C5ALIVE Forum

C5alive Marketplace => For Sale - Sinclair C5 Parts & Accessories => Topic started by: Phil on 18, January, 2011 - 18:15:11

Title: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 18, January, 2011 - 18:15:11
Hello folks!

As announced, I'm now going to sell some ULA replacement modules (http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1601.msg12673#msg12673).

I'm sorry to let you wait this long - but I used the time to drive the C5 and made some last minute improvements on the firmware.

There are two recent mentionable changes:

There are some more recent changes - i.e. I reduced flickering of the current indication LEDs.
Although I'm still not 100% satisfied with the firmware and probably never ever will be, I think it's now time to sell the thing.

I made 12 modules. One is for my own C5, one for further software development and one already sold. So there are 9 modules left which I'm now going to sell here.

REPLACEMENT MODULE
The price for a replacement module will be 40 EUR (£ 34.00) +5 EUR for shipping within the EU.
This is what you will get:
(http://cypax.net/projects/ula/images/DSC02878_small.JPG) (http://cypax.net/projects/ula/images/DSC02878.JPG)

What is the regulator for? -> During development the 5V regulator in my POD broke. I don't know if this is due to the replacement module or another reason. However, I replaced my old regulator with this stronger type and in case your regulator will also break, you then will have a replacement.

Is there anything more I need which is not included?
Yes, if you like to operate the C5 in pedelec mode you will need bicycle tacho sensors for the pedal cog and for one wheel.


RS232 CONVERTER KIT (for connection with a PC)
If you like to develop own firmware for the replacement module and upload it via the bootloader or if you want to edit configuration settings (i.e. to activate or to deactivate the pedelec mode) you will need a voltage converter to connect the replacement module with a computer.
This is what you get:
(http://cypax.net/projects/ula/images/DSC02879_small.JPG) (http://cypax.net/projects/ula/images/DSC02879.JPG)
The price for one converter set will be 5 EUR (circa £ 4.20).


How to buy?
You can contact me


I need to know:

Please also tell me for each replacement module:
With a RS232 converter you are able to connect the replacement module with a PC and edit
this setting by yourself. But as a service I will pre-program the module prior shipping with your desired settings.

PAYMENT
Payment can be done via paypal or giro transfer. You'll get detailed information via e-mail.

INSTALLATION
All required information can be found on the ULA replacement project page (http://cypax.net/projects/ula/index?language=en).


Greetings!

- Phil


PS: I guess I'm just not a communication guy. In general I replay private mails only at the weekend because on weekdays I usually come home late from work and then I'm not in the mood for yet more e-mail. So please be patient with me ;)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: vanpeebles on 18, January, 2011 - 20:28:11
Can I take a chip and the pc connector please? Set up for a standard C5.
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: gowrings c5 on 19, January, 2011 - 21:24:44
please reserve one for me with the module thingy. will advise settings in another email later if thats ok. thanks.
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: PLOD11 on 20, January, 2011 - 18:20:15
Hi have sent e mail re this.

Thanks

John
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 20, January, 2011 - 20:36:12
So far we have:
- 1x for vanpebbles + 1x connector
- 1x for PLOD11 + 1x connector
- 2x for Chas + 1x connector
- 1x for growings c5 + 1x connector
- 1x for mikedx
- and two other people who showed interest but didn't respond since then.

John, Vanpeebles and Mike, I've send you an email.

Thanks

Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 21, January, 2011 - 19:16:40
I think I have to clarify this pedelec mode the ULA replacement module offers.
This is going to be a long story but please read this if you want a replacement module for your C5!

A Pedelec bike is a bicycle with electric motor support and follows three rules:
- motor power max 250W
- motor support only available while pedaling
- motor switches off when driving faster than 25 km/h

On the other hand, the compensation for these constraints is, that you can drive the vehicle within the entire EU totally street legal and without further insurance, accreditation or the like.

The ULA replacement modules offers two modes
- pedelec mode active
and
- pedelec mode inactive

If set to "inactive" everything is in the same manner as hithero: push the button and just go. Nothing more to tell about that.

