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Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 1:36 pm
by Kevin Sharpe
Jack Bauer wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 9:48 am Thanks to everyones help I have now got the prius gen 2 mg2 spinning beautifully with foc using the V1c board in a gen3 inverter.
That's very cool :D

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 8:23 am
by Jack Bauer
Some info on the motor from a youtube comment (obviously elon under a pseudonym) :

Hope this help: The rear model 3 motor is a 6 pole permanent magnet motor. The rotor has 4 sub stacks, Each end sub stack is skewed by 3.33 degrees in relation to the middle 2 stacks which are matched to each other. The resolver is a 3 pole resolver.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 5:02 pm
by mdrobnak
Jack Bauer wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 8:23 am Some info on the motor from a youtube comment (obviously elon under a pseudonym) :

Hope this help: The rear model 3 motor is a 6 pole permanent magnet motor. The rotor has 4 sub stacks, Each end sub stack is skewed by 3.33 degrees in relation to the middle 2 stacks which are matched to each other. The resolver is a 3 pole resolver.
That sounds like a fairly unique setup?

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 3:10 pm
by Jack Bauer


I never thought I'd use the phrase" runs on the smell of a rag" with an electric motor but it applies to the M3 drive unit. Just needs to see a battery and it wants to run.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 3:25 pm
by Kevin Sharpe
Congratulations!

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:16 pm
by mike77cos
Congratulations and well done

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:08 pm
by Jack Bauer
Thanks. Parameter file attached from today's run for the curious.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:39 pm
by JaniK
It`s alive! :D GREAT JOB!

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:20 pm
by Jack Bauer
Don't suppose anyone knows what oil the m3 rdu needs? Dexron 6?

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:34 pm
by Kevin Sharpe
Jack Bauer wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:20 pm Don't suppose anyone knows what oil the m3 rdu needs? Dexron 6?
TMC says (here): The model 3 service guide calls the drive unit fluid "ATF-9". This does not appear to be a commercially available product. The exact description of the fluid is "ATF-9. SK Lubricant 422313 (part number 1135241-00-A)"

Edit: "ATF-9" also listed in a Model 3 RDU Service Bulletin (here)

Edit 2: "ZIC ATF - 9" details are on page 6 of the EPA certificate of conformity (here)
Screenshot 2020-06-04 at 16.43.57.png
Edit 3: SK ZIC Oil don't list the product but some of the DEXRON VI parameters look close (here)

Edit 4: Page 5 of the Model 3 AWD EPA certificate of conformity also lists the front motor (here)
Screenshot 2020-06-04 at 16.55.12.png

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:51 pm
by JaniK
Kevin Sharpe wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:34 pm
Jack Bauer wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:20 pm Don't suppose anyone knows what oil the m3 rdu needs? Dexron 6?
TMC says (here): The model 3 service guide calls the drive unit fluid "ATF-9". This does not appear to be a commercially available product. The exact description of the fluid is "ATF-9. SK Lubricant 422313 (part number 1135241-00-A)"

Edit: "ATF-9" also listed in a Model 3 RDU Service Bulletin (here)

Edit 2: "ZIC ATF - 9" details are on page 6 of the EPA certificate of conformity (here)

Screenshot 2020-06-04 at 16.43.57.png
Way to go Kevin !

Google offers a MB approved list that has ZIC ATF 914 in the list with other atf approved my MB, https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolist ... 14_en.html

Is it the same?

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 3:46 pm
by Kevin Sharpe
JaniK wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:51 pm Way to go Kevin !
No problem :)
JaniK wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:51 pm Google offers a MB approved list that has ZIC ATF 914 in the list with other atf approved my MB, https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolist ... 14_en.html

Is it the same?
I can't track down the specs or a source for the "ATF 9" used by Tesla and can't answer your question :(

All I can say is that at 100 °C the viscosity is similar if the EPA documents are correct;

"ATF 9" = 5.9 cSt

DEXRON 6 = 6.16 cSt

I've attached the ZIC ATF DEXRON 6 data for reference (source here).
Screenshot 2020-06-05 at 16.26.52.png

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:47 pm
by Jack Bauer
Close enough for me:)

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:57 pm
by Kevin Sharpe
Jack Bauer wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:47 pm Close enough for me:)
:D

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 5:29 pm
by JaniK
I think I will use this, it is actually the only stuff available on the shelf at 33km from my home. :P

https://mag1.com/products/transmission- ... ion-fluid/

Viscosity @ 100°C cSt
ASTM D445
5.797

Cost: 10,56€/litre

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:48 pm
by mike77cos
Some oil is better than no oil at all 😂

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:08 pm
by celeron55
I'd steer away from anything not clearly designed for hybrid transmissions, as the HV motor coils are definitely something that wasn't present when previous ATFs were designed and old ATFs might eat your coils or conduct electricity into the transmission case.

I think for example Toyota has got this covered since the early 2000s in their WS type oil that they use in lots of things.

Of course I have no idea what I'm talking about but that just makes sense to me, for the bare minimum requirement if you just want to buy the cheapest local stuff that might work.

EDIT: Actually, is the model 3 drive unit motor sealed from the transmission or not? I haven't been paying attention...

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:16 pm
by JaniK
Well, I still have lot of other stuff to do, so I can wait weeks to get "right" oil, and you got a good point there. And its not about saving maybe tens of euros here. Right oil Will last years and save thousands on not ruining the motor.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:28 am
by Jack Bauer
Time for a little update on the Model 3 drive unit.

Modchip board has been tested on the bench and works fine. Next up is wiring it to the inverter, then will need Johannes to do a few firmware mods to trigger the gate drivers at the right time during power up. As we saw from the Prius inverter tests the FOC firmware runs the motor just fine.

We'll do some high speed / high voltage runs to confirm functionality over the next week at which time the boards will go on beta release. A very long and boring video detailing the installation is in progress and will be released at the same time.

PDFs of the schematic and PCB will be available on github at that time however design source files will be available to Patrons only.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:48 am
by JaniK
I like that modchip design. Looking forward for the long and boring video :)

What did you do with the oil?

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:42 am
by jap
mike77cos wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:48 pm Some oil is better than no oil at all 😂
Nope, some VAG DSG gearboxes for example had a recall due to oil additives causinng burned control boards inside the box. So electronics and oils dont always mix well.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:03 am
by PacEmaker
I know you might not agree with this Damien but I'm gonna throw it out there anyhow:

I wholeheartedly endorse your approach to release of design source files to your Patreon patrons only.

As for firmware, I believe that should be released to Johannes' Patreon patrons only.

In other words, I think that everyone who supports Damien on Patreon should be supporting Johannes on Patreon as well.

Without firmware, the hardware is junk (beautiful junk of course). There, my tuppence-worth.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:27 pm
by JaniK
It appears something came up, or are updates for patron only?

Did you manage to find time to test it yet?

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:03 pm
by Jack Bauer
What came up is I'm one person juggling 50 projects. The modboard design is done. The inverter is reverse engineered. Openinverter FOC firmware runs the motor so all is left is wiring the modboard to the inverter and putting the drive unit back together. I'll get to it when I get to it.

Patrons get early access but everything will be published here.

Re: Tesla Model 3 Rear Drive Unit Hacking

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:12 pm
by JaniK
Now I feel silly asking the obvius, I know you have your hands full. Can I help somehow? I have one m3 rear driveunit here.