Looks like I have to ask for help on this one. Been way too long I'm having trouble figuring this out.
Starting with the output of a remote control receiver there's 6 wires:
+v (any voltage, I'm reading 2.3v)
- (ground)
Forward/Reverse (+ v)
Forward/Reverse (- v)
Left/Right (+ v)
Left/Right (- v)
To go forward the Forward Line goes high, Reverse Line goes to ground. To reverse the Forward Line goes to ground and Reverse Line goes high. Same with Right and Left turns. This does not interface with Arduino since it doesn't read negative voltage so no translation that way. Unless I just clean up the negative output to something Arduino can read then do the conversion through software. I have an unused Nano sitting around here somewhere.
Beyond that the final output needs to swing above/below 50% of the input voltage. So right now the receiver swings above/below ground the amount of the input voltage. The trick is to get it to stay above 0v and center around half the input. Setting the center tap voltage to half the input is easy but converting the receiver output to the voltages needed by the controller has me stumped at the moment. Is this making sense?
Oh, I already tried using 0v as the reference but it didn't work. Apparently the circuitry doesn't do negative voltage.
Wait, I'm doing something wrong here - I measured the joystick output in reference to ground and not the center tap. That would make 1.15v = 0 and the output would run above/below. The problem with connecting directly is that the receiver lines switch but the joystick lines don't (both have 2 lines F/R, 2 lines L/R). Sames number of lines but the joystick puts both lines high or low, not one high and the other low. So I need to change the receiver output to match so maybe an inverter on the black (neg) wire both lines will be either high/high or low/low, not high/low. Explaining the problem always seem to help think it out.
I’ll look but it’s a small board, not much to it. Seems to operate by +V and 0V. I didn’t mess with it much so don’t really remember how it acted but I don’t believe there was any half or quarter speed, just go or not.
Either way it should work since I’m not looking for any speed control with it, there’s a speed control on the joystick control board. I just need to interface and I think I have it worked out.
I believe I have the receiver hookup worked out but something new just came up. The “chair” has a feature that detects if the wheels are locked to the motors. If they aren’t the power lights flash and stay steady when locked. I’m getting flashing lights so no signal is sent to the motors while in this state.
Problem now is I can't figure out what it wants. Pin 8 is a switch output and not connected unless there's a switch so I'm guessing there is one, but I've tried +v, gnd and vref to it and it still flashes. Guess I need to make friends with a tech at The Scooter Store or something as this info is nowhere to be found on the Net.
You might want to consider making a new forum post for your new problem. People that have looked at the original question seeing the post pop to the top of the forum list may not look at it again, now that you have a new question/problem.
I can seperate it but then I’ll be explaining what’s going on all over again plus the original problem is not yet solved until I see if it actually works. I’m also afraid the post will drift away. The problem is connecting the outputs I have from the receiver to what the joystick controller wants to see. This is just an obstacle along the way to solving the problem. But if it helps I’ll kick out another thread.
I might just shelve it again, I see why nobody does this and just buys a $200 controller. I don’t have that option plus I really don’t want to give up. I’m like that but sometimes you have to know when to walk away. Latest info is it might be a power on test making sure the the joystick is centered before activating. However I did try putting +v, gnd and vref on the outputs as well as pin 8 and still nothing. I also saw a reference to a calibration when replacing the joystick so that might be the answer.
