LeafTech Solutions
3 Phase Inverter and motor control for Electric Outboard Motor
LeafTech Solutions is changing the way boat propulsion has been done for years. We took a salvaged internal combustion boat motor and converted it to electric in order to minimize noise and environmental pollution, while keeping it all in a familiar and recognizable finished product. Using a 48V battery to power a 30Vac 3-phase motor, LeafTech has designed a custom three-phase water-cooled inverter capable of controlling up to 200A. Our reliable and compact system will be a cost-effective alternative to any commercially available system of this size.
Printed Circuit Board Construction
Once LeafTech outlined the specifications needed to achieve our client Lindsay's vision, we immediately began research on potential software and hardware to solve our problem.
The software we decided on using is ST Microelectronics and ST Nucleo Board G431RB. The ST suite offers us the customizability to produce the necessary pulse width modulated signals needed to control the switching hardware of our Printed Circuit Board.
LeafTech has developed our own three-phase inverter due to the size of the current needed to run our motor.
Using our knowledge and extensive research we outlined the capabilities required from each component in our design. We took this information and applied it to our custom PCB design.
To find out more about our Software and Hardware follow the links below.
Meet the Team
Our Variety of Experience is a winning combo
Project Manager/Software/Hardware
Ryan Haskins
With years of experience as a wildfire crew leader with BC Forest Service and an interest in motor control and high power circuits, Ryan took on the task of managing the project while focusing on the software design and calculations.
Design/Hardware
Ben Sharman
After 8 years of work as an electrician, Ben decided to change paths and become an engineer. Ben used his passion for design to take on the task of learning Altium to design a custom Printed Circuit Board that was instrumental to the project.
Hardware/TechnicalWriting
Matt Bacica
Looking for a change in careers after 17 years of wildland firefighting and logging, Matt came to Camosun with a different set of skills and perspective to most students. Matt's technical writing ability ensured that the quality of work that the team produced was excellent.
Sponsors
Lindsay Stretch
Without the help, encouragement, and vision of our instructor Lindsay, this project would not have been possible. Lindsay configured the battery pack and engineered the mechanical aspects of the outboard motor. The ideas and materials that he supplied were crucial to the projects success.
Special Thanks
LeafTech would like to extend thanks to Camosun College and those who have helped us through this process of planning, design, troubleshooting and fabrication.
- Mel Dundas - Justin Curran - Wayne Mayes
- Ian Browning - The Backroom Crew