Upgrade from a SW8C+

[A Former User]

Hi guys,

would it be possible to upgrade my SW8C+ to a SW13C+ just by exchanging the controller box?
And if so, what would it cost?

Best regards
Andreas

[Sim-plicity Dev]

@aotto1977

Yes that is possible. Cost will be circa 200 GBP including pickup & return.

If you are up to a little DIY and can wait till June, a 15Nm - 18Nm wheelbase can be achieved with a Team Wheel LV Controller

Configuration 1 - tick the "Second Power Supply required?" checkbox
Configuration 2
Configuration 3

Remove 180 GBP from each of those estimates as you already have the motor.

[A Former User]

@Sim-plicity-Dev oooooh, the DIY Option sounds very promising, thanks for the hint!

What exactly do I need the second power supply for? Can we expect more documentation for the controller in the future, or is there already anything available?

[Sim-plicity Dev]

@aotto1977

All our controllers (old & new) allow for 2 identical PSUs to be aggregated, doubling the input power.
This will typically increase the motor's output torque subject to various other limiting factors (all of which are modelled in the Wheel Builder app).

Using 2 lower power PSUs vs a single high power PSU can have packaging & noise benefits.
As an example the SW20 V3 uses 2 air-cooled PSUs while the SW20 Esport uses a single fan-cooled PSU.
The SW20 V3 controller is 11% smaller due to the space saving from the PSU sandwich.
The SW20 Esport's PSU would be intrusively loud if we allowed the controller case temperature to rise above 40 degrees Centigrade.
We avoid this because of the external low noise fan in all the control unit cases.

Each configuration above links to the wiki page of the controller

This is an ever-evolving document so please highlight areas/topics you need further detail on.

[A Former User]

@Sim-plicity-Dev said in Upgrade from a SW8C+:

This is an ever-evolving document so please highlight areas/topics you need further detail on.

While I'm quite good at electronics stuff und experienced in soldering and such, (built my own USB rim etc.) I have no experience in assembling a controller, so I'd need a full data sheet in terms of connections and such.
Plus I need to end up with pin compatible connections to the current SW8C+ controller, so I can use the existing wiring harness.

But as the document is, as you stated, ever-evolving, I'll just keep an eye on that.

But maybe you can already answer this: The wiki says "integrated variant" and the shape is quite remarkable – is this meant to be installed directly into the encoder housing?

Have a nice weekend!

Andreas

[A Former User]

@Sim-plicity-Dev said in Upgrade from a SW8C+:

@aotto1977

Yes that is possible. Cost will be circa 200 GBP including pickup & return.

Does that mean I would have to send my SW8C+ controller box in? Isn't it possible to just purchase the SW13C+ controller box?
I don't really like the idea of having no working wheelbase for a longer time period to be honest.

[Sim-plicity Dev]

@aotto1977

Unfortunately, we no longer produce SW13C+ controller boxes as we've shut down those production lines.
Time spent upgrading the SW8C+ controller box can however be optimized by opting for an Air rather than road-based collection & delivery service which would mean if the unit is collected on Monday, it should be back with you by mid-day Friday in SW13C+ spec.
Factor in an additional 40 GBP for the air service upgrade.

[Sim-plicity Dev]

@aotto1977
With all the new integrated controllers the rear encoder housing is replaced with a larger encoder + controller housing and the controller fits within this such that DC power and USB are the only external cable connections.
The controllers are shaped to facilitate this.

[A Former User]

@Sim-plicity-Dev said in Upgrade from a SW8C+:

@aotto1977
With all the new integrated controllers the rear encoder housing is replaced with a larger encoder + controller housing and the controller fits within this such that DC power and USB are the only external cable connections.
The controllers are shaped to facilitate this.

Thanks for the additional info. So I'd only need an additional housing for the PSUs, right?
But how can I (pre-) order this exact configuration? The configurator has no order button.

[Sim-plicity Dev]

@aotto1977
For the Wheel Builder to be globally useful, we've included 60+ PSUs most of which we do not stock (but are generally available) to allow configurations to be tailored to what is locally available and cost-effective.

For this configuration, you would need to source the 2x LRS-150-15 locally (Mouser will deliver for below 40 GBP/46 EUR within the EU) while we supply the Team Wheel LV controller.

[A Former User]

@Sim-plicity-Dev said in Upgrade from a SW8C+:

For this configuration, you would need to source the 2x LRS-150-15 locally (Mouser will deliver for below 40 GBP/46 EUR within the EU) while we supply the Team Wheel LV controller.

Ok, understood. Too bad mouser is b2b only, but I get the Idea.

To be honest with you: I'm out. I've been very interested at the beginning, but it's been 5 months since you informed me about this controller, and neither the Wiki nor the store page have evolved since in terms of information.
There's no image other than the controller board, no schematic, not even a mockup of the housing, no list of the 100 possible things that might be included or would have to be sourced by myself.
That's too much of a gamble for me. Or may I'll have to accept that I'm not part of the target group.

Learning that the C+ line is beyond EOL doesn't give me the greatest confidence that any update would be future proof either, so I decided to call it a day go another upgrade path instead.

Which is a bit sad, because I was – and still am – the owner of a nice and well working DD base made by enthusiasts instead of a big industry player, but I guess I've reached a dead end here. (Also, f'in Brexit doesn't make things easier aswell. Which really isn't you fault.)