But when the pedelec mode is active, this is how it's going:

Here is our C5. It is standing stopped on the road, in this example on a uphill street.
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/stopped.png)

Let's also assume the configuration settings are as following:
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/settings.png)

In this situation the motor isn't available.
Why?
1. The driver isn't pedaling.
2. We configured a minimum speed of 6.0 km/h to enable the motor. This prevents to accelerate with motor power only since this would cause an extreme motor current and discharge the battery very fast.
But of course, you are free to set the minimum required speed to 0 km/h. The only thing to start the motor would then be to pedal.

However, let's proceed. Let's turn around the vehicle and start to roll downhill:
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/roll.gif)

In this example, you soon gain a speed of 16 km/h just by rolling downhill.
But the motor is still not available.
Why?  ???
Because you are not pedaling.

So it's time for some sport activities. Start pedaling:
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/pedalling.gif)

Moderate pedaling increases the speed to 18 km/h and now the motor is available!

Turn on the motor!
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/motor.gif)

Yeah! Together with the motor you gain an incredible speed of 22 km/h and you feel like a jet pilot on a low-level flight!  ;D

This makes you so crazy - you're going totally mad and give everything you have, accelerating up to insane 30 km/h!!  :o
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/toofast.gif)

You're so mad you even don't notice that the motor went off because you exceeded the configured maximum speed of 25.0 km/h.  ;)


So much about that.
Now, how does the replacement module know how fast you are driving or pedaling?

You need to add reed-switches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_switch) to connect with the replacement module and magnets to trigger these switches.
Here is an example for the speed sensor:
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/reed.png)

If you are driving, this will happen:
(http://www.cypax.net/projects/ula/images/reed.gif)

What the replacement module notices is:
Oh! The switch was pressed! AGAIN!
Let's see: it's been 500ms since this happend the last time. I know from the configuration settings that the wheel circumference is 1.28m. So you could say the current speed is 1.28m/0.5ms = 2.56 m/s. One hour has 3600 seconds. So the speed is 2.56 m/s * 3600 = 9216 m/h. Now I divide by 1000 to get 9.216 km/h TA-DA!


Also add a reed switch to get the pedal revolutions to enable the replacement module to see if you are pedaling or not. It doesn't matter how fast you are pedaling. You can do this completely whishy-washy as long you are pedaling anyway.


Now, what would happen, if you lose the magnet on the image above or the pedal switch magnet?
You wouldn't be able to activate the motor because the replacement module either thinks the C5 is stopped or you are not pedaling.
Solution: add more magnets! (and enter the number of magnets in the configuration settings)

Scenario #1:
There are 4 magnets for the speed sensor. The replacement module calculates the speed as described above and then divides the value by 4.
Now you lose one magnet. Constant actual speed given, less switch pulses are generated as before but the calculated speed value is still divided by 4 causing a false speed value lower than the actual speed. But as a matter of principle the motor is still available.

Scenario #2:
There are 2 magnets for the pedal sensor and you lose one of them. The replacement module then calculates a wrong pedal rpm value. But since this value doesn't matter anyway (because it's only relevant whether you are pedaling or not) this has not further impact.



I hope this answered some questions and that it wasn't too long/complex/boring/whatever.


Best regards

-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Retro Andy on 21, January, 2011 - 19:26:17
Certainly long and complex, but not boring. Really great stuff   :)

Retro Andy.
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: gowrings c5 on 22, January, 2011 - 08:36:47
phil thats a really cool explanation. (wish i could do that stuff). i wasnt aware that pedalec mode means you have to constantly pedal.  is it possible to put the pedal sensor on the back wheel too? that way you just pedal before the motor kicks in, thus allowing you to stop peddling once moving. that stops gearbox stress from standing starts. david.
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: radiomarty on 22, January, 2011 - 12:50:06
This is really good stuff chaps and makes the future of c5's long and bright - well done.  :)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 22, January, 2011 - 20:24:04
is it possible to put the pedal sensor on the back wheel too? that way you just pedal before the motor kicks in, thus allowing you to stop peddling once moving.

