I decided to charge the bike normally with the stock firmware to see what would happen. The batteries charged ok, but fell short of a full charge.
I decided to reset the battery meter to tell the bike to keep charging, but decided to go ahead and upload the new firmware... Well, that did not go as expected. I clicked on the directory and the program crashed, I tried various things and both versions of the software. I couldn't get the bike to start charging, the charger firmware program was corrupted in the process. I pulled the cords and turned it all off, I should have left the bike on until I resolved the problem, less chance of bricking the charger.
The following day I messed around with the program without the bike connected and found if I entered the location of the file instread of the browse feature it didn't crash the program.
Back at the bike, hooked it all up, told the program where to find the file and Viola! changed the charger firmware to keep the lithium batteries happy and charged.
The new firmware changed the guages a little, no longer have the bar graph fuel guage and have a voltmeter instead of estimated range indicator, both didn't really help too much with the new batteries. The cycle analyst keeps track of amphours and voltages.
Dear Jerry, Did you manage to use a Lithium Software for Charger/MC with constant voltage and constant current mode? I am stuck cause all the Lithium Software i have need the original BMS to communicate with the Charger/MC/ICM. I think the NiMH software has another charging curve and behavoiur then the Calb Lithium Cells should get. Maybe you have a software version for Lithium Battery without BMS bords? Thank you so much for your reply. KR, Gerry
ReplyDeleteGerry,
ReplyDeleteI tried software from a few guys on V is for Voltage forum, some written specifically for my setup. I am still not happy with it, each version has bugs. This is expected as it is asking the charger perform in a different manner.
I would not run without some kind of BMS boards to terminate the charge due to Vectrix chargers not turning off at times.
As long as you get bulk charge and CC that is proper for th battery it should be ok, and you have to have a safeguard (BMS) so EQ doesn't overcharge the Li battery.
Jerry
Hallo Jerry,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your quick reply. A friend of mine asked me to support him with his 70 Ah CALB conversation. He says that he has load modules on it which should replace the BMS.
We have now the newest Nickel Software on it (Runke 1.9 Charger) but I'm not sure what this software does and if the charging behaviour is suiting for the Lithium Cells.
Could you help me with overwriting the hex Values from 20 to 70 Ah Capacity?
I use following Files ...
002253-01-MCR 1019-68mph-Runke-NiMH.hex
002113-02-Runke_Charger 3005-001.hex
Attached the latest and complete Software Collection i have ...
You can send the links to your software guys, maybe it helps them to understand the software better.
(Some have attached the CMD and View files for specific MC and Charger Versions to make extended Adjustments.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f4r6miidah26q2g/VECTRIX_Software.zip?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cfvc9hdv302bvx0/various_Software.zip?dl=0
KR,
Gerry
Hi Jerry, compliments! I have done too (http://www.evalbum.com/5082) But Vectrix conversion is much more hard.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to Buy a Vectrix Nimh And upgrade it to Lifepo4 And I have some preliminary questions to you: - The charger is the original Nimh? - How do you manage bms-charger system, via can-bus or simply with digital commands?
Thanks Sergio (from Italy)
Hi Jerry, compliments! I have done too (http://www.evalbum.com/5082) But Vectrix conversion is much more hard.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to Buy a Vectrix Nimh And upgrade it to Lifepo4 And I have some preliminary questions to you: - The charger is the original Nimh? - How do you manage bms-charger system, via can-bus or simply with digital commands?
Thanks Sergio (from Italy)
Sergio,
ReplyDeleteThe charger is the original Nimh with modified charging file to charge the Lifepo. I used a mini BMS setup, stand alone for overcharge protection only. If voltage is too high on any one cell the charger is turned off.
Thank you Jerry for your reply!
ReplyDeleteHow mini bms turn off charger? Cutting supply? Cutting Enable Signals? Or by can-bus?
In normal charging operations, The stop of charging is done by bms or charger itself stop it? Is it possible to set charger in order to decrease current at the end of charging, to help cells balancing?
Sorry for my several questions...And Thanks!
Thank you Jerry for your reply!
ReplyDeleteHow mini bms turn off charger? Cutting supply? Cutting Enable Signals? Or by can-bus?
In normal charging operations, The stop of charging is done by bms or charger itself stop it? Is it possible to set charger in order to decrease current at the end of charging, to help cells balancing?
Sorry for my several questions...And Thanks!
The mini bms turns off the mains to the bike stopping charge. The nimh charger tapers off to 1.5 amp at end of charge to set cutoff voltage of bike charger, that terminates the charge. If one cell goes too high bms turns off power, sometimes stock charger malfunctions and continues to charge this bms setup protects the battery.
ReplyDeleteCheck visforvoltage.org many converted vectrix and lots of information there.