In this article you will learn how MpeV5 is built ([PL] Mózg Pojazdu Elektrycznego = [ENG] Brain of an Electric Vehicle), i.e. an on-board computer for electric vehicles.
You can watch the presentation on the YouTube channel:
HOW IT'S MADE
No electronic device can do without a schematic diagram, which is why we start with them:
Above we have two schematic diagrams of the Motherboard and the power supply and current measurement module, AKA “PowerPCB.” These are two of the three main modules. In addition to them there is also a display.
Printed Curcuit Boards
And this is how PCB’s look, based on the above schematic diagrams:
Modules
The dimensions of individual modules can be seen in the following drawings and photos.
The heart of the design
Yes, as your trained eye has probably already noticed – the heart of the design is the Atmega328P module, a popular Arduino Pro Mini clone.
The ADS1115 analog-to-digital converter module and the real-time clock module DS3231 (dedicated to Raspberry Pi) has been added to this. The whole is crowned with a DC / DC step down converter, based on the LTC3639 circuit, lowering and stabilizing the voltage from 4-150V to 5V. There are also a few resistors, connectors, capacitors and several plastics. Finally we have a working on-board computer!
All this to maximize the pleasure of riding our beloved two-wheeler! (hmmm basically who said that MPe can’t be mounted to something bigger than a bike ?! it could be!)
Probably many of you will ask if it could not be all assembled on one PCB? Why solder modules? And so that it is cheaper and easier for those who want to build such a computer by themselves! It is much simpler to solder the entire module than to bother with tiny SMD components. In large-scale production, of course, the situation would be the opposite and it would be better to do everything on one PCB. For the end user, the effect will be exactly the same, i.e. the display on the handlebar 🙂
The display’s and motherboard’s housing are made in FDM 3D printing technology of ABS plastic. The cable and the display cover are mounted on a sealant, and the display and buttons are covered with hot glue to maximally make the screen resistant to weather conditions. They are checked both at minus temperatures, as well as rain or snow. Works flawlessly 🙂. The motherboard in the housing is not water resistant and is intended for installation inside a sealed electronics box.
FILES TO DOWNLOAD
Click below to download schematics and plates.
Stay tuned 😊 :
I love looking through a post that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!