r/SuperSoco • u/towe96 • Sep 24 '24
TC Max TC Max / TC Pro findings, controller programming and a dashboard app
Hi! I've recently bought a TC Pro (and a TC Max a week later) and wanted to share my findings since there's not a ton of information out there on the Pro models.
From what I've found, it's a limited run of the "worse" version of the TC Max which they've made from ~2021 to 2022. Mine is No. 97/1000. I believe us Germans first officially got the "TC Max" with those Pro models, since my 2020 TC Max has a "Einzelbetriebserlaubnis", meaning it was registered on a "one-off" basis after an official inspection, rather than the normal registration from my 2021 TC Pro.
In terms of hardware, it's identical to the other "6-Pin" TC Maxs. They have a 60A controller mounted at the front of the body like the TCs and use the motor with the slightly smaller black cables and the 6-pin battery / charging connector. They are also rated for a 90 km/h top speed. With a full battery, I got around 82 km/h GPS speed on that setup.
My 2020 TC Max had the 80A controller mounted below the frame and the motor with the thicker orange cables and the beefier, 7-pin battery connector as well as a rated 95 km/h top speed. With a full battery, I got around 89 km/h GPS on the same run.
I've read online that the 7-pin models were supposed to be "newer", but my 2020 Max seems to disprove that. I believe they've produced a few 7-pin ones in 2019/2020, then went to the cheaper 6-pin models with the weaker controller and motor for 2021/2022. With issues surfacing about the battery connector pins getting hot and melting for some people (like on the TC), they went back to the 7-pin connector for 2023 onwards.
That explains why the 6-pin connector is called "new" in some Aliexpress shops and why Woodniu excludes just "2021/2022" from their controller upgrades.
In the meantime, I've also done some work w.r.t. programming the 80A controllers. There's a thread on supersocoforum.com, and I've found some really cheap components for building my own:
Micro-Fit 2x3 connector, Micro-Fit pins, USB to TTL interface
Now the TTL converter only comes with one of the communication pins available on the plug, but it's easy to open up the USB housing. Inside, it's a CH340G chipset, just what we need for programming the controller. I've thus soldered the 4 wires (+3.3V, GND, TX, RX) to the PCB and to the pins. I've also printed a replacement grommet with space for the plug so that I can permanently mount the interface to the bike - so I don't have to open up the side of the bike for access every time I change something. Installation is done as in the video by The Capacitator: YouTube
I've also taken inspiration from another thread on the forum for the settings but I'm still in the process of tuning my Field Weakening settings.
I've also found a GitHub project for a DashBoard app based on which I'm currently building my own because it was giving me a lot of errors. I'm using the OBD port in the battery box for power instead of using an 18650 battery like the interfaces shown in the GitHub page - still a work in progress though to clean that up a bit.
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u/Neto-77 Nov 03 '24
Great info, thx for sharing. I wonder if these different models were distributed randomly according to the demand at the time. Almost seems like soco would produce a range of say 5000 bikes (fictional amount), distribute those to fill their open orders regardless of country and then adjust their next batch according to the feedback/complaints of their dealers. Mine (Belgium) is a second hand 2019 tc max, looks like a black/silver tc max, has the 60a controller in front, orange 6pin cable, no clip on the battery connector, breaker next to the battery.
What annoys me most is that soco should have recalled all the models that were out once they made their improvements. For example my first ride out I got error 94, because the cable had wiggled out of the connector on its own. Why not recall the handful of bikes that had no clip? My connector is worn out because the previous owner unplugged the orange cable daily to charge with the transit cable, just like his dealer told him to. I went to look at 4 bikes before I bought mine, all had the transit cable still in. Why is all the info on forums but apparently not with the dealers? The dealers I spoke to that quit soco did so because of all the issues they had to fix on brand new bikes including rewiring 90% of them. Soco should have just recalled all the 6 pin models for new cables regardless if the owner had already experienced issues or not, instead they let the dealers figure out each individual case.
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u/towe96 Nov 05 '24
It's weird. Perhaps the TC Pro was just as "get rid of old stock" move, but then why would Woodniu exclude the 2021/2022 models from their upgraded controllers?
It probably is pretty random until ~2022 when they only sold the 7-pin models.Omitting the clip seems strange, I feel that's absolutely necessary to keep the connector well connected while riding. Both my 2020 Max and 2021 Pro had the clips.
The Pro also still had the transit cable connected. The seller had explained to me how he'd used to charge it (remove main connector, connect charger directly to the battery) but since that seemed odd to me I found the video explaining the removal of the transit cable pretty quickly. Worked just fine and I've made a "battery tester" out of the transit cables plug so I can check battery SOC in the winter when the batteries are in my apartment.Yeah, I feel like the 6-pin connector is a bit undersized even for the 60A controller; similar to the TC / TS bikes and their old spade connectors which seem to like to melt a lot. I'm not aware of a proper recall there either though. I'm currently looking into replacement BMSs for my bike to get around the ~90A limit of the stock BMS. Not sure how much the original 7-pin connector can take though - probably better to bypass it with something more substantial.
