Electronic experts - BLUETOOTH

[Burgerman]

Just like the lithium battery thing, you will know what to do, what you need, and how to connect things up and its simple as soon as you understand the parameters.

If not, you will try to do it like a painting by numbers thing, and when it doesent work you wont know why.

Theres many 5V bec voltage regulators, tiny $1 inverters, that will work. And many different BT modules too. The module needs setting up correctly. And the rest is super simple wiring.

[Irving]

yeah knowing me- i would kill my charger trying it - i am still waiting on my new PL8 i ordered in Feb during the sale - nothing yet - good thing i have a few for backup - imagine if you didnt and the only one you have broke -

are they step by step instructions with pictures for dummies to do this - with a parts list etc, ?

Yes expresso, plenty of instructions and pictures. I won't lie to you though, it is a litte fiddly. There's not a lot of room to play with inside the PL8 box. I've done it on both my PL8s with help.

Equally it is perfectly possible to build an external BT box with its own battery and USB charging; I did one for a friend using a small Li-ion battery and charger board off eBay, a ready made servo wiring loom and a small project box.

[ICEUK]

Irving,
I connected positive from the ubed to the big black resistor that u should in your picture. But i could not get get the pl8. Software to. Work. I connected through bluetooth.one thing i noticed. Is the screen on my pl8. Did. Not. Show any. Writing on. It. I assume somehow the. Ubec. Being. Connected to the resistor. In. Picture. Stops. Pl8. From. Starting. Fully

[Burgerman]

ICEUK did you remember to configure the BT module first?

To change the baud rate to 1900 with 1 stop bit and no parity, send "AT+UART=19200,0,0" (without the quotes).

If you want to change the PIN from 1234 or 0000 or whatever, send the "AT+PSWD=987654" (without the quotes), where 987654 is an example of a 6 digit PIN.

I got woodygb to send me a couple of modules already configured.

[expresso]

@irving - thanks - i think i leave it alone before i kill my charger or get very upset trying to do it - now is not the time to loose a charger - still waiting from Feb. for a new one -

i like the idea - since my chargers are far away from my computer - i run an extension usb cable to connect one of them - the other is closer but still have to wrap the cable around things to connect -

but it works all the time so cant complain there -

[ICEUK]

I got the bluetooth from woody, i assume woody changed the setting, he renamed it and pin.

So i have a 6volt 3amp battery going to my ubec, ubec then supplies 5volts measured to bt module, bt module have signal wire connected from back of pl8.

I paired the bt module to pc then

I'm device manager i changed the two comm ports 4 and 5 to 19200, the rest i left, data bits 8, parity none, stop bits 1, flow control none.

I then. Disabled comm 4 amd restarted pc, i open pl8 software and bt light goes solid, conected on comm 5, Pl8 software just says no data from powerlab 8.

[Burgerman]

bt module have signal wire connected from back of pl8.

Then you have send and recieve reversed. And I had similar issues until I connected all 3 wires to that external connector as well as the BEC supply. From the outside plug via servo connector.

[snaker]

Everyone should test BT externally with a breadboard first and make sure it works properly. If it is soldered inside PL8 without testing and when the problem occurs, it is hard to find out the exact reason.

[woodygb]

I got the bluetooth from woody, i assume woody changed the setting, he renamed it and pin.

So i have a 6volt 3amp battery going to my ubec, ubec then supplies 5volts measured to bt module, bt module have signal wire connected from back of pl8.

I paired the bt module to pc then

I'm device manager i changed the two comm ports 4 and 5 to 19200, the rest i left, data bits 8, parity none, stop bits 1, flow control none.

I then. Disabled comm 4 amd restarted pc, i open pl8 software and bt light goes solid, conected on comm 5, Pl8 software just says no data from powerlab 8.

The naming and baud rates are correct or the B.T. wouldn't connect ...however it's always possible that I have had a brain fart and connected the diode incorrectly between TX and RX.

[ICEUK]

I will get a picture of it, its odd as i can connect bt to pc, solod light its knows it is there but says no dats.

[woodygb]

Actual DATA is transferred by the RX and TX lines ...think of your current situation like a phone ....someone has called and you have answered ( BT connected ) ..but you ( P.C. ) cannot hear them ( PL8 ).

[ICEUK]

About to give up, to much time spent.

