Motor Controller - Remote Control Lawn Mower DIY

[@urbanbelaj]

Gregor, hvala za ta prispevek, sedaj končno razumem dip switch.

[@gregorkobetic]

Hehe, hvala za komentar Urban. Lep dan želim.

[@Cormano980]

I have this in a 16kg tank, smooth control and incredible torque, I drive two 540 motors with reductors in mixed mode

[@GioGio78530]

Wow i did not see before the other videos. Thought you only made one for the sabertooth. You built a monster 😅!

[@gregorkobetic]

Heheh tnx, there are few videos more to come...schematics, interferences, design aproaches, etc... I made two mowers and was involved (helped) in few more project. After summer holidays i will make more videos to share knowledge with community 😀

[@pascalmichel2502]

thank you so much for saving us the headache.

[@gregorkobetic]

I try my best. Thanks!

[@crikson76]

Great explanation!

[@romeobassi7176]

Grazie ottima spiegazione la migliore 👍👍👍

[@gregorkobetic]

Thank you!

[@GioGio78530]

Thanks great explanation. I have the 2x25 and found i have to put the switch 6 up otherwise sometimes i lose the control and motors spin alone till i dont do another command with the rc controller. However by putting the switch 6 up i am missing the zero position means the motors moves always a but when rc controller if off. And when i put rc controller ON with trimmer i can adjust but still there is some slow movement i can’t understand how to have the engines firm also with this settings

[@gregorkobetic]

Hi! Yes, in microcontroller mode sabertooth does not stop the motors by default if it loses the RC signal. Timeout can be set in the DESCRIBE software for 2x32 sabertooth. But I think the 2x25 don't have usb port and unfortunately cannot be connected to the DESCRIBE software. So for safety reason use RC mode on 2x25. To answer your other question about slow movement of motors: Some RC receivers output servo pulses before a valid transmitter signal is present. This will cause the Sabertooth to autocalibrate to values which may not correspond to the center stick position. And this may cause the motors to move slowly, even when the transmitter stick is centered. On some RC transmitters these things can be sorted out in the transmitter settings. Have a nice day!

[@GioGio78530]

@@gregorkobetic thank you so much for the answer. I got your point. I was told to consider the 2x30 smart driver but i don’t know that has the same issues with the zero position in rc mode. About receiver, i actually bought a new controller and receiver (as the old 4ch controller was having this issue). However even with the new carson 8ch receiver i see the same behavior. Means out of 2 receivers i tested both has issue with the zero position when controller radio is off. Do you know if the smart drive fixe this or the only way is to buy the sabertooth 2x30amp? I mean i can think of changing the motor driver if that will fix the m problem or i have to find a receiver that i’m sure will not generate that issue. For sure i cannot use the microcontroller setting as it is now because is too dangerous.

[@gregorkobetic]

Does your receiver have "failsave" mode? If yes, then you should configure it and it will solve all your problems. Put sabertooth in microcontroller mode and set failsafe for 2 channels you have motors on. This way you will not have problems with autocalibration and also mower will stop when signal is lost. See this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/an_CmXucpaqifrs Regards!

[@GioGio78530]

@@gregorkobetic thanks 🙏 later i will check if it has failsafe but i dont think so, yesterday i was checking manual and has only a function to sync with controller. Pity because i paid 80€ for controller and receiver. If does not i will return it as i just bought from amazon. In cas it does not can you please reccomand a rc control and receiver kit that has failsafe function so i look for that?

[@gregorkobetic]

I recommend FlySky FS-i6X. You can get it with 6ch receiver or 10 ch receiver, so pay attention when buying if you need more channels. Difference in price is minimal. It is made by company from China, but it is a good product, you can find a lot of reviews on youtube. I have old model, but it works with my mower for 5 years without problem. Here is link from amazon.de www.amazon.de/-/en/Channel-Transmitter-FS-iA10B-Receiver-Aeroplane/dp/B09VGQN2NR/ref=sr_1_4?crid=20TII83R8PQV2&keywords=fs-i6&qid=1690912169&s=toys&sprefix=fs-i6%2Ctoys%2C260&sr=1-4

[@TheOldKid]

I havent hooked to computer to check or program anything but for some reason im thinking about it. Everything works fine but just wanting to experiment.

[@gregorkobetic]

I suggest you play with ramping a little bit. It smooth the motor mowement. Recommend!

[@TheOldKid]

@gregorkobetic do you use the P1 and P2 for anything? I did check voltage and it's 3.3 - 3.5v using a 12v power source. Now I know I can dump the 9v plug in to arduino and run from one of those. I'm not fam8liar with ramping but I'll check in to it more

[@carl0s288]

Hello, where did you put a fuse to protect your electronics? I put a 30 AMP fuse inline with the POS on the battery and the fuse blows every time my motor stalls. Do you have any problems with fuse blowing when the motors stall under heavy load?

[@gregorkobetic]

Hi! I put fuse on battery just after connector. I use 60A fuse, since i have two 15A motors. No problem with fuse at all.

[@carl0s288]

@@gregorkobetic Okay maybe i just need a bigger fuse. Thanks!!