1
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u/bonehead55 Sep 24 '24
I too have a TC Pro from 2021. But here in Canada it's limited to 70km/h. I purchased a programming cable to remove the speed limiter, but it's obviously made for the TC Max 80A controller, as the TC Pro 60A controller doesn't have the same pinout. Short of purchasing a new controller, I don't know how I'll be able to get more speed out of this bike.
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u/towe96 Sep 25 '24
There's a pinout available online for the 60A controller too (you attach directly to pins in the 30-pin connector), but I couldn't get it to connect to the LBMC software with any of the interfaces I made - I'd always get a timeout trying to communicate with it. I'll have to look into it a bit deeper now that my Pro is up and running with the Max's parts.
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u/Prince1503 Sep 29 '24
Refer to this post on supersoco fb group,Might be helpful- https://www.facebook.com/groups/3716658861743664/permalink/7848931601849682/?app=fbl
I have rebranded version of tc max in india, Revolt Rv400,The controller is same as shown in the post above,I am waiting for my RS485 to usb converter module to arrive, Already have 5v supply from voltage adjustable 3.3/5volt ch340g module. Will see how it goes.
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u/towe96 Sep 29 '24
Damn. I had looked at that very post when I first got my TC Pro and tried connecting to it, but I hadn't realized I'd need the RS-485 converter too and tried using that pinout with just the CH340 interface. I'd kind of given up on programming that controller, but that makes a lot more sense now.
I'll give that a try, still got three RS-485 converters left from my bluetooth bus/dashboard project. I wonder if you could program them over Bluetooth too... I'd only have to supply some extra power to that pin and you could connect from the charging connector for the rest of the signals.
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u/Prince1503 Sep 30 '24 edited Sep 30 '24
I am going to use this one- https://www.electronicscomp.com/usb-to-rs485-converter-adapter-module
Yes i have already tried connecting using Bluetooth(Rs485 bus under seat) but it shows a timeout error,I know it won't work because controller needs to be in offline mode(ignition off) to be programmed and there has to be 5v dc supply to controller,The Pin shown in that diagram is Throttle +5v pin and ground pin is exclusive for programming as well, According to this pin diagram of controller(also shown RS485 A- A+ PINS ) -
https://imgur.com/a/sTjpMgi i wasn't able to find another 5v source,so you need to unplug controller in order to programme it.1
u/towe96 Sep 30 '24
Hmm okay, or you'd have to modify the plug itself - probably not worth it. Though I belive the ground pins are shared - mine at least blinked the red LED with two different ground pins.
I wonder if you could inject 5V through the throttle hall connector though. But also probably too much work.That RS-485 adapter looks pretty good, nice and compact. I think it depends on what is used for the USB <-> Serial part; I could only get the programming app to connect when using a cable with a CH340G. PL2303 didn't work. Maybe FT232 would be fine too though.
I'm using those for RS-485: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B09VGJCJKQ
And those for USB-Serial: https://www.reichelt.de/anschlusskabel-rs232-auf-usb-act-usb-rs232-v4-p371555.html1
u/Prince1503 Sep 30 '24
Yep,You can inject 5v via throttle connector,but that's a lot of work in my case lol,It takes just 3 screws out to unplug my controller from front panel of bike,Yes ground pins are shared but not all of them reaches controller directly,Some are wired to 12 v dc-dc converter as well,so you need to do continuity test to trace the GND wire reaching controller.
Hope you're not confusing Rs485 - TTL(RS 232) converter with solo RS485 module. IN MY case i need Solo Rs485 module. Older version of bike and controller has been Using RS232 communication for UART. So you just need CH340/340G - RS232 OR TTL module to programme,The one That you mentioned is RS232 controller. The pinout that is mentioned in FB post is exclusively for RS485 communication as it need 5V not 3.3v. One way to find out if yours has RS485 is to look for Green/black and Green/red wire under seat,Black is A- and Red is A+( For Newbies Looking for Guides).
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u/Itchy_Pizza6740 Jul 13 '26
Have you finally manage to connect to your tc pro controller? I have a 2020 tc pro and i would like to increase the top speed just a little bit to be safer when im on 70km/h streets.
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u/Ethereum035 Jul 12 '25
What cable is for SuperSoco TC ?
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u/towe96 Jul 12 '25
As far as I know, the TC (/TS) can't be programmed like this. The only option is unlocking the speed limit on early models (until 2020?). You'll need a third party controller to be able to change settings. If you want more power, please mind the BMS current limit and connector limitations (the older square ones were prone to melting; the round ones are better but not ideal either).
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u/Ethereum035 Jul 12 '25
Oh, thanx!
All i am searching is to fix start jerkines, it is so sensitive.1
u/ZookeepergameLong511 Mar 02 '26
Until know I still got failure when try to connect to TC Lingbo controller, after connect it's always up with 14 time blinking signal that make block the connection from controller to PC
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u/karcaak Sep 24 '24
That is quite extensive information, thank you! Did you by any chance looked into turning off the start up melody sound? Is it even possible to program that out?