The Brushless DC Motor Phidget is a brushless DC motor driver. It has an 8-30V DC supply input, and provides up to 20 amps of continuous current to a single brushless DC motor. The motor must have Hall-effect feedback for this controller to function.
This controller includes two operating modes: BLDC Motor and Position Controller. The Position mode utilizes the built-in encoder channel or Hall-effect sensor data to deliver fast and precise closed-loop control. Prebuilt tuning software is available through the Phidget Control Panel on Windows. In BLDC Motor mode, users can manually control the motor or implement custom control loops. Comprehensive guides are available for each mode.
Safety features include polarity protection, thermal monitoring, and a standard failsafe mode.
The BLDC Motor Phidget must be connected to a VINT Hub Phidget to function. A Power Guard Phidget is also required for most applications. For more information, review our Power Guard Guide.
Features
Delivers 20A of continuous current to a single brushed DC motor.
Closed-loop position control via the built-in encoder input or Hall-effect sensors.
Built-in electrical isolation for enhanced system reliability.
This Phidget is a smart device that must be controlled by a VINT Hub. For more information about VINT, have a look at the VINT Overview page. You can use a Phidget Cable to simply and easily connect the two devices. Here's a list of all of the different VINT Hubs currently available:
Use a Phidget cable to connect this device to the hub. You can solder multiple cables together in order to make even longer Phidget cables, but you should be aware of the effects of having long wires in your system.
Using motor controllers with large motors can pose a risk for your power supply. If your supply does not have protective features built-in, you can use a Power Guard Phidget to prevent damage from power spikes from back EMF that is generated when motors brake or change direction. We recommend that you use the SAF2000 for any motor with a current rating between 1 and 5 amperes, and the SAF1000 for motors above 5A.
We offer a wide variety of BLDC motors that can be used with this Phidget. For wiring details, see the Connection & Compatibility tab on the motor's product page. This controller is only compatible with BLDC motors that have hall-effect sensor feedback.
These cables are normally used to connect encoders to Phidgets, but the same connector is used by the hall effect input on the DCC1100. The BLDC motors sold at Phidgets already have this cable soldered to the end of the hall effect wires, but if you have your own motor you can buy one of these cables. Just snip one end off and solder it to you motor's hall effect wires in order to connect it to the DCC1100.
For installation instructions for these packages, see the README file included with each one.
Step 2: Connect Devices
● Connect USB Cable to your Linux Computer
● Connect VINT Device(s)
Step 3: Verify Connection
1. The easiest way to verify that your libraries are working properly is to compile and run an example program. Download and unpack this C example that will
detect any Phidget:
2. Next, open the terminal in the location where you unpacked the example. Compile and run using:
gcc HelloWorld.c -o HelloWorld -lphidget22
sudo ./HelloWorld
ou should receive a “Hello” line for each Phidget channel that is discovered:
I don’t see any Phidgets show up in the HelloWorld example
You need to run it with sudo in order to be able to access USB devices. In order to use
Phidgets without sudo, you need to set your udev rules. See the Advanced Information page on the final slide of this guide for details.
Done!
If you're able to see your devices in the Hello World example, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in Linux (e.g. Udev rules, old versions, etc.), visit this page:
If you're unsure which one you should get, press ⊞ WIN + Pause/Break:
Before installing our libraries, be sure to read our Software License.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
2. Open the download. If it asks you for permission, select Run
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3a. Select Next
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3b. Read the Licence Agreement. Select Next.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3c. Choose Installation Location. Select Next.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3d. Select Next to confirm install.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3e. Wait for Installation to complete. This should only take a few moments.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3f. Installation Complete. Close installation Window.
Step 2: Connect Devices
● Connect Power Jack
● Connect VINT Device(s)
● Connect Ethernet to a Router or Switch (optional)
Step 3: Verify Connection
Choose a setup method:
Configure with mobile device
Connect with ethernet cable
(Requires physical access to router or switch)
«
»
Connection (Mobile)
Step 3: Connect Wireless
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. On your mobile device, go to the Wi-Fi settings and connect to the HUB5000:
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. When asked for a password, enter the password printed on the HUB5000’s label.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Once your device is connected to the HUB5000’s WiFi signal:
Click on the WiFi network and find an option that says “Manage router” or “Visit homepage”.
Go to your internet browser and type 192.168.100.1 in the address bar.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use it to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
6. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
7. Enter your Wifi Network details and click Save & Apply. It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which
we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. Open the Phidgets Control Panel:
If your Control Panel does not open, look in your taskbar. Double click the Phidget Icon.
