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Vest VTC2000 Series User Manual

Vtc thermoelectric controller
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Summary of Contents for Vest VTC2000 Series

  • Page 1 VTC2000 Series...
  • Page 2 Series features our patent pending technology that delivers temperature stability to within ±0.002°C with high-power efficiency of 95% . The VTC2000 Series has an input voltage range of 12 – 36V, and it delivers up to 16A @ 36V to control each Peltier module. With high efficiency, and with an ambient of 60°C less than, no additional controller heatsinks are required.
  • Page 3 The VTC2000 Series should be operated inside a chassis. The VTC2000 Series maybe hot. Avoid direct contact with the power ICs weather it is powered off or All repairs must be done by an authorized repair service.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    3.2.3 Constant Temperature Control ..................25 3.2.4 Temperature Profile ...................... 26 3.2.5 An Example of Successful Configured and Functional VTC2000 Series ......28 VTC Utility Software ........................29 VTC Utility Software Layout ....................29 Waveform ..........................31 Operation ..........................33 Temperature Profile ......................
  • Page 5 Troubleshooting ........................54 5.1.1 Check for Firmware Version ..................54 5.1.2 HW status ........................55 5.1.3 TEC Setup ........................58 Other Electrical/GPIO Characteristics and Performance ............59 I/O Pin Assignment........................ 62 P a g e...

  • Page 6: Overview

    This user manual explains the functionality of the VTC Utility Software and the VTC2000 Series. When setting up the VTC2000 Series and VTC Utility Software for the first time, it is recommended that you read and understand this user manual.
  • Page 7 Figure 2: 2 channel connections on VTC2000 Series For more information on how to set-up multiple modules, please refer to the set-up guide. P a g e...

  • Page 8: Temperature Sensors (Analog And Digital)

    2.1 Temperature Sensors (Analog and Digital) Analog temperature sensors can be connected to A1-4 and A5-8 connectors, while digital sensors will be connected to the I2C connector, as shown below: Figure 3: Location of the analog pins (A pins) and digital pins (I pins) for the temperature sensor The tables below show the circuit pin assignments for analog temperature sensors (J90 for A5-A8/J60 for A1-A4).
  • Page 9 The PCB connector used for the temperature sensor port is shown in Figure 6. Figure 5: Connectors used The required mating connectors for the temperature sensors are as follow. A housing part from Molex is used, with product number of 5013300800. A crimp part from Molex is used, with product number of501334 0000.

  • Page 10: Peltier Element

    The controller connects to the Peltier Element through Ch_1 though CH_6 as shown in Figure 7. Figure 8: Channels outline for TEC The VTC2000 Series has Molex 2002411212 connectors on the PCB for connections to the Peltier modules. As such, a specific mating connector required to house the wires connecting to the Peltier element would be from Molex, with a product code of 1722861102 VT.

  • Page 11: Power Supply

    2.3 Power Supply The proper connection of the DC power supply (12 to 36 V) to the VTC2000 Series is as shown below in Figure 10. Figure 10: Location for power supply connection • With the power supply disconnected. •...

  • Page 12: Fan

    2.4 Fan The VTC2000 Series is able to support both 3 pin and 4 pin fans. Figures 11 and 12 show the pin functions and the colour code for the wiring both types of fans. Figure 12: 3 pins Figure 11: 4 pins The fan connectors are shown highlighted in Figure 13.

  • Page 13: Final Assembly

    Figure 14: ZER-04V-S Figure 15: SZE-002T-P0.3 2.5 Final Assembly After assembling and connecting the various parts, the final set-up should look like this: Figure 16: Final Assembly The green LED starts flashing continuously on the TEC 2000 Series, with the ‘GATE EN’ LED light being lit up.

  • Page 14: Vtc2000 Series Configuration And Setup

    Figure 17: Selecting COM port Once a com port attached to a VTC2000 Series has been found, the Connect indicator will turn Green, as shown in Figure 19. The com port that is connected is also displayed in the COM window.

