ProModeler ESCs

[Dr. M]

Hi guys,

Anybody using these? I have recently purchased a 200A version for my Goblin Speed build. The setup program looks pretty straight forward, except the Governor part: the only options appear to be: Auto, Low, High. Am I to understand that Auto means Off?

I'm planning to use an external governor (iKon), so I'd like to set up the ESC as if it were on a plane - no soft start, no gov, fast throttle response.

Also a bit of a conundrum is how I'm going to connect it to the motor, but that's another issue. I'm seriously considering soldering the motor wires directly to the ESC PCB.

[Dr. M]

Really? Nobody? No thoughts, opinions, speculation even?

[N3M0]

Pure speculation here, but here it goes. I would agree that auto would be the logical first step to check if its off. You could easily solder the motor to the ESC, but if you crash and something separated you could pull the motor wires out or damage the ESC PCB. Wherever the weaker point is. Just something to think about.

[z_man_95]

I wish I could help. Been too busy with my multirotor to set up my 120v esc.

[TheKingPhisher]

If that were my setup I would use 3 short 1 inch pieces of silicone wire with a AWG that is the same gage as the smaller of the two which I'm assuming is the motor's wire and make 3 convertor segments. On each wire segment, the motor end would have a smaller female bullet and on the ESC end a larger male bullet. With this method you're not cutting any wires from the motor or ESC and you're not adding much resistance either. Also in the event you need to replace the ESC/motor you just unplug them.

As for the governor I have no idea, maybe contact Audacity since they sold you the product and should know how to set it up? Anyway let us know how those servos/ESC/motor works out for you as I'm curious to try a similar setup in the near future. Big name motors and ESCs are way too expensive just like the servos.

[Dr. M]

There we go. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks guys.

I do agree that soldering the motor wires to the ESC isn't a great idea; and I do like the concept of short transfer wires. I'll do a dry layup and see how it would fit. I'm also considering going Kontronic style: eyelet connectors with screws. One thing's for sure: I'm not shortening the motor wires.

Ott, I put the servos on the servo tester and they performed great. Perfect centering every time. Zero deadband on the tail servo, which is great. Speed tested at about 0.11sec for the cyclics and 0.08 for the tail at 7.5V, 60-deg swing, no load. But the real test is in the air...

[Dr. M]

Major setback!

The ProModeler app keeps crashing as soon as I switch to the "Settings" tab. The error (see attached) indicates some seriously shoddy programming. My computer is a Win7 64-bit machine.

Otherwise, I fired up the power system on the Goblin Speed. The PMAX motor is a beast - it nearly jerked the frame off the table while starting while being connected to nothing more than the gear train and an empty main shaft

[Atomic Skull]

Originally Posted by Dr. M

There we go. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks guys.

I do agree that soldering the motor wires to the ESC isn't a great idea; and I do like the concept of short transfer wires. I'll do a dry layup and see how it would fit. I'm also considering going Kontronic style: eyelet connectors with screws. One thing's for sure: I'm not shortening the motor wires.

Turn the motor so that the wires come out the side and then make a set of extensions to go between the ESC and the motor. Run these down the side of the frame and over to the motor wires and secure them with a velcro strap.

I did something similar on my Trex 550 because I wanted the motor wires on the outside of the frame where I could reach them.

[Dr. M]

Good idea, Atomic. Thanks.

Here are some notes on the ESC setup.

1) make sure the caps are secure. One of mine was not fully seated in the hot glue like the others, so that had to be reinforced with some more hot glue.
2) cover up the exposed solder points on the battery and motor wires. I used some red liquid electrical tape.

3) calibrate the throttle range by turning on the ESC with the throttle at 100%. Wait for a few beeps, then pull throttle down to 0%. DO NOT use TH to set the 0% point, rather use the stick with a curve that has 0 at the bottom.

[Dr. M]

Ok, this is starting to really irritate me. I've tried multiple fixes for the app error and it's still not working. Who's got this thing working and how did you do it?

Update: I tried two other computers and I get the same error. So something with the ESC itself is causing the app to crash. The only thing I did to it is program the throttle end points, and run the motor with no load for a few seconds, hoping to see some pretty logging graphs. Hmm

[TheKingPhisher]

Your best bet is contacting www.hifei.com...they are the makers of the ESC.