Step 4: Verify Connection
2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub by
going back to the Phidget Control Panel. If there's a blue arrow beside the version number, it means an update is available:
Right-click anywhere on that row and select Upgrade Firmware. When it's done, the number in the Version column will change.
Step 5: Update
Next, to update the OS firmware, go to the Network Phidgets tab in the control panel, find your HUB5000 and double-click on it. If the OS firmware is out
of date, you'll see the following window pop up with steps to follow:
1. Download the firmware (you can get it here if the button does not
work)
2. Open the web interface by clicking the button or entering the HUB5000's IP address in your web browser.
3. Go to the System tab and scroll down to the Upgrade Firmware section. Select the file you just downloaded and click Upgrade and Restart.
You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
Step 5: Update
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded. You can also check the version in the
Network Phidgets tab on the Phidget Control Panel.
Done!
Now that you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel and they're fully updated, you're done with the Setup part of this
guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more help installing in Windows (e.g. manual install, using a VM, etc.), visit this page:
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. In your Web Browser, enter hub5000.local
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use this password to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Enter your Wifi Network details to use your Hub wirelessly and click Save & Apply. You can then disconnect the ethernet cable.
It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. Open the Phidgets Control Panel:
If your Control Panel does not open, look in your taskbar. Double click the Phidget Icon.
Step 4: Verify Connection
2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub by
going back to the Phidget Control Panel. If there's a blue arrow beside the version number, it means an update is available:
Right-click anywhere on that row and select Upgrade Firmware. When it's done, the number in the Version column will change.
Step 5: Update
Next, to update the OS firmware, go to the Network Phidgets tab in the control panel, find your HUB5000 and double-click on it. If the OS firmware is out
of date, you'll see the following window pop up with steps to follow:
1. Download the firmware (you can get it here if the button does not
work)
2. Open the web interface by clicking the button or entering the HUB5000's IP address in your web browser.
3. Go to the System tab and scroll down to the Upgrade Firmware section. Select the file you just downloaded and click Upgrade and Restart.
You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
Step 5: Update
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded. You can also check the version in the
Network Phidgets tab on the Phidget Control Panel.
Done!
Now that you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel and they're fully updated, you're done with the Setup part of this
guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more help installing in Windows (e.g. manual install, using a VM, etc.), visit this page:
Before installing our libraries, be sure to read our Software License.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
2. Open the download and double click on Phidgets.pkg
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3a. Select Continue
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3b. Read and continue. Read the License and click Agree.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3c. Here, you have the option to select the installation location. Select Install.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3d. MacOS may ask for permission to install. Enter your username and password and Install Software.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3e. Wait for Installation to complete. This should only take a few moments.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3f. You may see a message that the extension has been blocked. Select Open Security Preferences.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3g. Beside the message for Phidgets Inc, Click Allow.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3h. Installation Complete, Click Close.
Step 1: Install Phidgets Library
3i. To delete the installer, click Move to Trash.
Step 2: Connect Devices
● Connect Power Jack
● Connect VINT Device(s)
● Connect Ethernet to a Router or Switch (optional)
Step 3: Verify Connection
Choose a setup method:
Configure with mobile device
Connect with ethernet cable
(Requires physical access to router or switch)
«
»
Connection (Mobile)
Step 3: Connect Wireless
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. On your mobile device, go to the Wi-Fi settings and connect to the HUB5000:
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. When asked for a password, enter the password printed on the HUB5000’s label.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Once your device is connected to the HUB5000’s WiFi signal:
Click on the WiFi network and find an option that says “Manage router” or “Visit homepage”.
Go to your internet browser and type 192.168.100.1 in the address bar.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use this password to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
6. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
7. Enter your Wifi Network details and click Save & Apply. It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which
we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. Open the Phidget Control Panel:
Step 4: Verify Connection
2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub by
going back to the Phidget Control Panel. If the name of the device is red, it means an update is available:
Double click on the device in the control panel to update the VINT Hub firmware. When it's finished, the text will turn from red to black and the number in the
Version column will change.
Step 5: Update
To upgrade the firmware of the operating system on the HUB5000, download the most recent file
here.
Next, go back to the web configuration page and click on the System tab. Scroll down to Upgrade Firmware and select the file you download and hit
Upgrade & Restart. You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded.
Done!
Now that you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in MacOS (e.g. developer tools, driver extension, etc.), visit this page:
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. In your Web Browser, enter hub5000.local
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use this password to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Enter your Wifi Network details to use your Hub wirelessly and click Save & Apply. You can then disconnect the ethernet cable.