  • Page 15: Step 2: System Configuration

    Figure 18: Correct indicator for connection If your indicator is Red, instead of Green, refer to section to look for possible root causes. 3.1.2 Step 2: System Configuration Click on configuration -> system. This will bring you to the system subtab, which will show the current default settings. You will have the option to edit the settings and for it to take effect, click on the save settings button.
  • Page 16 Figure 19: System Configuration The important parameters to be filled in would include 1) The power supply current limit, as the current limit for the board must be lower than the current supplied by the power supply. 3) The ambient sensor should be selected, based on the position of the analog port on the VTC2000 series 2) The force shutdown trigger point to prevent overheating of the board.

  • Page 17: Step 3: Temperature Sensor Assignment

    3.1.3 Step 3: Temperature Sensor Assignment The VTC2000 Series has the capability to support both analog and digital sensor. Based on the types of sensors used in your system, configure it appropriately as shown below. For the analog temperature sensor: Click on configuration ->...
  • Page 18 For the digital temperature sensor: Click on configuration -> Digital temperature sensor. This will bring you to the digital temperature subtab, which will show the current default settings. Thereafter, based on your system’s setup select the digital port and choose the digital sensor type. Based on the data sheet, fill in the calibration ratio as well as the offset value.

  • Page 19: Step 4: Fan Assignment

    One thing to note would be that the PID control need not be filled, as it would be configured when the VTC2000 series has undergone the autotuning process. Nonetheless, should the user have any specific PID values, there is an option to fill it up and save it to the system.

  • Page 20: Step 5: Tec Setup

    3.1.5 Step 5: TEC Setup Click on configuration -> TEC setup. This will bring you to the TEC setup subtab, which will show the current default settings. Thereafter, based on your system’s setup, choose the channel and match the temperature sensor port to the respective sensor (main sensor as well as the heatsink sensor).

  • Page 21: Pre Check And Tuning Of Vtc2000 Series

    After the system has been correctly configured, the VTC2000 series is ready to be used. However, there is a need to optimise the system as well as checking the state of the VTC2000 series, if it is functioning. The following steps are needed to achieve these tasks.
  • Page 22 Step 2: Auto Tune Auto tune/PID is a mechanism involving calculations to optimise the system and minimises the extent of overshoot and undershoot from the target temperature. The figure below shows the autotune menu and the relevant steps needed to achieve this task. Figure 25: Process for Auto Tune Load any existing TEC values : Open the menu to choose the type of PID you would like, the list is as shown below:...

  • Page 23: Operating Vtc2000 Series

    3.2 Operating VTC2000 Series The VTC2000 series can now be used after going through the configuration, tuning and pre-check processes. The VTC2000 series supports 4 main functions: 1) Applying constant voltage 2) Applying constant current 3) Temperature controller 4) Temperature profile All of the functions will be described in the following subsections.

  • Page 24: Constant Voltage Control

    3.2.1 Constant Voltage Control To use this function, click on operation tab and select the ‘constant voltage’ option Figure 28: Selecting the constant voltage option From there, fill in the voltage for the particular channel and click on the ‘apply’ button blue indicator would be lit up, for the selected channel/channels to show that the conditions enforced are applied and attained.

  • Page 25: Constant Current Control

    3.2.2 Constant Current Control Similar to 3.2.1, to use this function go to the ‘operation’ tab and select the ‘constant current’ option. Figure 30: Selecting constant current function From there, fill in the user specified current and click on the ‘apply’ button to start. There should be a blue indicator lit up, for the desired channel/channels to show that the conditions...

  • Page 26: Constant Temperature Control

    3.2.3 Constant Temperature Control Similar to 3.2.1 and 3.2.2, to use this function go to the ‘operation’ tab and select the ‘constant temperature’ option. Figure 32: Selecting constant temperature control function From there, fill in the user specified temperature and ramping limit and click on the ‘apply’ button to start.

