New Tongxin Controllers

jerrysimon

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
As per my other post I have just received a shipment of Tongxin motors, controllers etc and they come will a new controller that is much smaller more like the original ones they shipped with them a few years ago, though the early one did have problems.

Shown here about 1/2 the size of my previous Tongxin controllers



They are nicely water proofed on the cable outlets and on the box end caps. Even the screws on the side have fiber washers.



Close up for you techies. That seems to be an red led on the left, not sure why as you can't see it with the case on ?



The back of the board, not the neatest soldering I have seen



These are hardly controllers for high powered setup i.e. specs written are 36v, 12A (max) 6A (rated) LVC 30v, dated Feb 2012 and obviously for the lower powered Tongxins, but I am really glad I have them as my next project is going to be a minimalist affair and these will be perfect.

Regards

Jerry
 
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jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
This was the original controller sold a few years ago though as I said some of them did have problems. I have had one fitted on my daughters bike for over a year though and so far its performed perfectly.



Cytronex used them way back and because they were waterproof and small fitted them under the bottom bracket. Here is one shown fitted to my second ebike, a Cytronex FX7300.



Regards

Jerry
 
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D

Deleted member 4366

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That controller is identical to the Cyclamatic one apart from the LVC resistor. Solder about a half of the shunt for 16.5 amps, which is probably a nice safe max for the Tongxin.
 

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Thanks for the info Dave I didn't know they made these controllers in the smaller form factor.

I don't think I need 16.5amps given I live in Cambridge, pretty flat.

Wonder why the led is in there ? As well as the LVC resistor there also seems to be another header board on the right ?

Regards

Jerry
 
D

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The LED flashes when the controller's powered. I think it has different flash sequences for diagnostics but I'm not sure. That daughter board is interesting: What do the wires connect to?
 

wurly

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Aug 2, 2008
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The led is a status indicator, I expect the led will flash once repeatly when the controller is switched on. once is good, if it flashes 8 times there is a problem with it.
I'm still using one of those weatherproofed controllers Jerry. I know people have had problems with them in the past, but 'touchwood' ours have been very reliable. I like the low powered controllers.
Do you have any of the new ones up for sale?
 

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Do you have any of the new ones up for sale?
I only have two. I was really trying the supplier as a test. Apart from the initial delay whilst they made the motors after the new year break they seem well organised and reliable. Drop them a line (details are in my other thread and I am sure they will let you order a few as samples. If you do let me know as I would come in for a couple more too, or I could maybe ask for another larger order ?

They will accept paypal if you ask them. It would be great to set up a bulk buy for the motors as well but I guess its easier for people to order a couple as samples given the cost of shipping for a large number of them at 2kg each.

Regards

Jerry
 
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jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
The LED flashes when the controller's powered. I think it has different flash sequences for diagnostics but I'm not sure. That daughter board is interesting: What do the wires connect to?


Hold on I need to open it up again lol.

Ok I am no electronics expert but it seems to have programmable chip underneath it ? The wires from the board seem to go to two id not all of the three motor control wires ?

Is that the cruise control board ?

Regards

Jerry
 
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D

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Dave any idea how I enable it ?

Regards

Jerry
On my ones with it, there's a pair of single wires that you connect together.

I would love one of these controllers for my Cyclamatic. Bigger ones don't fit in the compartment. So, if anybody wants to order, I'm in for two.
 

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
Thanks Dave,

Looking at the wires apart from the two battery red and black wires and the three motor wires green yellow and blue the other thinner wires are two sets of blue black ones which I am guessing are for the brake cutouts,
throttle black green and red and pedelec red white and black which leaves one set of red and black wires which may be the ones you are referring too. I will need to test it out I guess.

I have emailed them to see if they have a circuit diagram for the connectors.

Regards

Jerry
 
D

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Thanks Dave,

Looking at the wires apart from the two battery red and black wires and the three motor wires green yellow and blue the other thinner wires are two sets of blue black ones which I am guessing are for the brake cutouts,
throttle black green and red and pedelec red white and black which leaves one set of red and black wires which may be the ones you are referring too. I will need to test it out I guess.

I have emailed them to see if they have a circuit diagram for the connectors.

Regards

Jerry
Don't connect the red and black wires unless you know what they're for. Yours may be a different version to the one on the website.

Are you saying that the daughter-board is connected to a couple of the motor phase wires? - in which case the only thing I can think of is some sort of timing control.
 

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
Ok thanks Dave, I won't connect any wires together until I get an email back from the supplier :eek:

Yes two of the wires defiantly go to two of the three motor wires (these motors are no halls). It may in fact be timing. These motors are known to stutter sometimes when starting off and make a scary rattling noise. The solution is to throttle off and retry.

Maybe this is an upgrade to fix this ?

Regards

Jerry
 

shemozzle999

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 28, 2009
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Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the previous answer about the motor in the other thread, it looks good.
What is the speed/rpm?
There are are few answers regarding the operational features of your controller on the manufactures website under knowledge base - but unfortunately no full wiring diagrams.
 

jerrysimon

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 27, 2009
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112
Cambridge, UK
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the previous answer about the motor in the other thread, it looks good.
What is the speed/rpm?
There are are few answers regarding the operational features of your controller on the manufactures website under knowledge base - but unfortunately no full wiring diagrams.
Thanks I will read up.

All my motors are 260RPM, as they are for my small wheeled bikes i.e. 16" and 20" rims. This gives a non pedaling speed on the flat of about 14mph on the 16" rim and a nice 15.5mph on a 20" rim.

PS note these are the narrower 80mm wide motors to fit the often narrower front fork dropout spacing found on folders/small wheeled bikes. On the scales they weigh a light 2.070kgs with nuts and washers fitted.

Regards

Jerry
 
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jerrysimon

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
I've just emailed them for a price for 4 controllers+shipping.
The quote I had was $80 each for the motors and $26 each for the controllers.

Shipping worked out at about $12/kg so I would say four controllers won't be heavier than 1kg (200g each quoted). They also charge a fee for using Paypal, about %10 if I recall. For four controllers I suspect its going to be around $125 incl shipping and paypal fees. Import duty/VAT on top of that is a lottery.

Regards

Jerry
 
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jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Cambridge, UK
Wiring Diagram

They sent me the wiring diagram this morning. All self explanatory. Not sure how I enable the cruise control though. I emailed them. Also the red and black wire are power for a front light. Will be interesting to see what voltage that is and god job I did not connect them together to try and enable cruise control lol



I suspect the controller has to be programmed to enable cruise control.

Regards

Jerry
 
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