It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. Open the Phidget Control Panel:
Step 4: Verify Connection
2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub by
going back to the Phidget Control Panel. If the name of the device is red, it means an update is available:
Double click on the device in the control panel to update the VINT Hub firmware. When it's finished, the text will turn from red to black and the number in the
Version column will change.
Step 5: Update
To upgrade the firmware of the operating system on the HUB5000, download the most recent file
here.
Next, go back to the web configuration page and click on the System tab. Scroll down to Upgrade Firmware and select the file you download and hit
Upgrade & Restart. You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded.
Done!
Now that you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in MacOS (e.g. developer tools, driver extension, etc.), visit this page:
For installation instructions for these packages, see the README file included with each one.
Step 2: Connect Devices
● Connect Power Jack
● Connect VINT Device(s)
● Connect Ethernet to a Router or Switch (optional)
Step 3: Verify Connection
Choose a setup method:
Configure with mobile device
Connect with ethernet cable
(Requires physical access to router or switch)
«
»
Connection (Mobile)
Step 3: Connect Wireless
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. On your mobile device, go to the Wi-Fi settings and connect to the HUB5000:
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. When asked for a password, enter the password printed on the HUB5000’s label.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Once your device is connected to the HUB5000’s WiFi signal:
Click on the WiFi network and find an option that says “Manage router” or “Visit homepage”.
Go to your internet browser and type 192.168.100.1 in the address bar.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use this password to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
6. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
7. Enter your Wifi Network details and click Save & Apply. It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which
we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. The easiest way to verify that your libraries are working properly is to compile and run an example program. Download and unpack this C example that will
detect any Phidget:
2. Next, open the terminal in the location where you unpacked the example. Compile and run using:
gcc HelloWorld.c -o HelloWorld -lphidget22
sudo ./HelloWorld
ou should receive a “Hello” line for each Phidget channel that is discovered:
I don’t see any Phidgets show up in the HelloWorld example
You need to run it with sudo in order to be able to access USB devices. In order to use
Phidgets without sudo, you need to set your udev rules. See the Advanced Information page on the final slide of this guide for details.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub
using the phidget22admin tool (see included readme for further
instructions).
To upgrade the firmware of the operating system on the HUB5000, download the most recent file
here.
Next, go back to the web configuration page and click on the System tab. Scroll down to Upgrade Firmware and select the file you download and hit
Upgrade & Restart. You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded.
Done!
Now that you're able to see your devices in the Hello World example and the device is fully updated, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in Linux (e.g. Udev rules, old versions, etc.), visit this page:
1. When you connect the power supply to the HUB5000, the red LED should turn on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
2. In your Web Browser, enter hub5000.local
Step 3: Connect Wireless
3. Create a password for your HUB5000. You'll use this password to access the Configure Page from now on.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
4. Navigate to the network page. Change the Mode to Client.
Step 3: Connect Wireless
5. Enter your Wifi Network details to use your Hub wirelessly and click Save & Apply. You can then disconnect the ethernet cable.
It may take a few minutes for your Phidgets to appear in the Phidget Control Panel, which we’ll check in the next step.
Step 4: Verify Connection
1. The easiest way to verify that your libraries are working properly is to compile and run an example program. Download and unpack this C example that will
detect any Phidget:
2. Next, open the terminal in the location where you unpacked the example. Compile and run using:
gcc HelloWorld.c -o HelloWorld -lphidget22
sudo ./HelloWorld
You should receive a “Hello” line for each Phidget channel that is discovered:
I don’t see any Phidgets show up in the HelloWorld example
You need to run it with sudo in order to be able to access USB devices. In order to use
Phidgets without sudo, you need to set your udev rules. See the Advanced Information page on the final slide of this guide for details.
Step 5: Update
Now that you've confirmed that you have access to your Phidgets, you should ensure the HUB5000 is fully updated. You can update the firmware of the VINT Hub
using the phidget22admin tool (see included readme for further
instructions).
To upgrade the firmware of the operating system on the HUB5000, download the most recent file
here.
Next, go back to the web configuration page and click on the System tab. Scroll down to Upgrade Firmware and select the file you download and hit
Upgrade & Restart. You'll be instructed to wait a few minutes before logging back into the web interface.
When you log back in, you can confirm that the new version has successfully installed by checking to see if the firmware version listed in the
Status section matches the first three numbers in the firmware file name that you downloaded.
Done!
Now that you're able to see your devices in the Hello World example and the device is fully updated, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in Linux (e.g. Udev rules, old versions, etc.), visit this page:
For installation instructions for these packages, see the README file included with each one.
