PL 8 - Q and A section - How to Set up - Use etc,

[foghornleghorn]

Is the double ended one male to female, or male on both ends?

I like to leave a lead permanently in the pl8 and connect to that instead of wearing out the pl8 socket and this looks ideal. Could also cut one end off to make a longer cable up.

10 x male to female lead posted to the UK - how much paypal shirley?

[Burgerman]

14 UK pounds. To be sure I sent him 15.
In euros? 20.
In dollars? I would say 24.


If you worry about that its best to make an adapter to the more common easy to get JST-XH. Make a single cable, with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8S ends on it.

Or use a multi adapter as I do for parallel charging hobby packs, and for every cell count.

https://www.flyingtech.co.uk/accessorie ... -2-8s-lipo

Theres many different ones.

[foghornleghorn]

Only interested in 8s for wheelchair charging. Any of the multi boards has always seemed like extra for no point and something else to get in the way out in the garage.

I'll send money when they are confirmed as definitely male to female as can't tell from the picture.

[Burgerman]

Never saw a double male end lead ever.

[shirley_hkg]

10 x male to female lead posted to the UK - how much paypal, shirley ?

HKD $186.

[shirley_hkg]

Only interested in 8s for wheelchair charging. Any of the multi boards has always seemed like extra for no point and ….

Have to make your own, by T-joint the females to a JST pigtail.

[shirley_hkg]

10 x male to female lead posted to the UK - how much paypal, shirley ?

HKD $186.

That's a male to male one .

[Arima]

You dont need ANY balance connector to charge ONE cell.

You just need the correct preset...

Really ?

It seems that's more accurate with balance port being fed .

Yes I found that out last night. The pl8 kicked out an error with 2 balance wires connected on a single cell. But it worked without balance wires. Think I need to look at some other presets.

Shirley I'd like to get 10 of the pigtails if possible please. Male (the one that goes into the pl8) on 1 end. I'll refit a JST-XH on the other end. I think you have my address. If you can confirm the cost with shipping to the US, I'll paypal you the funds today!

[Burgerman]

Yes I found that out last night. The pl8 kicked out an error with 2 balance wires connected on a single cell. But it worked without balance wires. Think I need to look at some other presets.

What error and what preset?

[Arima]

https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/ ... 60#p104334

Thought I was getting a preset with a 2019 post date here on the forum but the one I used (above) is from 2017. The error started off with "un-bal". I can recreate it later today and give you the full text.

[Burgerman]

Did you fully charge each cell before assembly?
What is the capacity of the pack?
Please post the preset here.
And are you using the latest 3.5 or 3.6 firmware?

[shirley_hkg]

Shirley I'd like to get 10 of the pigtails if possible please. Male (the one that goes into the pl8) on 1 end. I'll refit a JST-XH on the other end. !

Please send another HKD $100 and you'll have them with your ZXD together .

[Arima]

Did you fully charge each cell before assembly?
What is the capacity of the pack?
Please post the preset here.
And are you using the latest 3.5 or 3.6 firmware?

I don't have a pack yet. It's a single 40152 headway. Firmware= V3.36

Here is the link to the post in the old Step by Step 30 Ah pack build thread where I took the preset.
https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/ ... 60#p104334

I'm sure there is an updated preset post in 2019 but I can't find it this moment. I can give that a try.

The error is "Safety Code 23 Un-Bal. Only". So it's not really an error, more a information message. Telling me this preset does not do any balancing.

Appreciate you Shirley

[Burgerman]

Ah...

THAT code means you are using an unbalanced preset, with a balance wire... Or you have it set to FMA balance wiring mode.

As previously asked. What Ah? 15? If so I will post a preset for that.

I can post a NON balance connector preset. Or a balance wire preset. Which is not needed for 1 cell or many cells in parallel.

[Arima]

Yes 15Ah cell. If it's not to much trouble a preset for each Non Balance and Balance, a single cell. For parallel charging multiple cells or charging a single cell without balancing I should use the same Non Balance preset? I'll check the FMA mode setting.

Ah...

THAT code means you are using an unbalanced preset, with a balance wire... Or you have it set to FMA balance wiring mode.

As previously asked. What Ah? 15? If so I will post a preset for that.

I can post a NON balance connector preset. Or a balance wire preset. Which is not needed for 1 cell or many cells in parallel.

[Dan]

While you're at it BM is there any chance you can do me a preset for a pack made from 8 95Ah cells?
8 in series.

Thanks.

[Burgerman]

Heres a set of single cell non balance lead LiFePO4 presets.
And a bunch of auto cell count ones that require a balance lead connection. For many sized cells.

