Page 1: Table Of Contents
MDRIVE™-9A Sensorless Brushless DC Motor Controller User Manual OVERVIEW Unlike other brushless motor controllers, the newly designed MDRIVE ™ Series controllers and ESC-View Software, released for the first time in January of 2006, provide you with a number of advanced new features making it more user friendly with a greater range of controls.
Page 2: Controller Specifications + Programmable Features
MDRIVE™ 9A CONTROLLER SPECIFICATIONS Cells with BEC Connection 6-10 Nicd/NiMH or 2-3 Li-Poly/Li-ion Cells without BEC Connection 6-16 Nicd/NiMH or 2-5 Li-Poly/Li-ion Continuous Current 9 amps PWM Frequency 8K and 16KHz PC Programmable Through ESC-View Software BEC Max. Current 1A Max @ 5V Minimum Working Voltage 6V DC Maximum Working Voltage...
Page 3: Wire Connection And Installation
MDRIVE™ controllers are supplied without power connectors. The user has to solder their desired connectors to the wires. Motortron provides the best silicon insulated wires available for the controller.
Page 4: User Mode
User Mode Contents of each User Mode: Each User Mode uses a single digit to represent and select a group of six operating options. These options are: low voltage cutoff (percentage of initial battery voltage or cell type and voltage per cell), cutoff type, brake type, motor timing advance, switching frequency and acceleration delay.
Page 5: Radio Throttle Programming
Using Transmitter Throttle to Select User Mode and Audible Indications Where does the sound come from? The controller provides a 1200Hz audible tone signal to the motor’s windings during power on. The motor then acts as a loudspeaker. To Enter User Mode Selection: Power on the radio transmitter first with throttle stick at the maximum position, then power on controller.
Page 6: Esc View Software
Connections: 1. ESC-View requires use of the ESC-link cable supplied by Motortron System Inc. One end of ESC-link cable connects to the speed controller’s receiver connector. The other end connects to PC’s serial port or the USB-to-serial converter.
Page 7 NOTE: ESC-View will not start up if there is no communication established between controller and the PC. Common causes are: • Incorrect COM port selected • Power not supplied to the controller • Receiver plug reversed in ESC-link cable.
Page 8: Setup
To check or confirm the data been written into memory, click Read ESC. More explanations on Setup and Advance Settings can be found in the FAQ or Technical Information on the Web at: http://www.motortron.com...
Page 9 1. Battery type: Select the type of battery and then the number of cells. Then, select Cutoff per cell. NOTE: Please refer to the battery manufacture’s specifications for appropriate cutoff per cell values. In general, the lower the cutoff per cell voltage, the longer the flying time. However, discharging the battery too deeply can seriously shorten its overall life.
Page 10 3. Brake type: Brake type is designed for aerobatic flying. By selecting the Hard brake setting, you can stop the motor instantly by quickly pulling the throttle stick all the way off. Other choices are “off”, “soft”, “medium” and “custom”. The custom setting allows you to set the brake from 5% to 100% in 1% increments.
Page 11: Run Test
The recording interval is user selectable. Recorded data will be stored to: C:\program\motortron\esc-view\ automatically. When you use “Save as”, recorded data will be stored using name and directory you assigned. Microsoft Excel™ is the preferred program to view data and to make a chart.
Page 12: Advanced Settings
Advanced settings Tab First, click “Read ESC” to show the current data in the controller memory. 1. Throttle Setting Throttle starts at: (0.7ms—1.3ms; Default setting is 1.10ms) Read the detail on FAQ Select proper value to state low stick position of radio throttle. Once user starts to use the radio throttle to select a User Mode, controller will record accurate radio receiver’s pulse width.
Page 13 Another useful application is to control the motor’s threshold saturation point. In many cases, the motor will go into saturation before user’s throttle reaches the maximum high position. Now the user can use “RUN TEST” feature to learn motor’s maximum running capacity before it reaches saturation and use the resulting data to set up the radio throttle.
Page 14: Warranty Policy
Warranty Policy Motortron System Inc. provides one year limited manufacturer’s warranty to MDrive™ series sensorless brushless motor controllers. This includes MDrive™-9A, MDrive™- 18A and MDrive™-36A. Warranty covers: Controller malfunctions due to faulty components, poor workmanship and improper performance from software.
Page 15: Faq And Website
Q: Does ESC-View program and ESC-Link Cable run with other brand controllers? A: No. ESC-View program and ESC-link only work with Motortron System’s MDRIVE™ controller. Q: My new notebook PC does not have serial port. I bought a USB to Serial cable and installed driver.
Page 16 user can modifies the throttle start point position ranges from 0.70ms --- 1.30ms. The throttle function ranges is 0.4ms—1.2ms. The end point will be: the start point+ the range. The controller software protocol will check the signal integrity from the receiver during the power on cycle.
Page 17 Motortron System Inc. 5976 Ormidale Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5R4R3 Tel: 604-876-5503 Fax: 604-876-4356 Email:mail@motortron.com Web: http://www.motortron.com US Patents Pending MDRIVE™ is registered trademark owned by Motortron System Inc. Copyright 2006. Windows 98™, Windows 2000™, Windows XP™, Microsoft Excel™ is trade mark owned by Microsoft.