Welding
You can use the controller for stick (arc) welding. You will only connect the welding electrode holder to the controller and set the welding current.
This feature is really useful if you have a farm and you need to weld something in the field and also have an electric bike with the siliXcon controller.
This feature is available only in VECTOR_LYNX_welding version. Due to memory constraints, this feature may not fit in all versions of the controller. This version is not currently available publicly. Ask service support for more information and how to get this feature.
Capabilities
- Welding current control (by external potentiometer) up to the maximum current of the controller!
- Anti-stick (customizable by the parameters)
- Hot-start (customizable by the parameters)
How to use this feature
- Turn off the device
- Connect the welding electrode holder to the controller
- Hold the welding button
- Turn on the device and wait at least 2 seconds
- Release the welding button
- Set the welding current by the external potentiometer
- Start welding
If the welding is active:
- LYNX mode is 30
- If you have a siliXcon VDS display, the display will show welding mode
- In future version, we may show some welding stats - Tell us what you want to see on the display!
Wiring
Welding enable button:
This button is used to enable the welding mode. It is possible to share this button with another function like map button. This mean, that /io/IN_mapswitch will have the same value as /welding/IN_enable_welding.
Welding current potentiometer:
This input is optional. Using this input you can change the welding current. If you don't configure this input or do not connect the potentiometer, the controller will use the default_cmd value for the welding current.
Welding electrode holder:
To connect the holder, you must disconnect the motor phase B from the controller. Then connect the holder to the free motor phase and ground clamp to the controller phase B output.
- Always first connect the clamps, before entering the welding mode. Otherwise, the welding current will flow through the motor. This will not damage the motor or controller, but it can cause the motor to rotate and overheat.
- Always use a temperature sensor on the motor. If the motor overheats, the controller will reduce the current to prevent damage.
During the welding, the current flows through the motor. The motor acts as inductance. But because the vehicle is not moving, there is no air flow to cool the motor. This means, that you will get a lower current for the welding than is your current for normal driving.
Other wiring is the same as for the normal operation of the controller. You can connect the throttle, brake, and other inputs and outputs as usual.
Parameters
Using parameters you can customize the welding feature. You can set the maximum current, anti-stick, hot-start, and other parameters.
All parameters are in the /welding folder.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
max_curr | [A] Maximum current for the welding |
default_cmd | [0-1] Default command for welding. This is used if the current potentiometer is not used or connected. |
cmd_lpf | Low-pass filter for the welding command |
IN_enable_welding | GDIN value for the welding enable button. Check input mapping for more info |
IN_curr_set | GPIO value for potentiometer. Check input mapping for more info |
delay | [ms] this serves two purposes: - Delay before anti-stick is enabled - Duration of the hot-start |
antistick_voltage | [V] Voltage for the anti-stick. If the voltage is lower than this value (for delay period), the controller will reduce the current to 10%. |
hotstart_voltage | [V] Voltage for the hot-start. If the voltage is higher than this value (for delay period), the controller will increase the current by hotstart_cmd_mult |
hotstart_cmd_mult | [0-1] Multiplier for the hot-start. If the voltage is higher than hotstart_voltage, the current will be multiplied by this value. |
asc | ASC block for the current poteintiometer input. If the output of the asc is NaN, the controller will use the default_cmd value. (ie. Input voltage is below /asc/absmin) |
| State | Description |
|---|---|
welding_state | 1: normal operation 2: antistick active 3: hotstart active |
voltage | [V] Voltage on the arc |
- If you want to see the actual current, plot the
/driver/motor/currentqf. - If you want to invert the voltage on the clamps, configure reverse switch
/io/IN_reverse, which will invert the voltage on the clamps if enabled.