  • Page 27: Temperature Profile

    3.2.4 Temperature Profile Prior to using the temperature profile function, there is a need to create/edit a temperature profile based on the user’s requirement. To do so, under the operation tab click on “Edit/create temperature profile” button. Figure 34: Layout for temperature profile Clicking the button will lead to a pop-up window appearing, allowing users to input their conditions.
  • Page 28 Using Temperature profile function For the temperature profile under the operation mode, the selection of the temperature profile for a particular channel and clicking on ‘apply’ would only assign the channel to have the specific temperature profile. Should you want to run a specific temperature profile, click on start under the “Temperature profile”...

  • Page 29: An Example Of Successful Configured And Functional Vtc2000 Series

    3.2.5 An Example of Successful Configured and Functional VTC2000 Series The figure below shows a scenario, where the temperature controller function has been selected for channel 1. The temperature control temperature is 40°C and the following picture shows the successful attainment of 40°C for channel 1.

  • Page 30: Vtc Utility Software

    4 VTC Utility Software 4.1 VTC Utility Software Layout The VTC Utility Software has a clean and simple interface. Utility functions are categorized and organized by tab for clarity. The contents change accordingly as user navigates from tab to tab. Where applicable, sub tabs are created for sub categories of functions.
  • Page 31 Table 4: Description of bottom segment of user interface Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword A1-A8 The assigned analog temperature sensors and the temperature detected D1-D4 The assigned digital temperature sensors and the temperature detected MCU_T The temperature of the microcontroller unit ADC_T The temperature of the analog-digital convertor PSU_V...

  • Page 32: Waveform

    4.2 Waveform Figure 41: Waveform function On the layout, it allows users to select the different channels and see what temperatures would the different channels, as well as allowing the user to check the stability of the device by clicking on ‘stability analysis’.
  • Page 33 Clicking on stability analysis would lead to a popup window appearing, as shown below. Figure 44: Stability analysis In this stability analysis, it allows the user to compute basic data analysis for the VTC2000 series. It allows the user to select the analysis period and after which, attain the population mean and...

  • Page 34: Operation

    standard deviation through the click of the ‘calculate’ button. All of these information could be retrieved and downloaded in a notepad format, through the clicking of the ‘export one channel analysis’ or ‘export all channel raw data’ depending on the user’s setup. 4.3 Operation Figure 45: Layout for operation tab The above shows the overall layout when the operation tab is selected.

  • Page 35: Temperature Profile

    4.4 Temperature Profile Figure 46: Layout for adding a new temperature profile Several information can be seen from this tab, from the top left: Table 5: Description of key terms in left side of layout for temperature profile addition Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword Profile name The name of the temperature profile, which can be edited...
  • Page 36 Several information could also be found on the right side (Auto generate testing profile): Fixed Rate Step mode Sweeping rate (Mainly for performance validation) Table 6: Description of modes for temperature profile Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword Ramping The ramp rate will stay consistent fixed rate Ramping The ramp rate will experience an increment of 1°C/s for every two steps, with a...
  • Page 37 In addition, there are other important keywords which could be found on the right of the layout as well Table 7: Description of key words in right side of layout for temperature profile addition Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword The ramp rate limits how fast a system will be able to change from one temp to Ramp another.

  • Page 38: Configuration

    4.5 Configuration The configuration tab is an area where you import critical information into the system, such as the resistance and type of sensors used. This will adversely impact the effectiveness of the system should the sensors and dimensions be wrongly declared. 4.5.1 System Configuration Figure 47: System configuration layout Table 8: Keywords of system configuration layout...
  • Page 39 The group control has 3 functions: 1) It provides identification when there is a need to apply the same settings on parameters such as the charging voltage, temperature, PID settings, etc to the whole group 2) When TECs within the group have the same target temperature and ramp rate requirement, the MCU will have additional control to improve uniformity during ramping.
  • Page 40 The following table shows the Pins on the GPIO hardware component (J1) Table 9: Connection layout of GPIO hardware Connection Ground 3.3V power output (maximum of 50mA) 5.0V power output (maximum of 1A) GPIO 1 GPIO 2 GPIO 3 GPIO 4 Ground Under GPIO config, choose the GPIO which you want to configure Choose the desired input/output as shown below:...
  • Page 41 Table 11: Description of key terms found in GPIO functions Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword No connection The GPIOx has no connection. The pin would be at a state of high impedance. GPIOx signal is used as an input to enable the output of the channel. If the TEC enable signal is logic 1, the TEC controller will be enabled.

