3500 and hall encoder question.

Hey guys,

We've recently bought the ax3500 for a robotics project and are at a bit of a loss how to hook our motor's hall encoders up to the card.
www.transmotec.com/PDF/Motors_Planetary_...D_Encoder_Option.pdf
As far as we could see, it should be one to one, but we're not getting any readings in the Roborun software. (We assume that it's just connect it up and off it goes, there isn't very much written about hall encoders in the manual)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Reece

The encoder will be connected to the RJ11 connector. The easiest is to take an already built ethernet cable. Cut it, strip each individual wire, and connect them to your encoder.

Pin 3 of your encoder goes to the 5V output
4 to Gnd
5 to encoder1 (or 2) input A
6 to encoder1 (or 2) input B

Hmm, that's how we had it wired up. :/ So that bit's fine.

The encoders are definitely generating a signal, we're not getting anything in Roborun. Is there something that we need to setup beyond entering the PPR value? Also does open or closed mode matter when just testing encoder output?

Thanks,
Reece

You do not need to set the controller in Closed Loop for testing with Roborun. In fact, it is better that you do the first tests in open loop.

You do not need to worry about PPR yet either.

Just click on the Encoder tab and click on the Run button.

You should see the Switch 1 / 2 changes as the A & B logic level change (3/ 4 if encoder 2 is wired). If you dont see any change, then check with a voltmeter that your see a 0 and "1" level. "1" is 2.5V or higher.

You should also see the Counter Value change as you rotate the shaft (whether or not the motor is connected)

Thank you so much for all your help. We worked out how to get it working in the end. Mainly our own inexperience more than anything. Upon purchasing an oscilloscope and adding a pot to the encoder channels we solved the problem.

Once again thanks for the help, especially considering it was Christmas! Love the 3500!