[Dr. M]

Originally Posted by TheKingPhisher

Your best bet is contacting www.hifei.com...they are the makers of the ESC.

Thanks so much. That appears to be exactly what I need.

Edit1: Problem solved. The HiFei software connects to the PM ESC and recognizes it as a KingKong 200A HV device.

Edit2: Well, the App still crashes when I try to download the data log, but at least I can get to the programming features.

[jbeech]

There's an updated driver, version 1.2 - give this a try, please. Note, if you're using 32-bit Windows, once you update the driver you're done. If you're using 64-bit Windows, there's an extra step. While the 64-bit file is copied to the directory, it's not installed. Just go to c:\Program Files\ProModeler and double click on the installation file, CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.exe and all should be good.

[Jermo]

I've been running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 since it was in early beta. Please perform the following steps.
1. Login with an account having administrator rights.
2. click, start, then computer,
3. Right click on C, left click on properties, then left click on the tools tab.
4. Click on "Check now", check both boxes and left click start.
You'll get a dialog that error checking cannot be performed and it will be performed after the next restart.
5. Restart and let the error checking /repairs run.

When this is finished - repeat for each disk.
Next

6. Reboot into safe mode.
7. Open a command prompt as administrator.
8. Type in the command sfc /scannow <press enter>
Let this finish then restart into normal mode..

9. Uninstall the pro-modeler software and any drivers you've manually installed for this,

10. Restart the computer and log in with administrator rights.
11. Install the software (do NOT plug the hardware in unless the software requires it).
12. Restart and log in with administrator rights.
13. Wait until all disk activity stops and the computer appears to be fully started and initialized.
14. Plug in the ESC - windows should detect the hardware and load the drivers. wait for this process to finish successfully...if the drivers don't load successfully stop and post the exact errors and details.

15. If the drivers load correctly then launch the ESC software.

At this point if you experience any issues try disconnecting any other USB hardware to isolate a possible bus conflict.

Jer

[Dr. M]

Thanks, Jermo. I'll give it a try.

[Dr. M]

Originally Posted by Jermo

I've been running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 since it was in early beta. Please perform the following steps.
1. Login with an account having administrator rights.
2. click, start, then computer,
3. Right click on C, left click on properties, then left click on the tools tab.
4. Click on "Check now", check both boxes and left click start.
You'll get a dialog that error checking cannot be performed and it will be performed after the next restart.
5. Restart and let the error checking /repairs run.

When this is finished - repeat for each disk.
Next

6. Reboot into safe mode.
7. Open a command prompt as administrator.
8. Type in the command sfc /scannow <press enter>
Let this finish then restart into normal mode..

9. Uninstall the pro-modeler software and any drivers you've manually installed for this,

10. Restart the computer and log in with administrator rights.
11. Install the software (do NOT plug the hardware in unless the software requires it).
12. Restart and log in with administrator rights.
13. Wait until all disk activity stops and the computer appears to be fully started and initialized.
14. Plug in the ESC - windows should detect the hardware and load the drivers. wait for this process to finish successfully...if the drivers don't load successfully stop and post the exact errors and details.

15. If the drivers load correctly then launch the ESC software.

At this point if you experience any issues try disconnecting any other USB hardware to isolate a possible bus conflict.

Jer

Well, I did all that and there's absolutely no change. Same error at the same spot. There are no other USB devices connected to the computer.

[jbeech]

Not ignoring you Mihai . . . investigating.

[Dr. M]

I know, John. Thank you.

Jer,

Perhaps I forgot to mention on this thread, but I tried to get this to work on two other computers an the same error appears. I think this problem is with the software itself, rather than hardware, or the drivers.

[Jermo]

Sounds like either you're missing a library/.net update OR the compiler options weren't set to allow x64. Where did you download the software? I'll download and install to see what happens. I was running a version that came directly off Johns site.
Jer

[Dr. M]

The ProModeler app is from Promodeler.com

HiFei from their own website.

I too suspect the software was not compiled properly for 64 bit, but I don't have access to a 32 bit platform to test.