The Cycle Analyst

Large Screen Edition

User Manual

The Cycle Analyst 2.23

The Cycle Analyst is designed and
manufactured in Canada by:

Grin Technologies Ltd.

20 E 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V5T 1E8
ph:
(604) 569-0902
email: info@ebikes.ca
web: http://www.ebikes.ca
Author and Illustrator: Justin Lemire-Elmore
Copyright 2011

Note, this manual is for large screen Cycle Analyst

devices with the Rev11 circuitboard layout, supplied
since May 2011. There are several hardware
variations compared to the Rev9 and Rev10 boards
sold previously, which run with the same V2.23
firmware but have different voltage specifications.

Table of Contents
1.

Basic Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2.

Device Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4.

Display Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

5.

Additional Resetting Options . . . . . . . . . . 9

6.

Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

7.

Using the Limiting Features . . . . . . . . . . 12

8.

Advanced Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

9.

Using Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

10. Operation in Wet and Cold Conditions . . 20

11. Circuitboard Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
12. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Congratulations on your purchase of a Cycle Analyst, the first digital

dashboard and battery monitor designed to the specific requirements
of electric bicycles, scooters, and other small electric vehicles. This
device measures the energy consumption and speed of a vehicle and
displays this information and related statistics on an easy-to-read
backlit LCD screen. When appropriately wired to a motor controller, it
is also capable of imposing a custom speed, current, or low voltage
limit by regulating the throttle signal. We hope that you find it a useful
accessory that optimizes the experience of your electric vehicle.

1.

Basic Usage

The Cycle Analyst will turn on automatically when more than 10V
appears across the circuit, and will turn off when this voltage is
removed. The default screen shows five pieces of information that are
most relevant to the rider. This includes three instantaneous
quantities: the voltage of the battery pack, the power output in watts,
and the speed of the vehicle; as well as two accumulated quantities:
trip distance and net amp-hours (Ah) from the battery.
Toggles Between
Ah and Distance

Press Buttons
to Change Display

A quick left or right press of the button will scroll through other display
screens of interest, while holding the right button will reset trip
statistics. The second display shows just the electrical information of
the battery pack, including the current in amps.

2nd Display Screen

Additional clicks of the button scroll through a total of seven display

screens, which are discussed in detail in section 4.

1.1

As a Fuel Gauge

Amp-hours (Ah) are the 'fuel' equivalent of a battery pack, but rather
than behaving like a fuel gauge and estimating how much fuel is left,
the Cycle Analyst instead tells you exactly how much you have used,
starting from 0 and counting upwards. For example, if you have an 8
Ah battery pack, and the Cycle Analyst shows 6.1 amp-hours
consumed, you would know there are just under 2 Ah remaining in the
battery. This will become quite intuitive after a few rides, and you will
be able to accurately gauge when the pack will run flat.

1.2

Resetting

After you have recharged the battery pack, you should reset the trip
statistics (Ah, Distance, and Time) to clear them all to zero. This is
done by pressing and holding the right button for 1 second, until the
message Reset shows up across the display.

Hold Right Button for

1 Second to Reset

1.3

Saving

The Cycle Analyst will automatically save all the statistics when power
from the battery pack is cut out. This allows you to turn off the vehicle at
any time and turn it on later without losing data.

2.

Device Summary

Like most electric monitoring devices, the Cycle Analyst measures the
battery current in amps by amplifying the small voltage produced
when current is made to flow across a shunt resistor.
Battery

Motor
Controller

Shunt Resistor

V+

Current Flow

Shunt +
Shunt -

Signals for
Cycle Analyst

This shunt resistor must be wired in series with the negative lead of the
battery pack. The power to run the Cycle Analyst then comes from the
connection to the positive lead of the battery.
The Stand Alone Cycle Analyst (CA-SA) includes a molded shunt
capable of 45 amps of continuous current (100 amps peak) while the
Direct Plug-in models (CA-DP or -DPS) requires access to the shunt
resistor inside your motor controller. The High Current model (CA-HC)
is supplied with terminals to connect to a larger user-supplied shunt.
60 Wire Typical

Display Box

Molded Shunt
for CA-SA
Ring Terminals
for CA-HC

Speedometer Pickup
(Not in CA-DP)

Connector
for CA-DP(S)

The Cycle Analyst picks up the vehicle speed information using either
a spoke magnet, or in the case of the CA-DP device, through the hall
sensor signals from a brushless motor controller.

3.

Installation

The Cycle Analyst display box comes with a mounting bracket for
installation on the handlebar of your bicycle. This bracket can rotate in
two axis to adjust the display position. Use rubber shims as required
around the tube if the clamp diameter is too large for your bar.

Rotate to Adjust
Handlebar
Cable Ties
Clearance

Spoke Magnet

In the case of the CA-SA, CA-DPS, and CA-HC models, there is also a
speedometer pickup cable and spoke magnet. The pickup attaches to
the fork with two cable ties, and must be mounted to pass within 2mm
of the magnet for the speed readings to register. For systems like
scooters or motorcycles that dont have spoked rims, a standard
magnet can be attached with epoxy to a suitable location on the wheel.
5

The remaining installation details depend on the model:

3.1

Wiring of the CA-DP(S)

With the Direct Plug models, simply plug the 6-pin connector of the CA
into the matching 6-pin connector on the motor controller. Because
there are large voltages present through this connector, it is a good
idea to protect the pins with dielectric grease, particularly if it will be
exposed to wet conditions.
To Cycle Analyst

Motor
Controller

3.2

Wiring of the CA-SA

With the Stand Alone version, wire the molded shunt in between your
battery and the motor controller. This is most conveniently done by
attaching connectors on the shunt leads which match your battery
connectors. If you have a switch in the system, it is best to wire the
shunt after the switch so that the Cycle Analyst powers down.

CNTRLR

To Motor
Controller

- BATT +

(Fuse)
+

On/Off
Switch

Battery

Connectors
To Cycle Analyst

3.3

Wiring of the CA-HC

rd

The High Current model attaches to a 3 party shunt resistor and the
positive battery lead. The shunt must be connected to the ground side
of the battery; connection of the shunt to V+ can damage the circuitry:
(Fuse)

Battery

+
Red to V+

On/Off
Switch

Motor
Controller

White to +Shunt

To Cycle Analyst
Blue and Black
to -Shunt

4.

Display Information

In addition to the screens discussed in section 1, there are 5 others

that show a range of statistical information relating to the energy use
of your vehicle.

4.1

Display Screen #3 - Power Information

Watt-hrs: This is a measure of the total energy that has been pulled
out of the battery pack. One watt-hour is 1/1000th of a kWh and
slightly less than one food calorie. To a first approximation, the watthours available from a battery should be equal to the voltage of the
pack multiplied by its amp-hours, but it will typically be less than this
because of voltage droop caused by large current draw. Notice that
only the positive watt-hours pulled from the pack are recorded.
During regenerative braking when the watts are negative, the watthours value does not decrease.
Wh/km or Wh/mi: The watt-hours used per unit of distance travelled
is a measure of the average energy efficiency of your vehicle. With
this figure, you can readily quantify how different riding styles impact
your range and predict with high accuracy the expected travel
distance with any particular battery pack.
The Wh/km or Wh/mi figure is calculated taking into account current
that may have flowed back into the battery pack from regenerative
braking. The actual formula used is:
Wh
Dist

1
Wh FwdAh - RegenAh Dist
FwdAh

In order to reduce computational round-off errors, the figure only

displays after a total distance of 0.5 km or mi has been travelled.

4.2

Display Screen #4 - Regenerative Braking

The next screen shows information that pertains to negative current,

that is current flowing into the battery pack.
% Regen: The percent regen indicates by how much your range
was extended as a result of energy returned to the battery from
regenerative current. Most direct drive vehicles that do not have
7

explicit regen braking can still produce negative current when they are
driven at high speeds. As well, vehicles with a freewheel in the drive
could regenerate for brief periods from the energy stored in the
motors inertia. The formula used for computing this percentage is:
%Regen

RegenAh

= FwdAh - RegenAh

X 100

Fwd Ah and Regen Ah : The actual forward amp hours and regen
(negative) amps hours to the nearest 0.0001 Ah alternate on the right
side of the screen. The net amp-hours shown on the main display is
the difference between these two.

4.3

Display Screen #5 - Peak Statistics

The peak electrical statistics yield information that is useful to

understanding the electrical limits that the battery is subject to.
Amin: Peak negative or regen current that was captured by the meter.
Amax: Maximum amperage that was drawn from the battery.
Vmin: The voltage of a battery pack will sag, sometimes considerably,
when it is under heavy load. Vmin is a local minimum measurement
that shows by how much your packs voltage droops. Typically Vmin
and Amax occur at the same point, and the maximum power draw can
be computed from Vmin*Amax.

4.4

Display Screen #6 - Speeds and Time

Smax and Savg: The maximum and average speed of the vehicle in
the programmed units of km/hr or mi/hr.
0h00m00s: This is the trip time in hours, minutes, and seconds. It
counts only the time that the vehicle is in motion, and stops
incrementing once the speed falls to zero.

4.4

Display Screen #7 - Lifecycle Statistics

The final display screen provides the lifetime information of the battery
pack. These figures are especially useful in computing the lifecycle
costs of the vehicle and comparing the economics of different battery
chemistries. This display is not shown when the vehicle is in motion.
8

Cycl: The cycles value increments when the meter is reset. Provided
that the meter is reset each time the battery is charged then this will
indicate the number of charge and discharge cycles on the pack. In
order to prevent false cycle counts from cases where frequent
resetting is performed, the value is only incremented if more than 1.6
amp-hours was drawn at the time of the reset.
TotAh: The total battery amp-hours is a running sum of battery use
over its life to the nearest 1Ah.
TotMi or TotKm: This is the odometer function, showing the total
distance that has been travelled on the battery pack.

5.

Additional Resetting Options

In addition to a regular reset to clear the trip distance, time, and amphour data (see Section 1.2), there are two other reset possibilities.

5.1

Peak Reset

In some instances for diagnostic and performance testing, it is

desirable to clear only the peak statistics (Amax, Amin, Vmin, and
Smax) without resetting anything else. This can be accomplished by
holding the right reset button when the display is showing Amin, Amax,
and Vmin. The message "PEAK STATS RESET" will appear on the
screen and only the previously mentioned values will be cleared.

5.2

Full Reset

When it is time to switch battery packs, then the battery cycle count,
lifetime amp-hours, and total distance can be zeroed by performing a
full reset on the system. This is accomplished by continuing to hold the
button for 6 seconds after "RESET" is displayed. The message "FULL
RESET" will appear to indicate that all stored data has been cleared
from memory. Notice that a Full Reset does not restore any of the gain
or calibration values that may have been changed in the setup menu.
The default values for these are shown in Section 8.

6.

Setup Menu

There are many setup options that can be accessed at any time by
pressing and holding down the left button. Alternately, if only a single
button interface is desired, then holding the right button while power is
applied to the device will also enter the setup menu.
Hold Left
Button for
2 Seconds

or

Hold Right
Button while
Turning On

Once entered, navigate through the setup options in the following

manner:
Press either button briefly to toggle the information at hand.
(like up and down arrow keys)
Hold the right button down for one second to save that information, or
to enter a submenu. (like an enter key)

6.1

Select your units:

The first setup option is to choose between displaying in miles or

kilometers. If you want to change the setting, hold the right button until
_OK appears on the screen. Then pressing either button will toggle
between mi or km, and holding the right button again will save your
selection and move to the next item.

6.2

Setting the wheel size

After units are input, you will be presented with 'Set Wheel' to input the
circumference of the tire. To change this to your actual wheel size,
hold the right button until _OK appears in the bottom right hand corner.
Then the first digit will flash, and you can cycle it through 0-9 with the
left and right buttons. When the correct value appears, hold down the
right button to save it and move on to the next digit.
Button
Increments
Selected
Digit

Hold Button
for _OK to
Save and go
to Next Digit

10

The following table is a convenient reference on the circumference of

several popular bicycle tire sizes. For highest accuracy, measure the
actual circumference directly with a tape measure or similar
technique.
Tire Size

Circumference

Tire Size

Circumference

16 x 1.50
16 x 1 3/8
20 x 1.75
20 x 1-3/8
24 x 1-1/8
24 x 1-1/4
24 x 1.75
24 x 2.00
24 x 2.125

1185
1282
1515
1615
1795
1905
1890
1925
1965

26 x 1.25
26 x 1-1/8
26 x 1-3/8
26 x 1-1/2
26 x 1.50
700c x 23
700c x 28
700c x 32
700c x 38

1953
1970
2068
2100
2010
2097
2136
2155
2180

The next three setup items only matter to Cycle Analysts that have
been wired with the throttle over-ride signal connected to the motor
controller. The Direct Plug-in models already have this appropriately
connected, but the Stand Alone and High Current version require
additional wiring for these settings to have any effect.

6.3

Speed Limit

Set the maximum speed beyond which the motor controller will cease
to provide useful output power. The Cycle Analyst will vary the throttle
signal such that the vehicle will continue to cruise at this set point
speed.

6.4

Volts Limit

Program the low voltage rollback point for your battery pack. The
Cycle Analyst will reduce power drawn from the controller in order to
keep the battery voltage from dropping below this limit.

6.5

Max Amps

Set the upper current limit. If the Cycle Analyst senses current above
this value, it will scale down the throttle appropriately to reduce the
amperage draw.

11

6.6

Main Display

Finally, the last setup option allows the user to select whether the
primary display screen shows watts or amps in the bottom left corner,
nd
depending on the user preference. The 2 display screen will always
show both quantities.
Select
Watts
or
Amps

7.

38.4 V 25.6 kph

3.13 A 6.214 Ah

Using the Limiting Features

There are many situations when it is desirable to limit the amount of

power that the controller is able to draw from the battery pack. For
instance, you might want a current limit in order to:
A) Protect the cells in a battery pack from delivering more than their
rated amperage
B) Extend the range of your vehicle by reducing current draw during
acceleration and hill climbing
C) Safely cycle at low current a NiMH or NiCad pack that has been
sitting unused for a long period
D) Keep the motor's power within a legally stipulated power limit

A speed limit can help make any electric bicycle abide by the legal
speed caps that exist in most jurisdictions while not affecting
performance below that speed. It can also be useful for extending the
range or for taming a setup that is otherwise too fast for comfort,
without sacrificing hill climbing torque.
The voltage limit is used primarily to prevent the battery pack from
being over discharged which can be damaging to the cells. Typically,
you would set it between 29 to 31V for a 36V pack, and between 39 to
41V for a 48V pack.

7.1

How the feedback works

To understand how the limiting features work, just imagine how you
would operate the throttle manually. If you are going over a desired
speed limit, you would back off the throttle. If the vehicle then reached
a hill and started to slow down from your target speed, you would
further engage the throttle, thus continuously adjusting the throttle
position to keep at your desired velocity.
12

The Cycle Analyst behaves similarly. When it senses that any one of
the limiting quantities has been exceeded, then the throttle over-ride
signal starts to decrease from its default resting value (usually
between 4 to 5V, determined by ITermMax). A simple circuit is required
so that the controller only sees the lower value of the throttle signal or
the Cycle Analyst signal. This is generally achieved with a diode as
follows:
Diode

5V

Throttle

Resistor

Throttle Over-ride
to Cycle Analyst

Throt Signal

Throttle Signal
inside Controller

2 - 10 k

There are various setup options which control the speed at which the
Cycle Analyst responds to these signals. If the settings are too fast,
then the control can be twitchy or oscillate around the desired value,
while gain settings that are too low will cause a long lag time before the
limiting kicks in.

7.2

PI Controller

Each of the three limiting features is implemented as a digital

Proportional/Integral (PI) controller. The actual output for speed
regulation is computed as follows:
ITerm = Previous ITerm + IntSGain*(Set Speed - Actual Speed)
Clamp: ITermMin < ITerm < ITermMax
Override = ITerm + PSGain*(Set Speed - Actual Speed)

Similar values are calculated with the current limit, and low voltage
limit, and the smallest of the three over-ride terms is output as a
voltage. If this output is less than the users throttle voltage, then it is
the Cycle Analyst which is ultimately controlling the vehicle.

7.3

Tuning the feedback

The ability of the Cycle Analyst to limit the speed, current, or low
voltage in a fast yet smooth manner depends on setting the
appropriate Gain terms for the feedback loop. The default values work
well for ebike setups in the 300-600 watt power range. For more
powerful systems, they will usually lead to the vehicle oscillating
around the programmed set point rather than holding steady. In this
case, it is necessary to tone down the appropriate feedback gains in
the advanced setup menu.

13

8.

Advanced Setup Menu

The advanced setup menu is accessed by pressing and holding the

button when the message 'advanced' shows up at the end of the
regular setup menu, and allows for setting less frequently changed
parameters.

8.1

Range Mode

There are two mode settings that are available to accommodate the
wide scope of electric vehicles. The high range mode should be used
with shunts that are under 1mOhm, such as in electric motorcycles
and small electric cars that draw hundreds of amps. In this mode, the
Cycle Analyst will display current to the nearest 0.1 A and will show
power in kW. For shunts that are over 1 mOhm but less than 10 mOhm,
the LowRange mode must be selected. This will increase the
resolution to 0.01 A.

8.2

Averaging

In an electric vehicle, the current and voltage can fluctuate rapidly

under normal use, making the instantaneous values difficult to read.
These values are averaged before display. Short averaging times
allow you to get a better real time feel for the power fluctuations, while
longer averaging times produce a stable reading that is easier to
record. The range is 1-7, which correlates to 0.025 seconds to 1.6
seconds between display updates. The default setting is 5 (0.4 sec).

8.3

Set Rshunt

The Cycle Analyst is calibrated by programming a resistance value for

the current sensing shunt. If you are using a known shunt resistor, then
as a first estimate this value can be programmed directly in mOhm.
This will usually get the meter accurate to within 3%. For highest
accuracy, the shunt value should be calibrated so that the displayed
amperage matches that of a known current reference, which may not
be precisely the same as the mOhm rating on the resistor. If the current
is reading too low then the shunt resistance value needs to be
decreased, and vice versa. Allowed values are:

0.763 to 9.999 mOhm in Low Range Mode

0.0763 to 0.9999 mOhm in High Range Mode

14

8.4

Zero Amps

Over time and with temperature fluctuations, it is possible for the zero
point to drift, such that even when no current is flowing through the
shunt a small number (like 0.03A) is displayed. This can be reset to
zero by holding down the button after the 'zero amps' screen until the
_OK flashes on the bottom right. Note though that the wire shunts
used in motor controllers are prone to generating small thermoelectric
voltages for a short while after being used. This produces the
appearance of a lingering current that slowly decays back to zero, and
it should not be confused for a current offset in the Cycle Analyst.

8.5

Volts Sense

Changing this value will change the scaling of the battery voltage
displayed on the screen. This value can be modified either for
calibration or to display a voltage that is proportionally higher or lower
than the voltage powering the Cycle Analyst. The calibrated value is
close to 31.0, while 350V modified boards will be closer to 70 V/V.

8.6

Set # Poles

For Direct Plug-in units, this should be set to the number of hall effect
transitions per rotation of the wheel. Crystalyte 400 series hubs have
8, the 5300 series hubs have 12, and the Nine Continent 205 series
motors have 23 poles. For units that use a speedometer sensor and
spoke magnet, #poles should be set to 1, unless you have multiple
magnets on the wheel. The #poles setting can range from 1-99.

8.7

PSGain

Default = 0.08

This is the Proportional Speed Gain for the over-ride output. It can
decrease the response time and reduce overshooting the set point
speed, but at the risk of causing rapid vibrations if it is too high. The
range can vary from 0 to 0.99 V/kph or V/mph.

8.8

IntSGain

Default = 200

This value determines how rapidly the over-ride output will ramp down
when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the limit speed. Increasing this
value will speed up the response time for the speed control, but at the
risk of causing oscillations. Too low of a value will allow considerable
overshoot of the speed limit. The gain value can range from 0 to 999,
and the scaling is currently arbitrary.
15

8.9

IntAGain

Default = 300

This value determines how rapidly the over-ride output will ramp down
when the current from the battery pack exceeds the programmed
current limit. Too low of a value will result in considerable overshooting
of the set point current, while too large of a gain will cause the
controller to oscillate above and below the limit. The range of
allowable values is from 0 to 999.

8.10

IntVGain

Default = 800

This value determines how rapidly the over-ride output signal will
scale down when the pack voltage falls below the set low voltage
cutout. The range of allowable values is from 0 to 999, and the scaling
is arbitrary.

8.11

ITermMax

Default = 3.79V

This puts an upper limit on how high the throttle over-ride will drift
upwards when none of the limit values are being exceeded. Ideally this
value is set to the voltage that is considered full throttle by the
controller. For hall effect throttles, full power occurs at about 4V, and
limiting the ITerm to this value will speed up the response time of the
limiting features. Allowable values are from 0 to 4.99V.

8.12

ITermMin

Default = 0.0V

This value imposes a lower bound on how low the throttle over-ride
can drift downwards when one of the limiting values is being
exceeded. By preventing the over-ride signal from going all the way to
0V, you can decrease the recovery time for the signal to go back
upwards. Range is from 0 to 4.99V, and must be less than ItermMax.

8.13

Max Throttle

Default = 4.99V

This value puts a maximum cap on the throttle output signal. It can be
used to simulate a lower speed motor by simply clamping the throttle
signal to a value between 0 to 5V. Be aware that the majority of hall
effect throttles only operate from 1V to 4V, and so the desired setting to
reduce the speed would fall in this range (less the diode voltage drop).

16

8.14

Set Ratio

Default = 0.100

This is the amplification ratio between the high gain and low gain
current amplifiers on the circuit board. It is usually around 0.10, is
factory calibrated, and should not be changed.

8.15

Serial Output

Default = 1Hz

This allows you to select between either a 1Hz or a 5Hz transmission

rate on the Tx serial data output pad. 1Hz is good for general purpose
datalogging, while the faster 5Hz rate can be useful for dynamic
analysis of vehicle performance.

8.16

Set TotDist, Set TotAhrs, Set TotCyc

The next three screens enable you to preload or edit your life cycle
usage statistics: the total odometer distance, the total amp-hours you
have taken from the pack, and the total number of discharge and
charge cycles on the battery.

8.17

Aux Voltage Function

Default = OFF

This allows you to set the function of the auxiliary input voltage line
(Pad Vi) on the Cycle Analyst circuit board. You can choose whether
this line is ignored (default) or if it is used for on-the-fly regulation of
either the speed limit or the current limit via a variable voltage source.

8.18

Aux Threshold

Default = 0.99V

The auxiliary voltage input is scaled over a 3V input range to be

compatible with hall effect throttles. You can set the threshold where
this voltage kicks in. For instance, if the threshold is 0V, then the input
range is 0-3V. If the threshold is set to 1V, then the input range from
zero to full scale is 1-4V, matching the range of most ebike throttles.