  • Page 42: Analog Temperature Sensor

    4.5.2 Analog Temperature Sensor Referring back to section 3.1.3, the layout of the temperature subtab is as shown below. Figure 49: Layout of temperature subtab On the left of the layout, it is used for analog temperature sensors and various keywords have been used.
  • Page 43 Table 14: Selection of gain, based on resistance of thermal sensors An example on how to choose the gain for the temperature sensor (TMP61) will be shown below. Maximum resistance of TMP61 = 17.609K ohm Based on options for gain selection, Gain of TMP61= 1 as resistance is greater than 14.9K ohms but less than 380K ohms.
  • Page 44 4.5.2.1 Adding a new analog temperature sensor Upon clicking the ‘Edit analog sensor database’ button, a popup will appear as shown below: Figure 50: analog sensor database The picture shows the parameters for the sensors, with several keywords described in the table below Table 15: Clarification of terms in analog database layout Keyword...

  • Page 45: Digital Temperature Sensor

    4.5.3 Digital Temperature Sensor Referring back to section 3.1.3, the layout of the temperature subtab is as shown below. Figure 51: Digital sensor layout Several keywords have been used to describe the digital thermal sensors. Table 16: Clarification of terms in digital sensor layout Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword Port...
  • Page 46 The connection layout for the I2C channel 1 and UART is as shown in the table below: Table 17: Connection layout of I2C channel Connection I2C1_SCL I2C1_SDA UART1_TX UART1_RX GPIO_PE15 3.3V power output (maximum 50mA) 5V power output maximum (1A) Ground For the sensor types which are “user defined”...
  • Page 47 4.5.3.1 Adding a new digital temperature sensor This is recommended for people who understands I2C datasheet, as the input data (in hex) is based on the individual bits of the register of the digital sensor. Upon clicking the ‘Edit digital sensor database’ button, a popup will appear as shown below: Figure 52: Layout for addition of a new digital temperature sensor The picture shows the parameters for the sensors, with several keywords described in the table below:...
  • Page 48 Initial CMD 1 It is a write action for a one-time initialization process to start the sensor and configure the register, be it the conversion cycle or any of the bits in the configuration register field. In the case of TI TIMP117, inputting “0000” into “01” register would initialize/start the sensor to the desired settings based on the data sheet.

  • Page 49: Fan

    4.5.4 Fan Figure 53: Layout of Fan subtab The table below shows the keyword and its associated description. Table 19: Clarification of terms in Fan subtab Keyword Description of keyword Temperature The digital/analog channel on the TEC controller which would be used for sensor temperature sensing.

  • Page 50: Tec Setup

    4.5.5 TEC Setup The table below shows the keywords present in the tab and its associated descriptions. Table 20: Clarification of terms in TEC setup subtab Keyword Description/important aspects of keyword Channel Allows the user to select the channel of the TEC controller to be configured selection Main sensor Refers to the sensor attached to the TEC.
  • Page 51 Incremental Do not accumulate value of deviation and thus, it would have low inference from algorithm: the calculation error and accuracy when checked all variables of PID will be used, only uncheck it when only P will Full PID used. It is the voltage which is used during the autotune process, to allow the TEC to Voltage for raise its temperature during the tuning process.

  • Page 52: Auto Tuning

    4.5.6 Auto Tuning Figure 54: Layout of autotune subtab The table below shows the keywords and their associated descriptions. Table 21: Clarification of terms for autotune subtab Keyword Description/important aspect of keyword 1: Remove power and wait for the object temperature to be stable before trying again 2: Apply voltage and ramp up, raising temperature Status...

