FAQ
From Open-BLDC
Contents |
Q: How much does it cost?
A: It depends on what your target is and which options you choose. A fully assembled controller with all parts and options costs currently around 100$. (This issue will be addressed in the future to make Open-BLDC options that are more affordable)
Q: Where can I buy it?
A: At the PCB manufacturer and electronic parts supplier of your choice. There is no company producing Open-BLDC, so you have to order the PCB's and parts yourself and assemble the controllers. You can also get together with other people and make an omnibus order. For ask on the mailinglist!
Q: Why is it so big?
A: Open-BLDC has as opposed to other motor controller designs many additional sensors to make Vector control possible. The goal is also to make the best possible controller and not the smallest or cheapest. This boils down to the following additional parts:
- 4 Hall based current sensors
- 3 Halfbridge drivers
- 1 Chargepump for 12V
- ...
Additionally to that we decided to use D2PAK mosfets. These packages are twice the size of DPAK or three times the size of SO8 packages. They have much better heat dissipation properties which leads to lower losses and higher supported currents. Without heatsink use.
Q: Why do we need 3V3 power rail?
A: STM32 is a 3V3 microcontroller
Q: Why do we need 5V power rail?
There are no integrated Hal sensor based current sensors that would run on 3V3 (If you find any let us know!)