Step 2: Connect Devices
● Connect Power Jack
● Connect VINT Device(s)
● Connect Ethernet to a Router or Switch in the same network as your Linux machine
Step 3: Verify Connection
1. The easiest way to verify that your libraries are working properly is to compile and run an example program. Download and unpack this C example that will
detect any Phidget:
2. Next, open the terminal in the location where you unpacked the example. Compile and run using:
gcc HelloWorld.c -o HelloWorld -lphidget22
sudo ./HelloWorld
If everything is working, you should receive a “Hello” line for each Phidget channel that is discovered:
I don’t see any Phidgets show up in the HelloWorld example
You need to run it with sudo in order to be able to access USB devices. In order to use
Phidgets without sudo, you need to set your udev rules. See the Advanced Information page on the final slide of this guide for details.
Now that the SBC's ethernet connection is verified, it can be connected to wifi.
If you don't have a USB wifi adapter or you're planning to stay on ethernet, you can scroll down to
Part 2: Using Your Phidget
Step 4: Connect Wireless
1. In your web browser, enter phidgetsbc.local
If you're using a terminal-only Linux machine, use the browser on your phone instead.
(If you use a phone, you need to enter the IP address your router assigned to the SBC instead of phidgetsbc.local)
Step 4: Connect Wireless
2. Create a password for your SBC. You will use this to access the configuration page from now on.
Step 4: Connect Wireless
3. Navigate to Network -> Wireless. Select your Network, enter the wifi password and select Add This Network.
Step 4: Connect Wireless
4. Scroll down to your saved networks, click on your network and select Join This Network.
Step 4: Connect Wireless
5. It should now say connected in the status column.
You can now unplug the ethernet cable.
Step 4: Connect Wireless
6. Run the HelloWorld example again to confirm that your Phidgets are accessible over wifi.
Done!
If you're able to see your devices in the Hello World example, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.
Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.
For more info installing in Linux (e.g. Udev rules, old versions, etc.), visit this page:
The DCC1100 lets you control one brushless DC motor with hall-effect feedback. With this Phidget, you can set the velocity (forward or reverse) and acceleration of your motor, or set a specific target position using the position controller built into the Phidgets software libraries. You can also monitor the controller temperature for cooling management and safety.
The DCC1100 requires an 8-30V DC power supply.
Explore Your Phidget Channels Using The Control Panel
You can use your Control Panel to explore your Phidget's channels.
1. Open your Control Panel, and you will find the following channels:
2. Double click on a channel to open an example program. Each channel belongs to a different channel class:
Expand All
Brushless DC Motor Controller: Controls the velocity and acceleration of the motor
In your Control Panel, double click on "Brushless DC Motor Controller":
Position Controller: A built-in PID position controller
In your Control Panel, double click on "Position Controller":
Temperature Sensor: Measures the board temperature so you can tell if the DCC1100 is overheating
In your Control Panel, double click on "Temperature Sensor":
How do I know what channel, serial number, or hub port to use in my program?
Before you open a Phidget channel in your program, you can set these properties to specify which channel to open. You can find this information through the Control Panel.
1. Open the Control Panel and double-click on the red map pin icon:
2. The Addressing Information window will open. Here you will find all the information you need to address your Phidget in your program.
See the Phidget22 API for your language to determine exact syntax for each property.
Setting the Change Trigger and Data Interval
The Change Trigger is the minimum change in the sensor data needed to trigger a new data event.
The Data Interval is the time (in ms) between data events sent out from your Phidget.
The Data Rate is the reciprocal of Data Interval (measured in Hz), and setting it will set the reciprocal value for Data Interval and vice-versa.
You can modify one or both of these values to achieve different data outputs. You can learn more about these properties here.
Upgrading or Downgrading Device Firmware
Firmware Upgrade
MacOS users can upgrade device firmware by double-clicking the device row in the Phidget Control Panel.
Linux users can upgrade via the phidget22admin tool (see included readme for instructions).
Windows users can upgrade the firmware for this device using the Phidget Control Panel as shown below.
Firmware Downgrade
Firmware upgrades include important bug fixes and performance improvements, but there are some situations where you may want to revert to an old version of the firmware (for instance, when an application you're using is compiled using an older version of phidget22 that doesn't recognize the new firmware).
MacOS and Linux users can downgrade using the phidget22admin tool in the terminal (see included readme for instructions).
Windows users can downgrade directly from the Phidget Control Panel if they have driver version 1.9.20220112 or newer:
Firmware Version Numbering Schema
Phidgets device firmware is represented by a 3-digit number. For firmware patch notes, see the device history section on the Specifications tab on your device's product page.
