Better acceleration with different firmware

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antiscab
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Better acceleration with different firmware

I thought this deserved its own topic.

There is a rumour going around that the older versions of firmware push the MC harder to get better acceleration.

If you have a copy of firmware older than MC2012, please let me know.

I have just tried out MC1014PR, which did seem to give better acceleration than MC1017-68mph.
Mik and I suspect the PR may stand for Promotional, but we could be wrong.

my own bike may not give the most repeatable results, as my battery is of higher voltage.
at lower traction voltages, the difference in performance may not be as great (anyone feel like testing?)

anyway, testing the battery straight off charge gives the greatest difference as MC1017-68mph seems to give less acceleration when straight off charge.

anyway my pack voltage doesn't sag below 140vdc.

MC1017-68mph looks like this (current measured from battery):
40A@0kmh
70A@50kmh
100A@70kmh
200A@80kmh
220A@90kmh
200A@100kmh
190A@110kmh

MC1014PR looks like this:
40A@0kmh
100A@50kmh
150A@70kmh
200A@80kmh
220A@90kmh
200A@100kmh

even MC1014PR looks like it is holding back, but does seem to be an improvement acceleration wise.

do note that it is an old revision, so the using the killswitch and brake does not show pack voltage and highest cell temp.
so less useful for un-modded nimh Vectrix

Matt

Mik
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Re: Better acceleration with different firmware

Very interesting!

Are these amperages reported via the Canbus or how do you measure them?

Below are the Canbus reported values with the software versions installed in the "Vectux":
Charger: Rev 2011
Motor controller: Rev 1014
ICM: Rev 1007
Instrument cluster: Rev D

I do not know what the installation file names for these were, the MC firmware might be MC1014PR version, or not. But I know that it does not have good acceleration off the line. It is good around 65km/h - 85km/h!

See http://visforvoltage.org/book/ev-collaborative-hand-books/6916 for details.

1km/h; 131V; 9A; = 1.179kW (00F00300: C5 02 14 30 C7 D1 00 A1)
12km/h; 126V; 58A; = 7.308kW @ full throttle , ~2.5s after start (00F00300: 42 03 14 30 45 17 00 E7) = LAME OFF THE LINE!
20km/h; 79A; 125V; = 9.875kW
29km/h ; 105A; 122V; =12.81kW
40km/h; 136A; 119V; =16.184kW
50km/h; 165A; 115V; =18.975kW
60km/h; 195A; 112V; =21.84kW
70km/h; 212A; 109V; =23.108kW
76km/h; 218A; 108V; = 23.544kW (00F00300= 4A 03 12 30 4D 46 00 16)=PEAK POWER
80km/h; 214A; 108V; =23.112kW
90km/h; 192A; 110V; =21.121kW
100km/h; 191A; 109V; =20.819kW
101km/h; 185A; 110V; = 20.35kW
103km/h; 93A; 118V; =10.974kW
102km/h; 62A; 121V; = 9.559kW
102km/h; 87A; 119V; = 10.353kW

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

R
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Joined: Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 09:46
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Re: Better acceleration with different firmware

The first V prototypes in 2005 performed like a 500CC TMAX. The older the firmware is, the better the Vectrix performs...
I hope that with better LI bats will vectrix recover some of this "lost" power...

antiscab
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Last seen: 10 months 2 days ago
Joined: Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 23:55
Points: 1686
Re: Better acceleration with different firmware

having had a ride on both 1014PR and 1017-68mph, I can't really tell any difference in acceleration between the two (it must have been all in my head).

after new years I'll have a chance to hook my laptop up during a ride to see how much power is delivered on a kmh by kmh basis.

Matt

Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km

R
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Re: Better acceleration with different firmware

Maybe the limit is the battery. Are you sure your battery can discharge all the instant power that the controller wants?

antiscab
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Last seen: 10 months 2 days ago
Joined: Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 23:55
Points: 1686
Re: Better acceleration with different firmware

Maybe the limit is the battery. Are you sure your battery can discharge all the instant power that the controller wants?

based upon my present understanding of how the software works, no, the battery is not the limiting factor.

the Low voltage point on the Vectrix is 108v.
My battery at 220A only sags to 136v.

So while the nimh battery was the limitation on max power on Miks acceleration, its likely the controllers battery current limit is the limitation on mine.

interestingly, the

Given the short duration of max discharge, my lithium pack can give 500A (for ~3 seconds).

As far as power in the per gate switching cycle sense, almost all of that comes from the controllers DC bus caps.
The Battery itself (nimh or lithium) has far too much series inductance for the current to increase/decrease fast enough.

Matt

Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km

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