[@gregorkobetic]

@@carl0s288 you are welcome

[@croman1849]

odlično,samo naprijed

[@gregorkobetic]

Hvala. Trudim se kolikor mi čas dopušča.

[@haralamposgkiokas5273]

Hi Gregor, thank you very much for all the knowledge you share with us! I want to ask you if you know any controller for 4 motors or if I can connect two controller together for the 4 motors.

[@gregorkobetic]

Hi, what is the power of your motors? Does motors have to be controller independent for each motor?

[@haralamposgkiokas5273]

Hi, First let me inform you that my construction will be a flail mower. I have thought of getting an old ATV to use frame wheels and anything else I find useful. I wanted to use two 24v 350w motors but I saw in another video of yours that you explain about the motors, that if you have wheels in the construction you will end up with 4 motors, one for each wheel, so I was concerned about how to connect them. Can I connect two motors together to one output and two to the other? Thank you very much for your time.

[@gregorkobetic]

that's correct. Connect 2 wheels to 1 output

[@JopCxx]

Thanks Gregor for your well made video! Short question - how you get access or connection from DEScribe to Sabertooth - what is needed for that?

[@gregorkobetic]

Hi, you need usb cable. Thats all. Works like a charm.

[@JopCxx]

@@gregorkobetic thank you - seems i missing something - where and how it should be attached? Could you make quick video - i think many looking for same information - that would be very handy.

[@JopCxx]

forgot to mention i have 2x60 - does it also suits?

[@gregorkobetic]

Uh, 2x60 don't have usb port. You need usb to TTL serial cable like this: www.dimensionengineering.com/appnotes/Roborealm/Roborealm.htm S1 is Tx and S2 is Rx I am sorry I don't have sabertooth 2x60, so I can not make video about it.

[@JopCxx]

@@gregorkobetic - that's was what i looked for - many thanks for helping out!

[@DenisZupanc]

Gregor, se slučajno da to kupiti pri nas.... oz. kje ti kupuješ ? hvala za odgovor

[@gregorkobetic]

Živjo, v sloveniji se ga ne da kupit, običajno se dobi na amazonu, ebayu ali robotshop.com. Fajn je, da ga vzameš znotraj EU, drugače sledi navrh še ddv in nad 150€ še carina. Doma imam en kontroler za 2 dc motorja skupaj z 10 releji, ki se krmili preko rc receiverja prav za kosilnice. Če te zanima, mi piši na mail.

[@mividaencronica]

Hi Gregor, thank a lot for your videos and the way you explain them, you rock. Question: Do you any alternatives for Sabertooth 2x32?, I´m from Mexico and I can´t find Sabertoooh Motor Driver anywhere, neither on amazon or ebay. Please help to recommend me some alternatives. Thanks a lot . Saludos

[@gregorkobetic]

Hola! I recommend cytron drivers. You can replace sabertooth 2x32 with cytron mdds30, here is the link www.google.com/amp/s/www.cytron.io/p-30amp-7v-35v-smartdrive-dc-motor-driver-2-channels Hope I helped, have a nice day. Saludos to Mexico

[@sebastianspielerei6403]

Hello, maybe you can help me? My wheels turn independently with and without connection to the receiver Where is the mistake?

[@gregorkobetic]

Sorry, but without seeing the electrical connections and configuration it's hard to help. Check the electrical connections of the RC receiver and the motor controller. Also check how you have the DIP switches set up. If you have any doubts about specific topic, please ask me and I will do my best to answer it.

[@Medo66170]

Pozdrav Gregor, zanima me kateri controler priporočaš za 4 motora Hvala in Lp

[@gregorkobetic]

Živjo. Kakšne motorje boš uporabil?

[@Medo66170]

@@gregorkobetic 4x 250w 75rpm

[@gregorkobetic]

Predlagam, da vzameš sabertooth 2x60. S sabertoothom 2x32 so lahko problemi pri obračanju na mestu, ker se začne vklapljat tokovna omejitev. Doma imam še en prototip elektronike z releji in kontroler za motorje (rešitev vse v enem). Če te zanima mi napiši na mail [e-mail]. LP! drive.google.com/open?id=15hPpdo-yNEZ9t1Z9WhWD3ytLLxiDgn6h&usp=drive_fs drive.google.com/open?id=15hox7deIA1D5QH4nOYA0mg_cCd3LMv4b&usp=drive_fs

[@djzatka]

Waiting for reply

[@gregorkobetic]

Sorry, but I can find your question. Can you ask again, please?

[@djzatka]

@@gregorkobetic i want to ask you how increase load carrying capacity of mower?

[@gregorkobetic]

Depending on the design of the lawnmower. E.g. you can make a 4x4 drive, each motor has 350W and together total of 1400W. As motors usually spin too fast, you could make a transmission(gear) to reduce the speed to 4km/h and thus gain even more power. It is important to reduce the speed with the gear and not electronically because in this way you lose torque. This applies to brushed motors of course. Or you could use brushless motors, which have almost maximum torque at start and there are versions for very high power.

[@djzatka]

@@gregorkobetic can we work together?

[@gregorkobetic]

I guess we can. What do you have in mind?