Inexpensive Hoverboard Motor Controller

Here is a quick video on how to use the new version of the RioRand brushless DC motor controller. I show some of the differences between this new version and the old version. I also connect a logic analyzer to measure some of the signals coming off the board. Check it out.

For more information on this board check out my blog post here:

For the speed calculations formulas go here:

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Production equipment

[saleycole]

Absolutely great video! I am a mechatronics engineering final year student, and I am using 4 of these hoverboard wheels and drivers for my final project. I'm building a Robotic seed planter.
This video just cleared up a lot of stuff, there seems to be limited info online about its working principle. I'll definitely check the blog for those calculations.
Thank you very much!!

[RecreationalOverEngineering]

Thanks for the good introduction! Just one thing that I got stuck on when getting my RioRand up and running, which might help others: The pinout image describes the STOP pin as active low, so I connected it to an Arduino and set it to +5 V. But then the motor was stuck on full speed, regardless which duty cycle my PWM signal had. It seems that the STOP pin is connected to the analog input created from PWM and potentiometer, and one can indeed stop the motor by pulling it to ground, but it should be left unconnected not to disturb the PWM.

[howardnisbet]

Thank you ! I’ve been trying to figure out the connections for the new zs-x11h v1 to a Hoverboard hub motor. Also trying to use a E-Bike Throttle Grip with key lock and voltage meter on it
I think I can figure it out now thanks to you.
Very well explained

[adamhixon]

Funny timing. I watched your first video last week before ordering these new drivers and your new video came out about when my drivers got delivered.

[chriswf]

Man took me like half a day to get my wired up and working.
So first, not all hoverboard motors are the same. VERY similar, direct drive, 3 phase, hall sensor motors. Direct drive scooter motors are similar. But the wiring is NOT the same.
My 3 phase wires do not not go in the same spot as yours, Mad-EE.
And obviously, my hall sensor wires aren't the same as yours.

For those reading and what to do this yourself...
You'll probably have to unscrew your hoverboard motor inner-side-panel. It's 8 little screws.
Pop the panel off with a flathead screw driver or metal scraper. It probably has a bearing in it, so be careful. And work it up slowly around the wheel.

On the side of the motor, facing up at you (hopefully) should be a hall sensor. It'll be C-ish or crescent moon shaped.

It'll have 5+ wires on it. If there's more than 5, then 1 is probably a temperature or speed sensor, and you can ignore it. My 6th wire was white.
If you look closely, the hall wire motors are probably labeled on the circuit board. Look carefully. They're small.
Those letters should match the lettering on the hall plug pinout. Ground, C, B, A, and V+.
The chances are that the Hall colors you match with A, B, and C, will match the motor's phase wires (A, B, and C). Hall - left to Right (C, B, A), Phase - up to down (A, B, C), I think.

You can test with the onboard POT.
But you can also send PWM signals from a raspberry pi.
Like if you use a Pie's ground PIN, put it on the controller ground terminal on the right signal bar.
And use another GPIO pin (like pin12), and connect that to the 5v signal terminal on the right bar.
Then you can send it PWM signals through python... Like pwn.ChangeDutyCycle(100) (for 100hz frequency).

Once you get to this part and it works -^, you're ready to do ANYTHING!

PS - This board REQUIRES you to use the hall sensor wires. I tried every configuration with the phase motors, and I couldn't get a signal down them without the hall sensor wires configured.
Even a wrong configuration is enough to get the motor spinning, noisily :)

[maxkielbasa]

that's a great explanation of how my ebike controller works. Thanks!

[otomoov]

Great video! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Please make another video about the motor controller. With the speed controlled by PWM signal from an arduino. Thank you.

[dronemaddness]

Your awesome!!! Now put it back together and let's ride😁👍

[kenhelix]

Great. Thanks for this posting. My aim is to use this silent motor for anything but hoverboarding.

[jjqformerlyjailbreak]

Hey 👋 thank you. This is the most informative video about these controllers. Now if I could find one just like it for the B version. Thanks
God Bless.

[BCreativeDIY]

Great video! I'm curious what applications you plan to make with this engine. I wish you inspiration and time to grow your channel.

[OnnieKoski]

Great video. I’m working on an electric skateboard using 4 of these and an Arduino. One thing is, the wheels all want to spin in the same direction of the shaft. So being able to make the board go forward and reverse is a bit tricky

[terrylembke]

Thank you very much this intro, vido . I am new to this stuff, and having fun .

[antoinefroger]

YOU ARE A GOD.
Thank you so much, this helped me save my project!

[andruss]

Thanks! Good video! I like this step-by-step style

[chriswf]

Here's an update to my previous post:
So I tested the RioRand ECS. It was cheap, but it kind of made the hoverboard groan. Like it wasn't fluid or clean signaling.

So I went ebike/escooter controllers. 3 phase with (hall) "signal". And yes they use 0-5v for the throttle.
So I threw in an Arduino (which can read RC server/PWM very well).

For those who are reading this, to run 0-5v controllers, you can use an arduino or raspberry pi.
Convert digital to analog... Like PWM to a DAC or some other digital signal to a little breakout board DAC.
That'll convert it to 0-5v.

So many powerful options with this approach ^

[MegaMarcuscooper]

What would the next step be to add remote control to this system?
Something like a FLYSKY FS-i6X remote control, or would it need something additional like an arduino or something?
Love the video btw looking forward to seeing more from this channel!

[whitneydesignlabs]

Very cool. I have two hoverboards for parts projects. The first one is not the standard hoverboard motherboard and runs at 24v. The second one, is the standard motherboard at 36v. With the second one, I tried the STM32 programming hack, but could not connect. No chance of doing the hack on the non-standard motherboard. Since I have a total of 4 motors, this lead me on a quest to find an alternative driver. Thanks very much for your video! This may be the approach I take in my project(s).

[runpuppyfpv]

So this board can convert a pwm signal and use it to control a brushless motor . That's actually pretty useful

[redrighthandarts]

How does one go about hooking that up to a radio control?