David,
yes, although this wouldn't be a "legal definition" of a pedelec mode, to prevent the motor or gearbox from taking stress damage this would work.

And another note concerning the pedelec mode: there is a timeout of 2 seconds for the pedal sensor. This means with one magnet you have 2 seconds for one pedal revolution, with 2 magnets you have 2 seconds for a half revolution, 3 magnets => 2s for 1/3 revolution, and so on...
What I'm about to say is, that with the pedelec mode you indeed have to constantly pedal. But you can do this comfortable and very slowly without any effort.
The timeout also allows a short pedaling pause to switch to another gear, if you build a gearshift into the C5.

-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 29, January, 2011 - 15:00:15
Update: now 2 Modules left for sale.

-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 04, February, 2011 - 17:21:25
Hi there Phil how do I pay you for the two ....Bye Chas
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: gowrings c5 on 05, February, 2011 - 19:48:10
i received mine today (thanks phil). it all looks highly well produced and designed and also came with some additional back up components (thats a sure sign of a quality piece of electronics). im in no rush to fit mine but im sure others will be fitting pretty soon. thanks again to phil.  ;)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 05, February, 2011 - 21:55:37
Chas, I just send you an email with payment details.

@all: Since the module for gowrings c5 went to the post office on 27th Jan, the delivery to England seems to take much longer than I expected.
Maybe the package triggered a bomb alert at the customs office due to the cables and electronic stuff inside...  ;D

Btw: each package contains some extra parts:
- 2x 47k resistor (you need one for the control box modification)
- 5V voltage regulator (spare part)
- LM358 op-amp (spare part)
- IC socket for op-amp (since the op-amp often get broken this allows faster replacement)
- 4-pin crimp plug (to connect reed switches with module)
- a PC connector (if ordered)

Greetings
-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 06, February, 2011 - 18:33:45
Hi there Phil just sent you the payment thanks Chas
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: PLOD11 on 07, February, 2011 - 01:57:12
Mine arrived Friday...

Thanks for all the work you have put into making these an leting us have some  ;)

Good luck

John
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 25, February, 2011 - 11:42:05
All modules sold. Thank you.

-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: alexbromo on 25, February, 2011 - 15:07:25
All modules sold. Thank you.

-Phil

Hope just past mine ...  ::)

Alex Bromo
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Phil on 25, February, 2011 - 16:07:58
Quote
Hope just past mine ...

Hello Alex,
don't worry - your module went to the post office this morning  :)

-Phil
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: alexbromo on 25, February, 2011 - 17:28:09
Quote
Hope just past mine ...

Hello Alex,
don't worry - your module went to the post office this morning  :)

-Phil

 :)

Alex Bromo
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Karl on 25, February, 2011 - 22:11:31
Phil - You've done yourself proud with this project mate. Top job  8)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: alexbromo on 26, February, 2011 - 06:37:20
Phil - You've done yourself proud with this project mate. Top job  8)
I agree.

Phil's module is a real little masterpiece of engeneer.

 :)

Alex Bromo
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: peckishere on 03, April, 2011 - 20:22:48
All modules sold. Thank you.

-Phil


are there any plans to make some more in the future?, I would love to get my hands on one  ;D
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Lancealot on 03, May, 2011 - 19:39:49
Phil, Have you done a new batch of replacement ULA as I need one to repair one of my pods.

Thanks

Lance
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: PLOD11 on 03, June, 2011 - 10:46:41
Hi all

The one i bought is up for grabs complete with the RS232 converter kit, never been fitted still in jiffy bag as it arrived.

Need to raise funds for my 24 volt conversion  ;D

£40.00   + £4 P+P

If no takers will stick on Ebay over the weekend .....   8)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: PLOD11 on 06, June, 2011 - 17:05:48
Now on E bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330573576380

        *****NOW SOLD VIA E BAY *****
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: Karl on 06, June, 2011 - 18:36:10


Need to raise funds for my 24 volt conversion  ;D


..the fallout from the AER continues  ;D :D 8)
Title: Re: ULA replacement modules for sale
Post by: marra on 30, March, 2012 - 17:00:14
Has anyone got one for sale .