  • Page 53: Advanced

    4.6 Advanced This section mainly describes the addition of certain details which are mainly for the maintenance of the system. It is not recommended for the users to edit the information in this tab, unless you are sure of the individual values for the variables. Rather than that, feel free to contact the engineers on the values to be input into the system.
  • Page 54 Figure 56: Manoeuvrability and flexibility of importing/exporting settings One other important feature would be that the configuration data from one board could be transferred over to another board, through the use of the load and save full settings. This adds on to the manoeuvrability and flexibility of importing/exporting settings from one TEC controller to another.

  • Page 55: Appendix

    5 Appendix This section will highlight the potential problems and how to troubleshoot such issues. It will also describe error codes which may be seen whilst using the software. 5.1 Troubleshooting Should there be any problems while operating the software, please follow the steps mentioned below.

  • Page 56: Hw Status

    5.1.2 HW status At the bottom of the screen, there would be a HW status. Figure 58: Location to find HW status button Clicking on it would reveal a popup which would show the potential hardware problems which would be present in the TEC controller. Figure 59: Layout of Hardware status popup 55 | P a g e...
  • Page 57 An instance would be when there is no power, it will lead to the situation as shown below. Figure 60: Scenario where there is no power After clicking on the “HW status” button, the following will be popped up. Figure 61: Presence of error (power supply) 56 | P a g e...
  • Page 58 Figure 62: Magnified view of the problem (power supply) From this, the issues as shown in figure 60 would be “under voltage loadout” and thus the possible error would be the power supply. Rectify the hardware issues, be it power supply related or the voltage sensor on the board and click on update status to see if there are any changes in the error.

  • Page 59: Tec Setup

    5.1.3 TEC Setup Sometimes, on the right side of the layout there may be temperature which is weird for the heatsink. Figure 63: Other possible errors in the interface As seen from the figure above, the channels have a status of “Heatsink temperature over shutdown level”.

  • Page 60: Other Electrical/Gpio Characteristics And Performance

    5.2 Other Electrical/GPIO Characteristics and Performance VTC Electrical Characteristics Unless otherwise noted: T = 25°C, V = 36V Parameters Conditions Units Measured directly on power input Supply Voltage (V 11.5 terminals Bipolar Output Current ±22 Swing per channel (I Bipolar Output Voltage Vin = Vout Measured directly on Swing per channel terminals...
  • Page 61 General Purpose Digital I/O Characteristics Parameters Conditions Units Logic high input threshold ADC Gain = 32 -193 +240 °C Logic low input threshold ADC Gain = 4 -193 +240 °C Maximum input voltage 0.001 °C imax Logic high output voltage Output current 8mA Logic low output voltage Input current 8mA...
  • Page 62 Temperature vs Performance The total input power and maximum output current per channel are controlled by the on-board microprocessor of the VTC controller. Both input and output values are subjected to ambient temperature changes. The relationship between temperature and the input / output values are illustrated in the charts below.

  • Page 63: I/O Pin Assignment

    5.3 I/O Pin Assignment J100 (I2C) Connection I2C1_SCL I2C1_SDA UART1_TX UART1_RX GPIO_PE15 3.3V power output (maximum 50mA) 5V power output maximum (1A) Ground J110/111/112 (fan) Pin Connection Ground Vout Sense Control J90 (temp sensor A5-A8) Pin Connection A5 (+) A5 (-) A6 (-) A6 (+) A7 (+)
  • Page 64 J1 (GPIO) Connection Ground 3.3V power output (maximum of 50mA) 5.0V power output (maximum of 1A) GPIO 1 GPIO 2 GPIO 3 GPIO 4 Ground J2 (I2C_2 and 3) Connection I2C2_SCL I2C2_SDA I2C2_SCL I2C3_SDA GPIO_PB6 3.3V power output (maximum 50mA) 5V power output maximum (500mA) Ground 63 |...

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