this one place in inverter getting hot. I think @Arber is right, there is problem of air in system. Pump doesn't work smooth, can hear irregular noise. I use radiator of Civic VI, and there is plug, which could be used to release the air. First, I will move joint to tank before pump inlet, as @Arber suggest, it make sense.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

Air goes out at highest point.
It is not very efficient to have radiator fluid under the inverter level. Then air can remain trapped at the highest point.
Then you should make a new highest point....
Put one 2m long 10mm diameter transparent hose on the smaller release on your radiator. then you need one M8 bolt to quickly plug the hose if pump sends fluid flying.
1. you go and fill the fluid and observe how radiator fills up. your transparent hose should show you level with header tank.
2. route your hose across open hood so that majority would go higher than.header tank and turn on your pump.
3. observe the level rising and bubbles go out. if coolant would escape use M8 bolt to plug the hose. repeat...
4. turn off the pump and suck the air at other end out the system. Watch out for fluid ;). repeat with step 3 until you dont see bubnles anymore and pump runs smooth

https://evmeganetech.wordpress.com/2025 ... lant-loop/
marucha79
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2022 6:28 am
Location: Poland
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by marucha79 »

Maybe it so look likes, but upper part of radiator is the highest point. I suppose that plug of radiator when unscrew to intermediate position could release air by thin rubber hose to upper inlet of tank. After modify tank joint I try release air thoroughly.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

marucha79 wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 3:56 pm Maybe it so look likes, but upper part of radiator is the highest point. I suppose that plug of radiator when unscrew to intermediate position could release air by thin rubber hose to upper inlet of tank. After modify tank joint I try release air thoroughly.
i see you use small hose as return drain. I.am.not sure how would that work as your system is equal pressure to outside. Some of the fluid gets returned via that tube and pump is loosing pressure relative the other tubes.
Usually i make closed pressured system with header tank closed and small tube closed. I use transparent tube only for deair. To see where bubbles are. This is why i use long tube for deair and then I install short tube for sealing. After that i seal it.
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I made some corrections to my code recently.
1. I made stupid mistake of calling some relays ON before precharge was complete which had the consequence of irregular operation of DCDC and charger. Corrected that and i now see smooth operation...

2. I changed some other calls to order them to correctly call functions so timing shouldnt be an issue. Problem was that after start RPM function did not run for 30s or more... Now i get good start with working RPM function as engine running signal.
There is still problem with transition from charging back to ready and them to driving.
No problem if i unplug charger BEFORE i open the door. But if after, that VCU could transition from charging to ready and to driving with some sync error and motor would buck because of CAN sync issues. To remedy i need to remove power. I am considering to make a conditional to put VCU to watchdog reset after charge function is complete.

Code is posted in my github with compiled hex file. To use that file you need to use the wiring according to schematic attached....
https://github.com/arber333/Mini-E-VCU
Attachments
Mini-E-VCU pinouta.pdf
(270.95 KiB) Downloaded 37 times
akoni
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2025 9:04 am
Has thanked: 3 times

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by akoni »

hi all,

just a quick question on outlander motors.
i want to have a manual on/off button
to turn off /on rear motor so that only front motor will run to save battery during slow speed.

what would be the simplest option and recommended option?

thanks
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

akoni wrote: Wed Sep 10, 2025 9:55 am hi all,

just a quick question on outlander motors.
i want to have a manual on/off button
to turn off /on rear motor so that only front motor will run to save battery during slow speed.

what would be the simplest option and recommended option?

thanks
My answer in your thread here....
viewtopic.php?p=85965#p85965

EDIT: I would recommend you setup CAN interface to filter 0x287 telegram. This way you can turn off motors at will.
I would propose however to use only rear motor because it is slightly more powerful and rear axle drive usually means better torque use at driveoff...
arber333
Posts: 3660
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:37 pm
Location: Slovenia
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 368 times
Contact:

Re: Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

Post by arber333 »

I made my own design now with the same form and signal pinout in mind. That way if i would replace first VCU with my board the thing would directly work with the teensy chip and cable harness. The only difference would be the new expanded input, output pins with two new analog pins.

After i succesfully finished Megane conversion i decided in the future i may need the same VCU type with more input/outputs. There is question to control AC signal to drive AC compressor without internal commands where there may be interlocks that are not bridged and are preventing AC to run because engine is now missing.
I will post the new board on my github...
image.png
I recorded my new signals into the original matrix where there were empty pins left.
image.png
I am now left with:
- 4 new digital inputs, row D
- 2 new analog inputs, row F under previous throttle inputs
- 4 new digital outputs at about 0.5A capability, row G

Other changes include using NCV8401 protected switch to drive main DC contactors and precharge.
All digital inputs and outputs used are conneceted through ULN2003 SMD chips.
I made provision to use zener protective diodes on analog pins.
I also setup some pullup resistors so some of the input pins could be used to work with active low signals.

Code stil works from the same repository
https://github.com/arber333/Mini-E-VCU

After i soldered the board and added connector i tested it with existing harness on my Megane and Mazda....

EDIT1: It turned out i forgot previous board uses 10K resistor pullups to 3V3 and so i need to change the code to define internal pullups of teensy chip to be used.
// Setup Inputs
pinMode(ISO_IN1, INPUT_PULLUP); // FWD
pinMode(ISO_IN2, INPUT_PULLUP); // start from key
pinMode(ISO_IN3, INPUT_PULLUP); // Brake
pinMode(ISO_IN4, INPUT_PULLUP); // REV
pinMode(ISO_IN5, INPUT_PULLUP); // Heater
pinMode(ISO_IN6, INPUT_PULLUP); // Map 1
pinMode(ISO_IN7, INPUT_PULLUP); // IGN
pinMode(ISO_IN8, INPUT_PULLUP); // PP Detect

EDIT2: Looks like i managed to switch two inputs as well. In new code i will need to correct this if i want to use that board. I will correct that on future design on actual board....
define ISO_IN1 3 // FWD (2 ORIGINALY)
define ISO_IN2 2 // START (3 ORIGINALY)

I use VCU box with male connector from Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007 ... in_prod%3A

Photos....

I assembled my own cable using molex connector 48 Pin 64320-3311. After i crimped those pins i needed to position those crimps so the fitting key would slide across pins and lock them in place. This means orienting pins to the side srimped part facing 90deg to the connector.
image.png
I could also use preassembled molex connector labeled 48 Pin 64320-3311, it comes with pins or preassembled and i got mine assembled from Aliexpress.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... 1802LqKvps
Post Reply