PSU - Info

[snaker]

@hotwheels_75: take some close pics of your cables that you are using to connect between the charger and the battery and also between the charger and the power supply too. Someone here might check if terminals were properly done?

[Burgerman]

Very strange. Call it done, mark the cell with a question mark. The headway manufacturer says charge to 1000thC which is 12mA. So it should easily reach that. But its not falling as it should.

[hotwheels_75]

@hotwheels_75: take some close pics of your cables that you are using to connect between the charger and the battery and also between the charger and the power supply too. Someone here might check if terminals were properly done?

I’ll try to get some pics later tonight. From between my PSU and charger is good quality 10awg silicone wire. I replaced the chargers EC5 connector with an Anderson SB50 connector and put good quality ring terminals to connect to my PSU.
The battery terminals could be an issue, they’re just an old set of battery clamps like these. They’re just temporary until my better ones arrive. They’re attached to the PL8 factory 12awg banana plug wires, with butt connectors.

Very strange. Call it done, mark the cell with a question mark. The headway manufacturer says charge to 1000thC which is 12mA. So it should easily reach that. But its not falling as it should.

I retried it again today, & it auto stopped on its own within 3 mins. I’ll still mark it & see what happens. Could a bad connection cause it not to fall off & stop?

[Burgerman]

Could be. We need consistency. Use a ring terminal.

[hotwheels_75]

I’ve been recharging all my batteries with better luck,until today. Charged around 20 batteries and then started getting errors. First was code 15 Softstart. Google suggested that was lack of psu power. I tried again and got pack removed (undercurrent). I fiddled with the PSU, made sure all connections were tight & reconnected everything. I tried discharging the battery I was working on to take a few mAH out and I got error code 138 discharge amps are positive. I suspect my PSU is dying?

I tried charging again while watching the supply tab on the software. Supply Voltage = 24v @ 0.6A Output = around 17 Watts.

Using SkyRC efuel 50A 1200Watt psu. It was new. Any suggestions? I don’t have a second PSU To test...

[Burgerman]

Run it from a battery to test. But all those errors, and your non ending charge suggest a bad connection between cell and charger.

Soft start is an error that means the power supply often a generator cant keep the voltage stable as the charger ramps up power. That may be power supply related. Are you using good, soldered connections everywhere? And proper safe banana connections to the charger, not those cheap ebay connectors?

[hotwheels_75]

I have the following PSUs...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SKYRC-Efuel-12 ... B00ISTUAFA 15v-24v selection, 60A max at 20v otherwise 50A at 24v. Paid about £170 for this PSU from eBay.

Steve

Hi Steve, have you used your eFuel PSU much? Have you had any problems with it?

Run it from a battery to test. But all those errors, and your non ending charge suggest a bad connection between cell and charger.

Soft start is an error that means the power supply often a generator cant keep the voltage stable as the charger ramps up power. That may be power supply related. Are you using good, soldered connections everywhere? And proper safe banana connections to the charger, not those cheap ebay connectors?

It runs off a battery just fine. Charged 4 cells in a row without an issue.

I’m using the banana connectors on the 12awg silicone cable from Revo, the one that was recommended here, and decent soldered Connections.

I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong with the 50amp outputs of my PSU. I switched over to a 10amp output it provides & so far no more issues. The only time I get non ending charge is when using the 50amp output. I also started getting more consistent “Pack Disconnected (undercurrent)” errors when using the 50amp output.


Is there an easy way to test the PSU output?

[Burgerman]

Many ways to test but you need to know what you are doing and why. I suggest you return it.

[ex-Gooserider]

I've been using my PL8 with the EC5 connector left intact without any issues, even when charging at 40A. Why not make a PP75 to EC5 short lead ex-G? That way if you have any issues with the PL8 while under warranty, you'd be able to return it unmodified.

Steve

I basically have standardized all my power connections on chairs, PSU's and so on to use the Andersons - on wires AWG 10 - 18, I use the small PP-15/30/45 power poles, with the appropriate sized pin to match the wire size - the shells are the same, you just choose the right pin to fit them according to the wire size. On AWG 6 or 8 I use the PP-75s or SB-50's...

IMHO it makes life a lot simpler...

The shells on the PP-XX family connectors are available in different colors, and it is possible to fit them together in different combinations so keying is possible both by color and mechanically....

I only need to keep one set of tooling and supplies on hand for anything I'm working on. As a side benefit, they are easy connectors to assemble, the small ones are simple crimps, the larger ones arguably can be done crimp only, or soldered for extra (BM says to solder, Anderson says crimp only)

I think the connectors are reasonably robust, and they are electrically safe in that it is all but impossible to short them out...

It is easy to reconfigure a plug if needed, just slide the shells apart and re-position them. It is also relatively easy to swap shells.

As an added benefit, they are already the connector I most frequently encounter in chairs, so one less thing to rewire when modifying stuff... (Note there is an AMP clone of both sizes that will inter-connect with the Andersons, and combine at the shell level, but use different designs for the contacts and shell internals)

By standardizing on the one connector, I don't have to worry about matching equipment and connectors - if I have a PSU, I can plug into it... I have also been adding an extra 30A outlet on any of the chairs so it is easy to connect to the chairs as well.

OTOH, I do NOT like that EC-5 plug - I don't like the design, and it's not a standard for anything I've seen outside the RC model world... I'd just as soon not waste the money on an adapter that just makes for more complexity...

(FWIW I got a rebuilt unit back to replace the one I had that was bad, no comment about the Anderson plugs, so only problem was that I'm now out two shells and two pins - I'm not particularly worried...)

ex-Gooserider

[hotwheels_75]

Just an FYI for those considering the eFuel PSU,I had an email from revolectrix concerning my charging issues when using the eFuel 50A PSU.


