4.3.9. Critical parameters

Minimum and maximum values of currents, voltages and temperatures are used for safe controller operation. Any value out of acceptable range leads to the motion stop, windings power-down and Alarm state for the controller. Exiting the Alarm state is possible only after the critical parameter returns to normal and the STOP command is sent to the controller. Critical settings are used for all motor types.

The following parameters are available:

  • Low voltage off defines the minimum voltage value of the controller power supply (measured in tens of mVs). The Low voltage protection flag is used to turn this option on, otherwise the minimum unpowering threshold doesn’t work. The 6000mV to 8000mV range is recommended for operating power range of 12V to 48V. This type of protection helps to determine the power-cut moment due to activation of any sort of power supply unit protection. This may occur if the operating power consumption of the stabilized power supply unit is exceeded.
  • Max current (power) defines the maximum current of the controller power supply (measured in mAs). The recommended value is twice the maximum operating consumed current registered during the tests. Use the XiLab charts for registration of the consumed current.
  • Max voltage (power) defines the maximum voltage value of the controller power supply (measured in tens of mVs). The recommended value is \(20\%\) higher than power supply unit voltage.
  • Max temperature defines the maximum temperature of the microprocessor (measured in tenths of degrees Celsius). The microprocessor can operate at the working temperature of up to 75ºC and doesn’t overheat by itself. Rise of its temperature indirectly indicates the overheating of the power part of the board. The overheating threshold range from 40ºC to 75ºC is recommended.

Flags:

  • Switch off power driver on overheat means entering the Alarm mode if the driver’s critical temperature (over 125ºC) is exceeded. The power driver indicates if its temperature is approaching the critical value. If the driver is still working then the further heating will automatically shut it down. It is recommended to set this flag and not to rely on automatic forced shutdown.
  • Switch off power driver on H bridge alert means turning the Alarm mode on if any fault of the power driver due to board overheating or damage is detected. This flag should be set on.
  • Enter Alarm state when edge misset is detected means turning the Alarm mode on if the triggering of the wrong limit switch, not corresponding to direction, is detected (see the Limit switches chapter). This flag is intended for clear indication of the response of the limit switch swap detection subsystem. The flag is recommended to be set on.
  • Sticky Alarm flags flag activates the sticking of the error indicators in the status structure of the controller, otherwise indicators are active only during the accident that caused the error. If there was a short-time error and its cause was independently removed, then sometimes the reason of Alarm remains uncertain. In that case the sticking is useful and the accident cause can get diagnosed in XiLab main window.
  • Enable Braking Overvoltage Protection (BOP) - if this option is enabled and a stepper motor with None feedback type is used, power voltage spikes cause the controller to activate the low-side switches of the H-bridge, short-circuiting the motor windings to ground. This helps prevent power circuit malfunctions caused by braking energy recuperation from the motor.
  • WRM Alarm - this parameter enables the Alarm state if there is a significant difference in the resistance of the stepper motor windings. The flag is implemented for work in the Feedback None mode.
  • Engine response Alarm - if this flag is set, the controller will enter an Alarm state in response to the engine control action.

Configuration of parameters is described in Critical board ratings menu of XiLab software. The maximum available value configuration commands are described in Programming guide.