In the form of USER presets. A full set. So load a new set of user presets. Save any individual ones you may want. Or just use whats shown.

Its self explanitory. These may need fine tuning to suit your specific pack in termination current. Aim to set that low enough that your charge ends around 30 mins after CV stage balance ends so that all cells spend around 15 mins to 30 mins at the CV voltage.

[Burgerman]

This wll do just your pack

[ex-Gooserider]

The JST-PA series is pretty standard, and ANY of the electronic supply houses should have them in stock (unless they are out due to the general supply chain mess...) If Digikey says they don't have them, go to Newark, Mouser, etc...

They are a bit fiddly to build, but not bad IF you have the right tools... I purchased a pair of "Engineer" crimping pliers that are made in Japan, and are able to deal wiht pretty much all the different JST / Molex etc. style small wire crimp pins. They are a bit of a pain to use, and take some practice, but are good for their flexibility.... However getting pigtails might be a better deal if you aren't used to doing this sort of cable work.

ex-Gooserider

[shirley_hkg]

As PL8 discontinued so is its related parts.

Seller has not enough pigtails , so you will receive 5 pairs of these below .

Hope you don't mind .

[Burgerman]

Of course no prob.

[steves1977uk]

Just tried something today, by placing the PL8 on a naturally cold pad folded in half to make it thicker the PL8's internal temp never exceeded 40C (104F) during a 25A charge. So the fans never spun up like they usually do. The cold pad cost me £5.99 from The Range here in the UK, so might be worth buying to have a quieter PL8 at night time.

Steve

[Burgerman]

Whats a cold pad?

[steves1977uk]

It's this BM... https://www.therange.co.uk/leisure/spor ... ad/#955681 Was quite surprised it kept the PL8 cooler as hot air rises.

Steve

[Burgerman]

Are they actually cooler lik kept in the fridge? If so that will help. So would a lump of plate steel. Anything cold with thermal mass. Like a brick.

[steves1977uk]

Nope, they require no refrigeration as the pad is naturally cold. I assume they use a special kind of gel that gets colder as more heat is produced.

Steve

[Burgerman]

That breaks the laws of physics. Thermodynamics. Entropy too!

Any item that isnt losing mass like gassing, can never be colder than the room. Adding heat to something can never make it cooler. Everything just attains the same temp over time. (entropy in action). So theres no such thing as naturally cold. It may feel cold on your skin if it has high thermal mass. Like a glass of water. But it will still be at the same temp as your room is. Its YOU that is warmer, and losing heat to warm up the room temp gel.

What may happen is that you lifted the PL8 off something that was stopping natural airflow into the bottom intake caused by convection.

Those pads work the same way as a glass of water. They are not insulators like a matress or sheets or pillows. They are high thermal mass and good heat conductors. They feel cool because you lose body heat into them by warming them 9eventually) to 37C as you lay on them. And the parts you dont lay on lose (your) heat to the room. They cant do anything temp wise to a PL8 intake air as they will be the same temperature as the air is. If you dont believe it use a point and shoot temperature gun. They are 20C if your room is 20C.

[LROBBINS]

I suspect that the gel undergoes an endothermic phase change when heated. Heat is absorbed in the process, and later released (slowly) back to the environment after the source of heat is removed.

[Burgerman]

I suspect that the gel undergoes an endothermic phase change when heated. Heat is absorbed in the process, and later released (slowly) back to the environment after the source of heat is removed.

Yes. But in the case of the gel pad + charger, that doesent happen. It cant. And the gel isnt heated.
The air it draws into the bottom is all at room temp obviously. Until it is heated by the heat sink inside. From here it rises and goes out via the air outlet on the rear. Or is assisted by the fans. So is the pad is not able to cool the air. No phase change happens as no temp difference. And so no initial air cooling either.


P.S. They do a phase change cooling gel that can be ordered with the jay cushions and backs that works in the way you proposed. But the gains are really tiny. 1c initially to zero later on. And it only works at all because your warm 37C skin touches the seat. https://www.sunrisemedical.com/cryo-technology

[LROBBINS]

You're probably right. My PL8 is pumping away at 30A CC right now and is decidedly cool on the bottom with a strong upward airflow. Another possibility, but I don't see how it would work in a covered pad, would be a deliquescent gel (e.g. silica gel) already water saturated. Air flow through that would give evaporative cooling. I just can't see how there'd be any air flow through that pad.

Yet another possibility is that the pad was just blocking airflow and the PL8 throttled itself - little noise, but also little charging.