I have signal wire coming out of PL8 into Bluetooth device, I have powered Bludtooth device up via a power supply supplying 5 volts at 3amps. Bluetooth light goes solid red when i open pl8 software up. I have didabled the higher comm port number amd changed to 19200 baud.

To me either the bt device is faulty or i am missing somerhing completely obvious...

I have tried to conmected via snaker software on my phone amd i can conmect to bt but i get no signal

The rxd and txd are on seperate pins and i only have one signal wire, i assume thats ok?

[woodygb]

The rxd and txd are on seperate pins and i only have one signal wire, i assume thats ok?

This single wire is ...with the addition of a diode ( placed the correct way around ) ..............a common or combined RX and TX.

PL8 DIODE.JPG (7.06 KiB) Viewed 6774 times

[woodygb]

The above drawing can be simplified by just soldering the diode across the TX and RX ( making sure it is the correct way around ) and taking a wire from the RX.

PL8 DIODE SIMPLE.JPG (6.64 KiB) Viewed 6774 times

I.M.O. you should stop playing with the settings and see if you can check that my diode is in the correct orientation.

[ICEUK]

I switched the diode around between the rxd and txd and it made no difference.

[woodygb]

I am now at a loss.

[Irving]

I switched the diode around between the rxd and txd and it made no difference.

I found an 1N4148 didn't cut it, too big a voltage drop to get reliable comms. I used a schottky diode. something like https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283320026827

[Burgerman]

Same here.

[Burgerman]

Just tried to update from 3.33 to 3.35 firmware. I already have that on 3 PL8 chargers. The only difference was that I tried to update over BT which I already knew was a bad idea... DO NOT TRY THAT!

I had to. Because I am stupid. And wanted to know what would happen. Well what happens is you get a blank screen, and a box that says failed. 3 HOURS later, and many many attempts to fix it with the FIUM3, and only one method works. I have a registry hack thats allows you to get a new tick box, that says "REPAIR DEAD FIRMWARE" and low and behold that worked. 5th time. Only after turning off BT and disabling EVERY com port except the FUIM3, and choosing AUTO.

Back up an running. Dont do it!

[expresso]

Whow I guess I stick to the wire only

[Burgerman]

For firmware updates, definitely! Plug it in.

[ICEUK]

[quote="expresso"]Whow I guess I stick to the wire only[/quote

Expresso, i done the bt mod internally and you can still use the wire for updating, i will do my other 2 Pl8s would a video of the installation be of use to you?

[expresso]

HI sure - if you can make a Video clear and very simple step step - parts list etc, - pictures - anything like that is always useful to me - and others also

i am not sure i will do it either way - but i may be more inclined to try one day - i hate to deal with the computer end of it also with BT -

it would be nice to not use a wire sometimes - i have to say - i have too many wires around as it is - but i know it works with the wire for sure

i hate to kill a charger over it -

if you dont mind doing it - it would be helpful for everyone else also

thanks

[snaker]

I have ported the PL8 Remote app to Windows 10 and published it on Windows Store. As it runs on Windows, it is able to communicate with the PL8 charger through both Bluetooth or USB cable. If you do not have BT yet, you still can use it with your USB cable. This is an initial version, let me know if you want to add more features or more sophisticated graphs.

Link to install the app (from Windows Store):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/pl8-r ... verviewtab

Video of installing the app from Windows Store:
https://youtu.be/zbQC24pUKSs

Video of using the app:
https://youtu.be/htKC95rLzDk

[expresso]

i cant install it for some reason - cant download it - i am running Win 10 updated - when i clink Get free - nothing happens

[Burgerman]

I dont have windows store on Windows 10 version I use. Thank god. How can I get a copy to look at?

[expresso]

maybe thats why i cant get it either - i dont think i have windows store either -

[Burgerman]

It is a thing designed for modern "aps" instead of normal programs. That microsoft want you to use/buy their stuff/games/music etc from. So its best gone!

[snaker]

maybe thats why i cant get it either - i dont think i have windows store either -

Windows Store is pre-installed on win10 (except the ltsc version), you absolutely have it. It is just a tool to help developers publish apps with low cost (no need paying for hosting and maintaining).

Installing apps from Windows Store is as easy as on Android phones. Did you follow the steps in this video?
https://youtu.be/zbQC24pUKSs

[expresso]

i have to try it on my laptop - i didnt touch that one - my desktop - dont have windows store -