If the digit in the 'ones' spot changes, it means there have been bug fixes or optimizations. Sometimes these changes can drastically improve the performance of the device, so you should still upgrade whenever possible. These upgrades are backwards compatible, meaning you can still use this Phidget on a computer that has Phidget22 drivers from before this firmware upgrade was released.
If the digit in the 'tens' spot changes, it means some features were added (e.g. new API commands or events). These upgrades are also backwards compatible, in the sense that computers running old Phidget22 drivers will still be able to use the device, but they will not be able to use any of the new features this version added.
If the digit in the 'hundreds' spot changes, it means a major change has occurred (e.g. a complete rewrite of the firmware or moving to a new architecture). These changes are not backwards compatible, so if you try to use the upgraded board on a computer with old Phidget22 drivers, it will show up as unsupported in the Control Panel and any applications build using the old libraries won't recognize it either. Sometimes, when a Phidget has a new hardware revision (e.g. 1018_2 -> 1018_3), the firmware version's hundreds digit will change because entirely new firmware was needed (usually because a change in the processor). In this case, older hardware revisions won't be able to be upgraded to the higher version number and instead continue to get bug fixes within the same major revision.
Stall Velocity
If the load on your motor is large, your motor may begin rotating more slowly, or even fully stall. Depending on the voltage across your motor, this may result in a large amount of current through both the controller and the motor. In order to prevent damage in these situations, you can use the StallVelocity property.
The StallVelocity should be set to the lowest velocity you would expect from your motor. The controller will then monitor the motor's velocity, as well as the Velocity, and prevent a 'dangerous stall' from occuring. If the controller detects a dangerous stall, it will immediately reduce the Velocity (i.e. average voltage) to 0 and an error will be reported to your program.
A 'dangerous stall' will occur faster when the Velocity is higher (i.e. when the average voltage across the motor is higher)
A 'dangerous stall' will occur faster as (StallVelocity - motor velocity) becomes larger .
Setting StallVelocity to 0 will turn off stall protection functionality.
Rescale Factor
Rescale Factor can be set to change the motor position units into something more useful, such as degrees or rotations. The following video explains how to set the Rescale Factor using a stepper controller as an example.
Instead of steps, brushless DC motors work in commutations. The number of commutations per rotation is equal to the number of poles multiplied by the number of phases. So, if you have an 8-Pole, 3-Phase motor, the motor will have 24 commutations per rotation. For this motor, to change the target position units from communications to rotations, you would set the rescale factor to 1/24, or 0.0416.
Control Loop Parameters
In order to get the desired behavior from your controller, you will have to tune your control parameters. This video explains the tuning procedure and gives information on how the controller works.
My motor moves away from the target position in Position Controller mode.
This behaviour can be caused by two different problems:
Check your motor wires are hooked up correctly to the A B C terminals. Of the six possible wiring permutations, only one will result in normal rotation. Four of the wiring permutations will cause the motor to stall, and the other will cause reverse rotation. Check your motor’s datasheet for the correct wiring.
Due to the way the coils are wound inside some motors, you may have to set negative P, I and D values when using the MotorPositionController object.
For specifications that deal with acceleration and velocity limits, see the API tab.
Product Specifications
Board Properties
Controlled By
VINT
VINT Communication Speed Max
10 kbit/s
Electrical Properties
Supply Voltage Min
8 V DC
Supply Voltage Max
30 V DC
Current Consumption (Unconfigured)
(VINT Port) 500 μA
Current Consumption Max
(VINT Port) 650 μA
Replacement Fuse
20A Slow Blow Blade Type, Standard or Micro
Continuous Motor Current Max
20 A
Isolation Voltage (DC)
5 kV DC
Controller Properties
Motor Type
Brushless DC
Number of Motor Ports
1
Velocity Resolution
0.003 Duty Cycle
Acceleration Min
0.1 Duty Cycle/s
Acceleration Max
100 Duty Cycle/s
Hall-Effect Sensor
Hall-Effect Voltage
5 V DC
Physical Properties
Operating Temperature Min
-40 °C
Operating Temperature Max
85 °C
Customs Information
Canadian HS Export Code
8471.80.00
American HTS Import Code
8471.80.40.00
Country of Origin
CN (China)
Hall-Effect Input
3019 Cable
Motor Wire
Black
Ground
Green
Hall-Effect 'C'
White
Hall-Effect 'B'
Red
+5V
Brown
Hall-Effect 'A'
To make connection simple, the DCC1100 has a 5-pin molex connector to interface with the motor's hall-effect output. All BLDC motors sold at Phidgets have the mating connector soldered to the end of the cable. If you have your own motor, you can cut a Phidget Encoder cable in half and solder them together as follows:
