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Forum Index : Electronics : Inverter building using Wiseguys Power board and the Nano drive board

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GleamBright
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Joined: 21/04/2025
Location: Australia
Posts: 43
Posted: 01:05am 04 Sep 2026
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Referring to KeepIS' post on page 8 of this thread re: removal of diode and capacitor from nano board rear side. I received two slightly different nano designs, one of which I (think) I've identifed the diode and capacitor. The other one at the top is less clear. Anyone want to have a stab at identifying the relevant diode and capacitor?

Soon to attempt firmware downloads ahead of commencing the build.


 
KeepIS

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Joined: 13/10/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 2258
Posted: 02:01am 04 Sep 2026
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EDIT: Made an Error with the two boards shown

There are two types of the SECOND board, one does not allow you to disable the +5V supply, and it looks like that is the board in the photo.

Sooo! the second board is NOT correct. However removing that CAP does disable the Nano reset problem (checked), use it for the LCD displays or for poidas Saturation tester.

Just out of interest, I extracted the +5V pin on the USB socket and that obviously solves the +5V problem (same as removing a diode), but it's not feasible for most.

A final thought, in my inverter I have a small adaptor cable from the USB socket on the Nano to the Cabinet front panel for a tablet or PC if a Menu Setting needs to be adjusted. You could simply disconnect the +5v wire in that lead, if you had a few of those boards that would at least solve that problem.

The First Board?

I don't have one exactly like that? The Cap and Diode can be in very odd places on some boards. Measure from the reset pin to the cap, one side should be connected to the reset pin. Removing the Cap at least removes the reset issue.

As a refresh:

1: The Diode isolates the USB external +5V from the Nano controller.

2: Cap removal stops the USB Port from resetting the Nano controller on port connection and when connecting to a Serial program for setting the Menu options.
:
Edited 2026-09-04 14:37 by KeepIS
NANO:Inverter V 8.4ksLinux AvrDude GUI script V4.1
 
KeepIS

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Joined: 13/10/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 2258
Posted: 04:43am 04 Sep 2026
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Corrected previous post, slight difference in the boards that I missed the first time I replied
NANO:Inverter V 8.4ksLinux AvrDude GUI script V4.1
 
analog8484
Senior Member

Joined: 11/11/2021
Location: United States
Posts: 220
Posted: 04:40pm 05 Sep 2026
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  KeepIS said  

Below: No HI-Side beads Unloaded and 1,800uF, same with 30,000uF total CAP Bank.






A bit surprised to see the Vds overshoot.  Don't remember it to be quite as large in your past builds.  Wonder if it affects the gate drive waveforms.


  KeepIS said  

Below: No HI-S Beads - Unloaded 38,000uF



Is this really unloaded? That's quite a bit of ringing for unloaded.


  KeepIS said  
Below: HI Side Beads added, already had LO-Side Beads, 800W with 38,000uF total CAP Bank.



Nice to see the beads really work.
 
KeepIS

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Joined: 13/10/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 2258
Posted: 11:28pm 05 Sep 2026
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Like I said in the post, worst case I could find, it depends on exactly where in the waveform you zoom into, again, this is a test setup without the massive capacitance of a LiFePO4 battery, and no 0-gauge or 00-gauge cables, just 15A resistive connections to the DC supply, the ESR of these test caps are not as good as the 120000uF CAP Bank sitting across the supply in the Main Inverter. Most times, ringing in the test unit is just those normally short, fast decaying 2 to 3 cycles apparent in some parts of the SPWM envelope.

Random captures from 2023.




:
Edited 2026-09-06 13:59 by KeepIS
NANO:Inverter V 8.4ksLinux AvrDude GUI script V4.1
 
Solar Mike
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Joined: 08/02/2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1252
Posted: 04:22am 06 Sep 2026
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@keepIS, how do you ensure the transformer core doesn't get a DC magnetic bias on it over time; for even with absolutely symmetrical switching on each 1/2 cycle, differences in the timing of mosfet drivers and the mosfet on resistance can cause an imbalance; this can build up over time, causing the transformer to start making unusual noises as it slowly saturates.

Just interested as I'm making an inverter to drive our large sewerage pump.

Cheers
Mike
 
KeepIS

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Joined: 13/10/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 2258
Posted: 04:37am 06 Sep 2026
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FYI: After correcting the 1/2 Sine array: The result around Zero Crossing.

Old Code: Versions Version 8.2 and earlier. Optional Dual Version 1.5 and earlier:



Corrected Code: Version 8.4, Optional Dual Version 1.7.    


NANO:Inverter V 8.4ksLinux AvrDude GUI script V4.1
 
KeepIS

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Joined: 13/10/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 2258
Posted: 05:44am 06 Sep 2026
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  Solar Mike said  @keepIS, how do you ensure the transformer core doesn't get a DC magnetic bias on it over time; for even with absolutely symmetrical switching on each 1/2 cycle, differences in the timing of mosfet drivers and the mosfet on resistance can cause an imbalance; this can build up over time, causing the transformer to start making unusual noises as it slowly saturates. Mike


I've never seen that happen in the Inverter. That is a rabbit hole I've seen engineers go down, but usually on large installations.

I reason that if Major manufactures can getaway with a design that uses a compromised smallish Toroid with 1.5 to 1.7 Telsa and a crap design, then I should not have an issue with a big Toroid wound closer to 1 Telsa.  

As you likely know, I have spent countless months monitoring the Inverter running our property. We start Large workshop equipment with big heavy Induction motors on top of the normal home loads (all electric), I was constantly recording startup and running currents with the DSO and a logger, any core saturation over time would have been recorded or shown up, it has never happened, this includes daily loading with something close to DC injection via a Heat Gun with heat switch using a dam Diode in one side of the Inverter AC supply.

The Inverter has run uninterrupted for 12 months at a time, powering the property and workshop at up to 14.3kW continuous output and surge DC Input currents above 30kW, and no soft ramp-up or ramp-down to reset the Toroid flux for over 12 months.

The Toroids run virtually silent under all load currents, with the exception of a Hair dryer with Diode across the AC taking a bite out of one half of the AC cycle. A very subdued buzz is heard, that's all.

That info may not be of any help at all, but it's all I have. I would add that the Inverter sits 3 meters behind me in a very quite part of the workshop, and except for the slight diode heat switch buzz, not a peep from it, can't even remember the last time the Toroid Fans come on.
NANO:Inverter V 8.4ksLinux AvrDude GUI script V4.1
 
Solar Mike
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Joined: 08/02/2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1252
Posted: 07:52am 06 Sep 2026
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That's excellent, your design works extremely well, so hopefully I won't have to worry too much about that, but will make future provision in the software to detect and compensate should it occur.
Was planning to add a few turns around the core as an isolated AC sample, then pass to an OP Amp integrator with 2.5v zero reference, if both halves of the AC wave are identical the output is 2.5v, any flux imbalance and the result output will be + or - with respect to 2.5v, CPU can then use this data to bias the spwm slightly to bring the output back to 2.5v.

Are you using edge centered spwm or center aligned spwm in your design?.
 
analog8484
Senior Member

Joined: 11/11/2021
Location: United States
Posts: 220
Posted: 04:44pm 06 Sep 2026
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  KeepIS said  Like I said in the post, worst case I could find, it depends on exactly where in the waveform you zoom into, again, this is a test setup without the massive capacitance of a LiFePO4 battery, and no 0-gauge or 00-gauge cables, just 15A resistive connections to the DC supply, the ESR of these test caps are not as good as the 120000uF CAP Bank sitting across the supply in the Main Inverter.



Good point about the caps.  Perhaps that's why there are DC bus snubbers in some designs.
 
analog8484
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Joined: 11/11/2021
Location: United States
Posts: 220
Posted: 05:03pm 06 Sep 2026
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  Solar Mike said  

Are you using edge centered spwm or center aligned spwm in your design?.


Poida would probably know best.  But I remember it uses "Fast PWM" when I looked at the code a while back which suggests it's left aligned PWM pulses.
 
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