**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Mon Jul 15 02:59:58 2013 Jul 15 03:09:12 twb, lol Jul 15 05:20:44 hello Jul 15 05:20:59 have any of you use linux to control a DC motor? Jul 15 05:21:52 or if linux can be used to control a DC motor in any capacity... i need pulse width modulation to control speed Jul 15 05:22:27 can linux - yes Jul 15 05:22:42 http://beaglebone.cameon.net/home/using-pwm-outputs Jul 15 05:24:17 very interesting Jul 15 05:24:51 i own a trim slice, so i guess i can't use that Jul 15 05:25:41 it would also be cool to use linux for a lithium battery management system Jul 15 05:37:48 mm Jul 15 05:38:18 one problem with the beagleboard and what i want to do. i have a 48 volt electric bike with a 500 watt motor Jul 15 05:38:34 it can spike to 30-40 amps at startup Jul 15 05:38:49 i don't think the beagleboard can handle that Jul 15 05:39:11 so its pwm would only work with small motors or lights Jul 15 05:50:16 "lithium battery management system" -- as in, the firmware that stops the thing from discharging all at once, overcharging, &c? Jul 15 05:50:26 I'm not sure I want something as hairy as linux in charge of that. Jul 15 06:03:04 is suppose Jul 15 06:03:08 i suppose Jul 15 06:05:24 I'm actually not sure you'd be able to reflash their firmware without some regulatory body clapping you in irons Jul 15 06:05:59 i am working on a piece of art basically. i bought a used $500 500 watt, 48 volt, electric moped (it has both a motor and pedals) Jul 15 06:06:19 Ah, so you're not going to be sitting on it when it explodes :-) Jul 15 06:06:23 i have dropped another $1000 on it for new batteries, lights, wire, etc Jul 15 06:06:46 i upgraded the wire to 10 gauge, and gained 10% speed Jul 15 06:06:53 anyway Jul 15 06:07:12 i don't care if i spend $20,000 on a bike that is worth $800 Jul 15 06:07:26 because i am learning as i go Jul 15 06:07:59 I like my Gazelle Toer Populair, but it's unassisted Jul 15 06:09:10 i want a ebike that can do 110 kmph, and uses open source software Jul 15 06:09:34 i plan to overvolt 2000 watts of motors Jul 15 06:09:39 Anything can do 110kmph if you drop it from high enough :-) Jul 15 06:10:00 i want motors on both wheels Jul 15 06:10:24 http://www.cyber.com.au/~twb/doc/bike.txt are my bike notes, but I didn't cover any electric bits Jul 15 06:13:41 But I think the power train of a bike is pretty embedded -- linux doesn't deal well with systems with <4MB each of volatile and non-volatile storage Jul 15 06:14:11 You could certainly build a linux-based trip computer or entertainment system for the pillion passenger Jul 15 06:17:24 also Jul 15 06:17:50 the battery pack is 48 volts, and there is a 48 to 12 volt converter Jul 15 06:18:24 my brother, an electrician, says the loss should be minimal. i am willing to get a dedicated 12 volt pack for the lights Jul 15 06:19:11 i suspect the converter loses volts Jul 15 06:19:53 simply upgrading the 48 volt wiring from 16 gauge to 10 gauge got me a 10% speed increase Jul 15 06:20:17 the factory used many sizes of wires Jul 15 06:20:40 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_electric_vehicle says an "e-bike" can do up to 45km/h, if it does up to 80km/h it's an "e-motorcycle" and is subject to stricter DMV regulation (e.g. you need to wear a motorbike helmet) Jul 15 06:21:34 in canada it's a pedal bike without a gasoline engine, so it's legally a bicycle Jul 15 06:21:40 Ah, OK Jul 15 06:22:06 There's legal info in that page, too Jul 15 06:22:14 ok Jul 15 06:22:36 It says you can't do more than 32km/h in canada except in alberta where you can do 35km/h Jul 15 06:23:00 yes, and i can dispute that i am going downhill Jul 15 06:23:18 Righto. Jul 15 06:23:23 my bike does 45kmph Jul 15 06:23:28 I assumed you wanted to do 110km/h on a flat plane with no wind Jul 15 06:23:43 At STP and all that Jul 15 06:23:51 i hope police have better things to do than stop me for riding too fast in the bike lane Jul 15 06:24:27 Pfft. They pull me up when I'm walking home, make me show my hands to prove I have not been spraying graffiti Jul 15 06:25:33 i used to play snooker after the place closed, for free, and would walk home at 3am. i would get stopped by police every night, until i stopped walking in the small streets Jul 15 06:25:45 now i walk on major streets if i can Jul 15 06:27:15 police are less likely to stop someone on a major street because it disturbs traffic Jul 15 06:28:41 with my ebike, i am trying to develop 'ideal practice', mostly for soldering Jul 15 06:29:19 i get conflicting advice Jul 15 06:30:00 the guy at NAPA wants me to buy cheap stuff. my brother is an electrician, and he's worse Jul 15 06:30:05 i want ideal Jul 15 06:30:25 money is no object for this project Jul 15 06:30:43 i'm not rich, but i don't have a wife or children Jul 15 06:32:10 so far, my best ideal, is to strip, flux, tin wire. carefully crimp the connector on the wire for full contact Jul 15 06:32:31 solder the wire to the contact, and then insulate it Jul 15 22:31:52 Mail-order product available in respondable email #ads (AUG ~13} :::: http://www.fanlesstech.com/2013/07/utilite-quad-core-arm-linux-desktop.html :: Jul 15 22:48:32 i would have been more interested w/o the spam Jul 15 22:49:44 leaves. **** ENDING LOGGING AT Tue Jul 16 02:59:58 2013