Outlander VCU - Rear inverter, Charger and BMS

[arber333]

@aot93 What is the reason you use 2032 battery on the dash control module? Do you power it for sleep mode?
What if i just ommit it and power the dash from enable (engine running) signal?

tnx

[aot93]

It is for the real time clock.

The mini has no clock as standard so I thought it was nice to add one.

[arber333]

It is for the real time clock.

The mini has no clock as standard so I thought it was nice to add one.

Hm... could we use that RTC to postpone charging after cable has been connected eg. 3hrs later?

[aot93]

This is on my to-do list yes, create a charge timer and scheduler.

The difficult bit will be in creating the UI I think., I think it would need a web interface..another one on the to do list!

[arber333]

This is on my to-do list yes, create a charge timer and scheduler.

The difficult bit will be in creating the UI I think., I think it would need a web interface..another one on the to do list!

When i put 3 chargers together i thought about using them separately. So i devised a simple UI. 3 LEDs and a single button. When i cycled the button LEDs would com on in sequence and so did charger CAN IDs.
Maybe you could set something as simple or you could have display tell you charging start time ...

[Drivelafrance]

This thread is fascinating. I've just started on my journey and am looking at a very similar build transplanting outlander gear into a fwd car. Quick question at a high level. My first big purchase has been a 12kw battery pack from a 330e. Does anyone foresee issues using this higher voltage battery with the outlander rear inverter and charger?

[marcexec]

I think the Outlander is just voltage limited because of space - the components are properly rated for 96s according to Arber:
https://openinverter.org/forum/viewtopi ... der#p37663

[arber333]

I think the Outlander is just voltage limited because of space - the components are properly rated for 96s according to Arber:
https://openinverter.org/forum/viewtopi ... der#p37663

All Outlander components can work with 96S. Apart from AC compressor which can work from 104S!

[Drivelafrance]

This is great news!

Thanks for the confirmation and the prompt reply!

Cheers

[GeneralScanner]

aot93 This is amazing work!

Would you still have any of the PCBs available?

Many thanks G

[aot93]

Sorry I'm all out of boards.

[arber333]

aot93 This is amazing work!

Would you still have any of the PCBs available?

Many thanks G

I may have some unpopulated left. Which ones do you need? And where are you at?

[aot93]

Looks like the teensy's have moved to unobtainium for a while at least.

[arber333]

Looks like the teensy's have moved to unobtainium for a while at least.

True! You can stil get 4.2 though. At least main VCU can be assembled.

I am in process of building another VCU from esp32 chip. Esp32 can be get cheap and i used a lot of its pins. Main goal was to rebuild Leaf or Chademo VCU with esp32 replacing SAM.
I am using the same aliexpress 24pin shell you used for your VCU.
Drawback is it only has one CAN port. If i stretch its design a bit i could make a second SPI CAN. But i decided to setup as charger, BMS and inverter control first. Then i can make more complex iterations.

I just need to transfer code functions from DUE to esp32...

[aot93]

Ha! I literally just sat down and stated playing with the esp32 as well!

My project for this one is for a chademo controller.

The single can is a pain, I might try to the port the dash controller board to esp as it only needs 1 bus, and the build in WiFi Bluetooth could be interesting.

[arber333]

Ha! I literally just sat down and stated playing with the esp32 as well!

My project for this one is for a chademo controller.

I already designed it. Also i just got the word pcbs have arrived. So whats left is to tweak the code. If you want i can publish my design and you can work on the code so as not to repeat the work. Code is my weak point...

[aot93]

Happy to take a look, although I'm away working for the next or month so have limited test kit with me.

[GeneralScanner]

Hi arber333
Sorry for the delay new to the forum thing...
Managed to find a teensy 4.1 just need a board to put it on.
Whichever boards you have from this project I will take one of each...
I'm just outside of Cambridge UK
Thanks G

[nlc]

Ok now I am able to drive the inverter/motor :
- I start the car with all CAN IDs from car to inverter filtered but 0x285
- When high voltage is present on inverter, I emulate 0x288 frame from inverter to car with my computer to prevent the car to detect error and stop high-voltage on inverter, and I filter all frame from inverter to car
- I filter the 0x285 frame from car to inverter, now the inverter is completely isolated from CAN point of view.
- I shut down the inverter 12V (by disconnecting the harness connector)
- I powerup the inverter (by connecting the harness connector)
- I send homemade 0x285 frame to the inverter and it works

[EV_Builder]

The last three steps how often can you repeat that?

[nlc]

Sorry I made a mistake my original message was here : https://openinverter.org/forum/viewtopi ... 305#p43305

[nlc]

The last three steps how often can you repeat that?

I tried 2 times

[m1n1s]

Hi Guys,

Starting my build any one have any pcb boards i can buy?

[aot93]

Good news is the teensy 4.1 seems to be back in general stock.

Bad news is the 3.x ones are still a way off by the looks of things, which makes the BMS side of things tricky.

If there is interest I can order do an order for some vcu boards from JLCpcb will take a few weeks on cheap shipping

[Drivelafrance]

Hi all,

I've sat around for so long (aot93 very kindly provided me with some boards) that I've hit issues getting hold of a 3.2 for the BMS.

Is anybody working on a BMS using a 4.1 or perhaps ESP32 which I could try to muck in with?