8.19

Vshutdown

Default = 10V

This setting controls the voltage point at which the CA saves all data
and powers down. If the value is too low, data may not save correctly. It
is possible to operate down to a 7V shutdown if the backlighting LED is
bypassed with a short.

17

9.

Using Advanced Features

There are several advanced features on the Cycle Analyst, but making
use of these requires soldering to the circuit board. Incorrect wiring
can easily damage the unit and it is only recommended for those who
are familiar and comfortable with electronics.

9.1

Using the Data Output (V2.1 and beyond)

The pad labeled Tx contains a serial data stream with the current
stats of the vehicle. The format is tab-deliminated ASCII text at a 9600
baud rate. After power-up, the CA outputs a header line, and then at a
rate of once a second or 5 times a second (see section 8.15) it
transmits the amp-hours, voltage, amperage, speed, and distance as
shown here:
Ah
3.296
3.299
3.302
3.306
3.308
3.307
:

V
47.62
47.49
47.43
47.85
49.36
49.55
:

A
10.04
13.22
13.45
6.02
-1.43
-3.69
:

S
15.32
16.41
17.30
17.52
17.17
16.05
:

D3
8.9132
8.9175
8.9220
8.9268
8.9317
8.9365
:

The data is at 0-5V CMOS voltage levels, making it easy to interface

directly to other microcontrollers. In order to log the data to a regular
computer or laptop, it is necessary to either level shift the signal to be
compatible with RS-232 voltages and run it to the computer serial port,
or process the signal and connect it via USB, IrDA, BlueTooth, or other
standard.
For running into a computer serial port, a MAX232 or a similar RS-232
driver chip can be powered from the 5V* and G pads. The resulting
datastream can be seen and saved with HyperTerminal or other
terminal software. The following diagram shows a typical setup:
(CA PCB)

V+ G G Tx Vi 5V*

16
2
C1+ Vcc Vs+

3 C14
Vs- 6
C2+
5 C2- MAX232
11

T1out

T1in

14

2
5

15

18

Serial port on PC

9.2

On-the-fly Current or Speed Limit (V2.11 and later)

There are situations where it may be desirable to adjust the speed or

current limit of the Cycle Analyst without having to change the settings
in the setup menu. This can be accomplished by wiring a
potentiometer such that it sends a voltage signal to the Vi pad:
(R2 2K7)

(CA PCB)

V+ G G Tx Vi 5V*

R1
5K Potentiometer

The optional resistor R2 is used to reduce the potentiometer wiper

range from 0-5V to just 0-3V so that the entire turn range is utilized. In
the advanced setup menu, you can select whether this voltage
regulates the current limit or the speed limit, and it will scale the limit
between 0 and the speed/current limit programmed in the setup menu.

9.3

Current Throttle or Cruise Control (V2.23 and later)

In other cases, it may be advantageous to use the Cycle Analyst to

directly regulate the motor controller rather than just limiting the power
via a throttle over-ride function. The example below shows how to wire
up a current throttle, such that the regular throttle signal is
intercepted by the Cycle Analyst, which takes this as the command
current. The Cycle Analyst then sends its own throttle signal along to
the motor controller.
Th
(CA PCB)

Th Signal from CA

Motor
Controller

V+ G G Tx Vi 5V*

(Optional 5V
Throttle
Throttle Power)

Signal from Throttle

Gnd

5V Throttle Power from Controller

In this manner, if full throttle is set to be 20 amps, then by riding half

throttle, you could ensure exactly 10 amps are drawn from the battery
regardless of the vehicle speed, giving the user more direct control
over their power usage. Similar setups can be used to implement
accurate cruise control systems. Note that it is essential to set the
AuxVoltage input (see 8.17) to either the current or speed limit first,
otherwise the system will take off at full power when turned on.
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9.4

Firmware Programming

The set of 5 header pads on the bottom right of the PCB is used for
programming the microchip. The pinout is the same as recommended
by Microchips In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) Guide and
is compatible with most in-circuit serial programmers. We usually
recommend the Microchip PICkit2, but many other programming
devices will work as well. The firmware can be flashed either with the
Cycle Analyst powered up, or from the 5V supply of the programming
device.