“Three years we issued the following service bulletin concerning the PSU you mentioned. Check that service bulletin at this link:

http://www.revolectrix.com/new_applicat ... 04.14.html

At that time, the PSU was introducing high voltage surges on start up. The service bulletin represents a workaround that should allow for trouble-free operation, as waiting 15 seconds should prove long enough for the output V of the PSU to stabilize. Seems that after that, things work okay. I had heard through the rumor mill that EFuel addressed this issue in newer models; however, this was never confirmed. My recommendation would be to try the steps listed in the service bulletin, and if that doesn't solve the problems you're seeing, try a different PSU or a Pb battery to power the charger. If you're still having trouble, you could send your charger back to get checked out.”

My PL8 works fine when powered by a battery,so it was clearly the PSU in my case. I’ve already returned the PSU for testing so was unable to test the steps provided & can’t confirm that was my issue.
Just wanted others to know of the potential problems with this PSU.

[expresso]

good to know if you have this issue - shouldnt be though if you ask me -

i am using Ebay used PSU - and so far no issues - i keep the PSU connected to the Charger PL 8 - all the time -

PSU is Plugged in Power strip with on - off switch - so first thing i do is switch it on -
then i connect it to the chair pack - charge it - when done - remove from chair pack first - then shut off the switch on power strip and thats it -

if i had to unplug the charger from the PSU everytime and then connect it again etc, - thats a pain - but if thats the only way and it fixes the issue - i guess better than nothing - i would be upset because its not cheap to get one of those PSU -

it should just work -

[hotwheels_75]

I agree. For the cost of this PSU it should work with no problems. I will see what they say when they get it and test it. I don’t want it if I have to unplug the charger every time I use it. I was keeping everything plugged in & just using the on/off switch on the PSU.

[hotwheels_75]

An update if anyone is interested. I sent my eFuel 50A PSU back to the hobby shop I bought it from. They cycled 50+ battery packs using multiple different chargers and had no problems. They wouldn’t refund it because I had it longer than the 30 day return policy. They sent it back to me. I tried the work around provided by Revolectrix and it still failed to terminate. I’m stuck with a $500cdn brick.

The PL8 charger works fine off one of my 12v wheelchair batteries. I charged my entire stack of Lifepo4 batteries that way.

I would advise anyone considering the SkyRC eFuel PSUs to buy something else.

[expresso]

thanks for that update - thats good info to know and keep in mind - if i were you - just get on ebay and buy one of those Server models -

this is my most recent - https://www.ebay.com/itm/RC-Power-Suppl ... 2749.l2649

he did raise the price since i got mines at $120 - plus shipping - now its $160 with free shipping - so far its been working -

maybe you can sell yours on ebay since its been checked and working fine - just not working for how we use it i guess with our packs and charger - maybe BM can come up with a solution

[steves1977uk]

I have the following PSUs...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SKYRC-Efuel-12 ... B00ISTUAFA 15v-24v selection, 60A max at 20v otherwise 50A at 24v. Paid about £170 for this PSU from eBay.

Steve

Hi Steve, have you used your eFuel PSU much? Have you had any problems with it?

When I used the eFuel PSU it worked fine with the PL8, so not sure why you are having issues Sorry for not noticing this post before!

Steve

[shirley_hkg]

Fun for the next long holiday . Bought this £20 48V50A PSU & a £10 kit .

Will be another 0--60V 0--50A cc /cv bench power supply .

[shirley_hkg]

Will be another 0--60V 0--50A cc /cv bench power supply .

Besides , it has 3-stage charger function built -in , and l can set the CC /CV and terminal current too .

Will use it to power PL8 also . The Siemens psu seems a bit bulky now .

[Burgerman]

30v max. Or smoke!

[shirley_hkg]

Can't wait till holiday .

Success in first try .

[shirley_hkg]

COST :
ZXD 2400 a 3000W psu £40(new) / £20(used)
Mod kit £10

[Burgerman]

But how do we buy at HK prices?

[expresso]

But how do we buy at HK prices?

you dont - thats the problem - on HK can get it - then have to ship to you - i believe

[Burgerman]

And since it can do 60V better not turn it up to full by mistake or pl8!

And likely or

[shirley_hkg]

Another kit can do 120V , for charging E-bikes .

[Burgerman]

Marvelous! How well designed electrically/how reliable do you expect it to be?

Tempted to buy one to build for fun. How much with shipping?

[steves1977uk]

COST :
ZXD 2400 a 3000W psu £40(new) / £20(used)
Mod kit £10

Might be tempted to buy one How much is shipping to UK Shirley?

Steve

[Burgerman]

How much complete with mod kit and shipping?

They are way way more expensive on ebay. 240v ac here...

Looks like we both want one!

[shirley_hkg]

See physical spec : https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a2 ... t=6#detail

Postage @5kg , see pic below .

Well-built ? Reliable ? See the inside for yourself : http://diy.lgm3361.com/zxd2400/3/60v_1/


Click the RIGHT tap to go to next page at the end of page .
Having to do 4 minute surface mounted resistor/capacitor is a challange to me , but I'm happy when successed .

[shirley_hkg]

Someone has made a new case for it :

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 1094582108

[Burgerman]

Well it all works regardless. But if noisy fans bother you or you want to charge slower then you can leave it at 50 and just choose a lower amp charge rate.

Work out what will happen like this:

If you charge at 28.20V for MK x 12Amps thats = 338 watts. You just multiply the numbers to get watts. Plus about 10% losses due to heat/fans etc.

So if your power supply is set to 12V then you just divide that 338 (+10% 34w extra so now = 372w,) by the 12V to give Amps. So its going to need 31 approx Amps.