Microchip Technology EV12F76A DSPIC33CJ Motor Control Starter Kit

The Microchip Technology EV12F76A DSPIC33CJ Motor Control Starter Kit is a comprehensive solution for quickly prototyping low-voltage 3-phase BLDC motor applications. The kit includes a motor control board, a motor, and a USB cable for PC communication. The board also includes a screwdriver for easy motor-to-board connection and a power supply with international plug adaptors, making it an all-in-one solution. The EV12F76A Starter Kit features a powerful dsPIC33CK digital signal processor (DSP) that can control various 3-phase BLDC motors. A full suite of peripherals, including ADCs, DACs, timers, and PWMs supports the DSP. The kit also includes a comprehensive software library that makes it easy to develop motor control applications. 

Microchip Technology EV12F76A Features  

Core Components and Motor Control Specifications

The Microchip Technology EV12F76A DSPIC33CJ Motor Control Starter Kit is designed for efficient and versatile motor control prototyping. The Low-Voltage Motor Control Board (DM330031) core component supports a three-phase inverter bridge suitable for 12V to 48V motors. This bridge, composed of six NMOS MOSFETs, can sustain 10A of continuous current or 20A with additional cooling measures like a heat sink or fan.

The kit includes three MIC4605 Half-Bridge MOSFET Gate Drivers for driving the MOSFETs, each rated at 85V. It features separate interfaces for hall sensors and optical/magnetic encoders to accommodate various motor control methods. The board also supports phase voltage feedback for sensorless BEMF BLDC or PMSM operation and includes a DC bus current sense shunt resistor circuit for single-shunt FOC control or BLDC current control.

Safety Features and Monitoring Systems

Additional features include phase current sense shunt resistors in the inverter leg for dual or triple-shunt FOC control and phase current signal conditioning using either the internal op amps on the dsPIC33CK DSC or external op amps on the LVMC board. For safety, overcurrent protection is managed by the dsPIC33CK DSC’s internal comparator and 12-bit DAC, along with DC Bus Voltage feedback for over-voltage protection.

User Interaction and Power Supply Connections

The kit also incorporates a temperature sensor to monitor the MOSFETs' temperature and connectors for interfacing external temperature sensors, ensuring operational safety. User interaction is easy with six green LEDs for PWM status, a red LED for power-on status, two blue LEDs for debugging, a potentiometer, and three push buttons for various user inputs. It includes a reset switch and multiple power supply connectors, including a screw terminal and barrel connector.

The board's on-board power supplies cater to various components, providing 12V for the gate drive, 5V for sensors, and 3V for the dsPIC33CK DSC and interfaces. Communication is facilitated via a UART to USB circuit for high-speed communications and two mikroBUS sockets for additional serial communications. Programming the board is straightforward, with an onboard PKoBv4 Debug Circuit and an additional ICSP™ connector for external programmers.

Getting Started with Motor Control Starter Kit

Follow these steps to get started with the EV12F76A Starter Kit:

1. Install the software library: The software library can be downloaded from the Microchip Technology website.

2. Connect the motor to the motor control board: Connect the motor to the motor control board according to the pinout diagram.

3. Connect the power supply to the motor control board: Connect the power supply to the motor control board according to the pinout diagram.

4. Connect the USB cable to the motor control board and PC: Connect the USB cable to the motor control board and PC.

5. Program the motor control board: The motor control board can be programmed using the Microchip MPLAB IDE.

6. Test the motor: Once the motor control board is programmed, you can test the motor by running the motor control application.

Applications

Microchip Technology EV12F76A is best used to prototype low-voltage 3-phase BLDC motor control applications, develop motor control algorithms, debug motor control systems, and design and build custom motor control systems. The starter kit offers features for developers and enthusiasts to explore and innovate in low-voltage motor control applications.