2025-03-02 9:59 AM
Hello,
This is my first post here, and just putting it out there from the start, I am no expert in electronics. I am looking for some guidance on putting together a small temperature controller for an EV vehicle conversion. What I am missing is a simple controller that will measure temperatures of two cooling loops and use PWM signals to control two pumps, a heater, and switch on a fan. Below is a more detailed description. BTW if this is not the right place to post this, by all means let me know.
2025-03-02 10:57 AM
is meant to fit into a small enclosure
The Nucleo is OK for a prototype, but production smallness is better achieved with a custom STM32L432 daughterboard, or mounting the micro on the main board. The programming pins would then have to be brought to a connector.
The STM micros have built-in pull up and pull down resistors for the programming pins that are adequate for a benign electromagnetic environment. Consult with an EV EMI expert to determine if your board will need additional programming pull up and pull down resisters to prevent EMI from reprogramming the micro.
2025-03-04 10:04 PM
Thanks for the input. Agree in the long run I would definitely go for micro on board but to try it our I figured this is a good start. And I am not that versed in this stuff yet to build a whole board I think.
I am just looking at some charts for the temperature sensors in terms of resistance but I am finding some conflicting information regarding the I/O input voltage, I was under the impression they only take 3.3V max but I also read that 5V is acceptable. Any clarification on that?
Thanks
2025-03-05 12:55 AM
While you don't state it explicitely, I think you don't talk about a commercial project here, but a private/hobby one.
In this case, the Nucleo board and the "industrial" MCU variant are fine. Commercial projects would require extended temperature range variants.
Assuming a supply from 12V, the 7805 will still create quite a bit of heat. I would have used a switching converter, probably an off the shelf module.
For the outputs, I think at least for inductive loads (the water pump probably is), protective (flyback) diodes are required. Automotive environments are not known to be very clean and stable, I would recommend protective circuitry on all inputs and outputs - including the power supply.
And I would consider a debug adapter connector and a serial (UART) interface/ connector as options for debugging and testing purposes.
2025-03-15 3:45 PM
By I/O input voltage, I presume you mean the Nucleo pins, not the temperature sensor pins.
Read the MCU data sheet. 5V tolerance applies to some digital pins. All pins in analog mode are limited to the MCU reference.
2025-03-17 7:45 PM
Thanks for the input, much appreciated. I have spent a bit of time on this now and concluded it makes just more sense to build something from scratch. Looking at generic open-source ECUs, the F103CB6 seems to be sufficient for what I need to do...
What still gives me some trouble is the PWM output. I believe the following should work as far as the water pumps should go (I also have very limited information on those TBH).
But one of the PWMs connects to a heater, and the manual is asking for an open collector circuit with a minimum 20 mA signal current. Below is the internal signal processing on the heater side.
Would that mean that I should remove one of the resistors (e.g. R21) and connect the collector directly? Like so: