Firgelli LAC

[Ted Meyers]

Anyone else use the Firgelli Linear Actuator Control board?  Mine seems to brown out when it gets too hot out.  I haven't confirmed that this is the problem, but it is my best guess.  I might just replace it with something else, don't know what yet, but I haven't been impressed with the LAC, it seems to have a lot of issues.

[jesse brockmann]

I had issues with mine as well last year. What actuator and voltage you using?   It seemed to have current limiter or something.  Only way to reset was to turn on/off.   Have you looked at the app to program it yet to see the options?  

JesseJay

On Aug 27, 2017 4:26 PM, "Ted Meyers" <ted.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

Anyone else use the Firgelli Linear Actuator Control board?  Mine seems to brown out when it gets too hot out.  I haven't confirmed that this is the problem, but it is my best guess.  I might just replace it with something else, don't know what yet, but I haven't been impressed with the LAC, it seems to have a lot of issues.

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[Ted Meyers]

Yeah, it did seem to be related to when I stalled out the 25lb actuator at 12V.  I switched to 24 volts and it seems to be working better (I'll explain below), but the area around the regulator on the board is getting very warm.  It is now working (from some brief tests) with my Firgelli 150lb actuator, but my ServoCity 25 lb actuator only travels half the range (this morning it was travelling the full range).  Weird cause I just measured the pots on both actuators and they gave similar results (Both 10K pots, and both seem to work).  Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy =)

On Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 3:33:39 PM UTC-6, JesseJay wrote:

I had issues with mine as well last year. What actuator and voltage you using?   It seemed to have current limiter or something.  Only way to reset was to turn on/off.   Have you looked at the app to program it yet to see the options?  

JesseJay

On Aug 27, 2017 4:26 PM, "Ted Meyers" <ted.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

Anyone else use the Firgelli Linear Actuator Control board?  Mine seems to brown out when it gets too hot out.  I haven't confirmed that this is the problem, but it is my best guess.  I might just replace it with something else, don't know what yet, but I haven't been impressed with the LAC, it seems to have a lot of issues.

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[Ted Meyers]

Update:

I removed the ServoCity actuator from the steering assembly, and now it works.  best guess is that it was binding somewhere and that was causing my problems.  I guess I'll take another look at the steering and see if I can find anything that might be binding.  The other option is to just use the more powerful (but slower servo).

I'm also guessing that the regulator is just going to get hot because it is dropping 24V to 5V (or 3.3V -- whichever).

[Jon Watte]

For what it's worth, the RoboClaw controllers can be used with potentiometer feedback (in addition to encoders, and limit switches.)

They speak a serial protocol, something which I tend to prefer over PWM.

Each one also drives two channels (two motor outputs, two feedback inputs, etc.)

If the Firgelli already works for you (after fixes) then no need to change, but if it ends up not working, that might be an option. I've used the 7A and 30A versions.

Sincerely,

jw

Sincerely,

Jon Watte


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[Ted Meyers]

Aha, good to know.  I've heard that those are really well built controllers.  Didn't know they had so many feedback options.  They are a bit pricey, but I'm sure they are well worth it.

Ted

[Jon Watte]

If you think RoboClaws are "pricey," you should not check out the Roboteq site :-)

Note that "pricey" is in relation to cheap Chinese knock-offs. And, for things that are simple, cheap back-of-a-truck manufacturing might be just fine. For example, most (but not all) cheap DC/DC converters do convert to the stated voltage without more than, say, 5% ripple.

When it comes to more complex things, it ends up being useful to actually have support in a language you can understand, by people who are looking for repeat business. I find that Ion MC (the current name of the RoboClaw makers) actually do answer questions on their forums within a business day, and are genuinely helpful in fixing problems.

I once had to send back three controllers for re-work because of a design problem (several years back, that controller isn't made anymore) and they covered the work and return shipping for free, and the process of getting to that resolution was based on then trusting that, in fact, I knew what I was doing. Compared to many other sellers, I rate the Ion people highly!

Sincerely,

jw

Sincerely,

Jon Watte


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[jesse brockmann]

Pololu also has the simple motor controller which is similar price to the LAC and other options to consider.

https://www.pololu.com/product/1373

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[Ted Meyers]

Yes, that is a good controller.  I have used it in the past.   Sadly it does not have built in feedback control (or does it?).  Not that the code to do that would be hard to write, just added complexity.  What I want is something I can just plug an RC Rx into for quick and easy testing.

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[jesse brockmann]

It says it has potentiometer support, but I've never tried to use it.

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