Speedometer issues

[skylarjoehill.h]

I have a new Permobil M5. My speedometer is not registering when I drive. It is staying at 0.0 mph. Every once in a while it will go up to 0.5 mph after about 45 seconds and will stay there until I change modes.

Any ideas on what might be causing this issue?

[Burgerman]

Programming, or firmware issues.

[skylarjoehill.h]

The programming is fine. Could be a hardware issue?

[LROBBINS]

There is no hardware involved in that speedometer. It estimates speed based on percent of power (PWM) after it has been programmed to assume that full power is a certain speed.

[skylarjoehill.h]

What else could the issue be?

[Burgerman]

Firmware error or programming... There is nothing else.

[Burgerman]

To elaborate, if its a firmware bug, unlikely, then it will need a new firmware flash from PG Drives.

If its simply misconfigured, then it needs programming and configuring correctly. Are you using a stock setup? Standard joystick etc?

[steves1977uk]

I'd say it's a programming issue, as you can set the speedo variables in the PC Programmer.

Steve

[Burgerman]

When we say programming, this is another case of OEM level only, you cant do this with a typical common dealer programmer that your tech is likely to have.

[Dan]

Its new? We pay ripoff prices for chairs so phone the dealer you bought it off and get them to put it right.

[Burgerman]

Yes. But I am saying that the process will be messy... They will make a drama out of it. Swapping controllers, motors, power modules, scratching heads and being all confused! You end up with a chair thats been disassembled about 4 times and missing for weeks. Will end up getting shipped back to the manufacturer after the dealer has had several goes at it.

Whereas you could DIY in 20 secs.

[skylarjoehill.h]

It is new. It's a replacement because they couldn't figure out an issue where the ICS system was causing excess voltage in the lights. The master module got fried because of it. They both had issues out of the factory.

[Burgerman]

Well if you say so. But the master module (master joystick or power module?) have nothing to do with the lights and the whole bus system and modules (and usually LED lights/loom) run on full 24v battery voltage anyway so that doesent make a lot of sense!

Sounds like all that module swapping, lots of miss diagnosis, guesswork, and chair removal, experiment, parts swapping, return, and other confusion is well under way already! I wish you luck. Its in the hands of the "experts". They will fix it in the end by swapping out stuff till it works at random.

[skylarjoehill.h]

The ICS Master module. That was with the other chair before the replacement.

[Burgerman]

I know. But what I said remains true. They are idiots. What they told you isn't possible.

And your new chair needs programming configuring correctly. But they will likely swap everything as "faulty" because they don't understand what they are doing. Watch and sadly, learn.

[Burgerman]

There are other possibilities, but most likely they have set something incorrectly here:

[Burgerman]

Look under MOTOR, GLOBAL, and then:

DISPLAY SPEED: OPTIONS, K/PH, MPH
DISPLAYS: DISTANCE, SPEED, or BOTH
MAX DISPLAYED SPEED: any. You must choose a figure. It is the max display speed.
MAX RATED SPEED: the actual wheelchair speed.

Set any of these wrong and it can screw up the display of speed. Or make it read 40mph... Or nothing.

[skylarjoehill.h]

If I save the programming file with the dealer programmer and then unplug the dealer program can I open it with the generic OEM programming software and fix the settings?

[steves1977uk]

See my post here... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6988&p=104085#p104086 Ignore the profile and OBP stuff, although it would be handy to enable OBP if you have the joystick with LCD display.

Steve

[skylarjoehill.h]

Everything is fine.

[Burgerman]

Then a firmware bug. Your chair doesent have encoders on the motors by any chance? Some r-net systems display speed based on wheel or motor encoders. They are fitted on some chairs that dont use a joystick or for digital latched controls etc or they were a few years ago. Before gyro etc.

[skylarjoehill.h]

What can Permobil do to fix it?

It doesn't.

[Burgerman]

PG Drives will likely update the firmware if thats the issue. They likely have already found and fixed the issue. I cant see a way that it can be hardware. But they will likely swap it anyway as the fixed firmware will be already installed.