MCLR
5V
Gnd
Data
Clock

10.

Programming
Header

Operation in Wet and Cold Conditions

The Cycle Analyst enclosure contains a clear sealed window to protect

the circuitboard and LCD from water exposure. There is no problem
using the meter in light rain. However, in cases of prolonged exposure
to wet conditions, it is possible for moisture to enter the box though the
back cover which is not sealed. This can cause the window to fog up in
cold conditions and render the display difficult to read. Should this
occur, simply remove the back cover so that the moisture can escape
and let the unit dry thoroughly indoors. When it is reassembled, you
may consider using a sealant around the lip and screw holes to render
the box fully waterproof.
The LCD screen is specified to operate between -10oC to 50oC. At the
colder end of the temperature range, the response time of the LCD
segments is slow, and so rapidly changing digits and screen changes
will appear as a blur. The underlying operation of the internal circuitry
is unaffected.

20

11.

Circuitboard Connections

Standard Connections

Precision Op-Amp
PIC16F690 Microchip
R-R Op-Amp

Advanced Connections

Character LCD Header

Standard Connections:
B1 = Primary button input
G = Ground
B2 = Secondary (back) button input
Sp = Speedometer pulse input. Can be either magnetic reed
switch to Gnd, or a 0-5V / 0-12V hall signal from the controller
G = Ground (black wire)
S- = Negative side of current sense Shunt Resistor. Must be within
400 mV of Gnd (blue wire)
S+ = Positive side of Shunt Resistor (white wire)
ThO = Throttle Over-ride output, same as Th signal but already
connected through a diode, to pull down users throttle
V+ = Positive lead to battery pack, can be shared with other devices
requiring battery power that draw less than 500mA (red wire)

Advanced Connections:
G = Ground
Tx = Serial data output signal, 9600 baud, 0-5V CMOS level
Vi = Auxiliary input voltage, 0-5V range. Voltages above 5V may
permanently damage the device
5V*= 5V source, user may draw up to 5mA from this line for
powering external circuits, such as a potentiometer or throttle.
Currents >5mA can overheat the linear regulator
Th = Throttle output, 0-5V analog throttle signal from CA
21

12.

Specifications

Voltage Range

10-150V Standard, 20-350V optional

Voltage Resolution 0.1V

Current Draw

7mA

Current Range

200 mV/Rshunt. For instance, with a 2m

sense resistor, the maximum current is 100
amps. With a 0.5m resistor, up to 400 amps,
and so forth

Current Resolution 0.01A in low range mode, 0.1A in high range

mode
Current Accuracy

Temperature coefficient and accuracy depend on

the shunt and calibration. With pre-calibrated
Stand Alone model, it is within 2% 0.06A

Trip Ah and Wh

Up to 1999 Ah and 19999 Wh in low range

mode, and 10x this in high range mode.
Up to 1999 km or mi. Odometer rolls over at
99999 km or mi
0 to 9999 mm

Trip Distance
Wheel Size
Speed Range

Up to 600 kph or mph. There is an upper limit of

about 500 Hz for the speed sensor input, which
can be increased by removing C6

Note that if any Ah, Wh, or Distance limits are exceeded, then the
calculated values such as Wh/km and average speed will be
incorrect. Be sure to reset after each battery recharge.

CA-DP Connector Pinout :

-1-2-3-4-5-6-

JST-SM Series Connector

1 = Vbatt (Red)
2 = Ground (Black)
3 = Shunt - (Blue)
4 = Shunt + (White)
5 = Speed (Yellow)
6 = Throttle Over-ride (Green)

22