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Fault Codes

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Joe_Lowtech
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Joined: 2018-11-26 13:51
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Fault Codes

Hello,

I have recently started to use the vesc-tool and a brushless motor. I am getting a fault_under_voltage code. I am still new to bldc-motors(and any other e-motor :D), so it is not obvious to me, which voltage that is. Is there a documentation for the fault codes or can someone explain the code to me?

Thanks for your answers in advance and have a nice evening

Joe_Lowtech

TechAUmNu
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Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2017-09-22 01:27
Posts: 575

The under voltage warning means your input voltage from your battery / power supply is too low. You can change the value it triggers at here: Motor Settings > General > Advanced > Minimum Input Voltage.

mthielvoldt
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Joined: 2019-02-28 22:27
Posts: 1

Is there a source of documentation for all of the fault codes and their reported values?  I am hoping to correctly interpret a cascade of FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT codes:  The most specific points I would like to know are: 

  • What is the difference between "Current" and "Current Filtered" as reported in the faults? Does a large discrepancy between them indicate something meaningful? 
  • What condition triggers the FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT?
  • Does the VESC enter a "Protective state" or in any way definably change its behavior after encountering a first ABS_OVER_CURRENT event?  
  • What would be the best next steps for diagnostics after seeing a cascade of ABS_OVER_CURRENT events? 

If you are interested in how I got these codes, these are the test conditions: 

I was testing a 4.10 VESC with Firmware Version 3.58, which was behaving well.  I was braking hard on a steep downhill when I heard a "pop" sound, released the throttle (braking) and tried to re-engage braking but the control produced no response and the motor was freewheeling.  After coming to a stop, I could only accelerate mildly if I kicked off to get the motor spinning before engaging the control.  If I tried to accelerate aggressively even after kicking off, the indicator LED would go red, and I would stop accelerating.  If I accelerated moderately, then released the control while coasting, then re-engaged acceleration, the motor would suddenly brake instead of accelerating.  I also noticed that accelerating from a stop after the first fault event, the motor either spins in the wrong direction at times or coggs.  

I left the VESC powered on and opened the terminal and read the fault codes.  There were many of the same code, so I copied the first and last 2 codes in the list below.

The following are my overall and current limit settings: 

Motor Type: FOC 
Motor Current Max:        35A
Motor Current Max Brake:     -35A
Absolute Max Current:         55A
Slow ABS Current Limit:     True
Battery Current Max:         99A 
Battery Current Max Regen:     -60A​
DRV8301 OC Mode:     Current Limit
DRV8301 OC Adjustment:     16

 

The following faults were registered since start:

Fault : FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT
Current : 115.1
Current filtered : 54.0
Voltage : 22.92
Duty : 0.173
RPM : 47.5
Tacho : 1036471
Cycles running : 11
TIM duty : 1455
TIM val samp : 2
TIM current samp : 4200
TIM top : 8400
Comm step : 0
Temperature : 35.57

Fault : FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT
Current : -34.2
Current filtered : -26.9
Voltage : 22.43
Duty : 0.779
RPM : 9.4
Tacho : 1036471
Cycles running : 5067
TIM duty : 6543
TIM val samp : 2
TIM current samp : 4200
TIM top : 8400
Comm step : 0
Temperature : 35.40

***** Abridged: many OVER_CURRENT fault codes here. ************

Fault : FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT
Current : 115.1
Current filtered : 56.3
Voltage : 22.67
Duty : 0.179
RPM : 44.5
Tacho : 1065937
Cycles running : 11
TIM duty : 1500
TIM val samp : 2
TIM current samp : 4200
TIM top : 8400
Comm step : 0
Temperature : 32.69

Fault : FAULT_CODE_ABS_OVER_CURRENT
Current : 12.8
Current filtered : -14.8
Voltage : 22.05
Duty : -0.493
RPM : -177.3
Tacho : 1071275
Cycles running : 1073
TIM duty : -4138
TIM val samp : 2
TIM current samp : 4200
TIM top : 8400
Comm step : 0
Temperature : 33.29

Many Thanks!!!