Quick Start Guide
Getting started with the HV Pro ESC.
Last updated
Getting started with the HV Pro ESC.
Last updated
The following items are included in the box with each APD HV Pro ESC.
1 x APD HV Pro Electronic Speed Controller
1 x Quick Start Guide Card
Required for Setup (Not Included):
2 x Power Cable (8 - 12 AWG)
3 x Motor Cable (8 - 12 AWG)
1 x Signal Telemetry Cable (3 Pin 0.1" Female)
1 x Micro USB Cable
All HV_Pro units have the following pin configurations, alongside the relevant electrical properties.
Purpose and limits of the HV_Pro pins on the input connections.
Pin
Purpose
Min Voltage
Max Voltage
PPM
PWM signal input for throttle control.
3V
10V
VCC
Power for signal input isolation.
3V
10V
GND
GND for signal input.
-
-
RPM
Analogue real-time RPM output pulse.
0V
VCC
UART GND
Non-isolated UART GND for telemetry.
-
-
RX
Receive pin for UART operation.
0V
5.5V
TX
Transmit pin for UART operation.
0V
5.5V
When wiring the HV_Pro ESC, we recommend you use highly flexible and high-temperature silicone insulation for the power cables. This ensures unnecessary stress is not applied to the ESC terminals, and maximum thermal reliability is achieved. When operating the higher voltage units (85V+), it is recommended that a pre-charge system is used to avoid damage to the ESCs or connectors due to sparking from abrupt battery connections.
8 AWG, 10 AWG or 12 AWG wires are recommended, depending on the current draw of your application.
If the final desired ESC location is further than 1 meter from the power source, we recommend the use of a local capacitor bank (sold separately) to reduce DC bus voltage ripple. This also reduces voltage spikes occurring during regenerative braking.
If running the HV_Pro from a power supply that can not absorb current (when the HV_Pro is regen braking), this can cause damage to the unit or supply if the Synchronous Rectification function is enabled. It can be disabled in the configuration tool, under the Advanced tab.
We recommend using a battery or bidirectional power supply to avoid this issue.
Input voltage ripple must be managed to a maximum of +/- 5% of your total input to the ESC. Longer input leads require a larger capacitor bank capacitance.
The following images are a recommended soldering technique for the HV_Pro with no capacitor bank connected.
The minimum requirements for controlling the throttle to the HV_Pro ESC are the PPM (Signal Input), VCC (Signal Power) and GND pins. This will ensure the ESC will correctly respond to throttle inputs. An absence of one of these three connections will result in the No Signal error tones while the unit is powered.
The USB is used when connecting the ESC to a PC for configuration and accessing data logs. When the USB is connected, the ESC will lock out the motor drive. Once the unit is powered on with main power, the USB will be locked out.
Before starting up the HV Pro ESC, it is important that the ESC contains the latest firmware, ensuring maximum performance and that the most up to date features are included.
The APD ESC Configuration Tool is used to update ESC firmware, adjust ESC settings and view/manage logs stored from previous device usage.
The latest Configuration Tool can be downloaded from here: Download
Download the Configuration Tool to a Windows PC from the link supplied.
Connect the UHV to the computer using a Micro USB cable (not included), and run the Configuration Tool.
All the released firmware versions can be found under the Firmware tab once the ESC is connected. Ensure that the desired firmware (or latest) is installed on the unit.
Check relevant settings are applied. Settings can be saved to a file, for easy installation to other units.
Disconnect the ESC, perform the wiring setup.
Before powering on the HV Pro unit, be sure to check all the power connections for cold solder joints. In addition to this, test the motor phase cables for shorts with a multi-meter.
Make sure input polarity is correct! Connecting the ESC incorrectly will damage the unit, and void any APD warranty.
Powering up procedure:
Ensure the motor is connected to the phase connections.
Connect the signal header to the ESC (pin purpose and requirements can be found here).
Power on the signal source, ensure it is sending 0% throttle on startup of the ESC, end-point details below.
Power on the ESC.
In order for your ESC to perform correctly when using a PWM input, make sure that the end-points coming from the receiver are between 1000-1020 uS for the lower end-point and 1980-2000 uS for the upper-end point.
If the lower end-point is above 1020 uS, the ESC will not arm. Similarly, if the receiver is outputting less than 1980 uS, you will not experience the full power range.
The ESC's can receive up to 500Hz PWM, with standard TTL 3.3V or 5V inputs. If the input voltage is less than 2.7V, the drive voltage of the receiver is not high enough and the ESC will not respond to signal inputs.
