S646se - Full LITHIUM Pack Project - First Attempt

[expresso]

Its showtime - 6 weeks the 15ah cells have been sitting - i will start recharging each one over the weekend - will note down the ah returned and hopefully when done - will post it - to figure out the best way to group them -

hard work ahead - the ADD ON helped me with getting me some practice at least - redid that 4 times for one reason or another - - this one - have to get it done the first time correct - not looking to take that apart ever !!! once done

[Burgerman]

will post it - to figure out the best way to group them -

Charge each individually. Write down the exact Ah returned (mAh) onto each cell with a marker pen and a number. Like 1 or 2 or 3 as you go. So say 1045mAh cell 1. Next, 1003mAh cell2. etc.

And then when you have done add together all the mAh readings from each cell. Make a list. Start at 1 and end at whatever number your last cell is.

And divide the TOTAL mAh of all of the cells added together by 8
That gives you an ideal TOTAL mAh for each GROUP of cells.

How many in a group? Make sure each group adds up to the same or close, mAh overall.

LIKE THIS:

Code: Select all

PL8 charger used.
Charged individually to 100% 15mA termination 3.600v, then 1000mAh accurately removed, stored 1.5 month in box a cupoboard.

Then, 5A charge 200mA termination, 3.600CV.
Subsequent re-charge gives us the amount lost through self discharge:

Cell  Beep@CV  EndCharge@200mA  Self Discharge mAh (Lost)
1              1038             38
2              1016             16
3              1002             2
4              997             -3
5              1024             24
6              991             -9
7              1019             19
8              1020             20   
9              990             -10
10             1104             4
                               total 101

11             995             -5
12             1011             11
13             1019             19
14             1016             16
15             1020             20
16             1023             23
17             1034             34         
18             1008             8
19             1013             13
20             1120             120
                               total  246

21             1010             10
22             1012             12
23             1047             47
24             1015             15
25             1007             7
26             1018             18
27             1024      24
28             1016             16
29             1016             16
30             1018             18
                               total  183

31             1024             24
32             1004             4
33             1017             17
34             1020             20
35             1002             2
36             1019             19
37             1102             102
38             1071             71 
39             1003             3
40             1024             24
                               total 286

41             1020             20
42             1041             41
43             1009             9
44             1022             22
45             1056             56
46             1019             19
47             979             -21
48             1010             10
49             1025             25
50             1080             80
                               total  261

51             1005             5
52             1059             59
53             1023             23
54             1026             26
55             1022             22
56             1020             20
57             1050             50
58             1055             55
59             1023             23
60             1012             12
                               total 265

61             1006             6
62             1002             2
63             1005             5
64             1003             3
65             1008             8
66             1020             20
67             1057             57
68             1027             27
69             1068             68
70             1034             34
                               total  230

71             1019             19
72             1019             19
73             1068             68
74             1046             46
75             1004             4
76             1018             18
77             1008             8             
78             1027             27
79             1016             16
80             1007             7                 
                               total 232

odd             
odd             1128             128



Charge time = Ah divided by charge amps, + 15 mins @ 200mA per cell termination.




MIX  225 END

ONE
1  -            1038             38
3  -            1002             2
7  -            1019             19
57 -            1050             50
33 -            1017             17
21 -            1010             10
79 -            1016             16
9  -            990             -10
42 -            1041             41
23 -            1047             47
                               total 231
TWO
11 -            995             -5
34 -            1020             20
13 -            1019             19
14 -            1016             16
15 -            1020             20
16 -            1023             23
4  -             997             -3   
18 -            1008             8
19 -            1013             13
20 -            1120             120
                               total 231
THREE
2  -            1016             16
22 -            1012             12
24 -            1015             15
25 -            1007             7
72 -            1019             19
12 -            1011             11
28 -            1016             16
29 -            1016             16
30 -            1018             18
37 -            1102             102
                               total 232
FOUR TOP
31 -            1024             24
32 -            1004             4
26 -            1018             18
5  -            1024             24
35 -            1002             2
36 -            1019             19
27 -            1024              24
38 -            1071             71 
71 -            1019             19
49 -            1025             25
                               total 230


FIVE
41 -            1020             20
51 -            1005             5
43 -            1009             9
68 -            1027             27
45 -            1056             56
46 -            1019             19
47 -            979             -21
60 -            1012             12
40 -            1024             24
50 -            1080             80
                               total 231

SIX 
52 -            1059             59
53 -            1023             23
78 -            1027             27
44 -            1022             22
76 -            1018             18
58 -            1055             55
6  -            991             -9
48 -            1010             10
39 -            1003             3
59 -            1023             23
                               total 231

SEVEN TOP
75 -            1004             4
62 -            1002             2
63 -            1005             5
64 -            1003             3
66 -            1020             20
10 -            1104             4
67 -            1057             57
17 -            1034             34
69 -            1068             68
70 -            1034             34
                               total 231
EIGHT
65 -            1008             8
55 -            1022             22
73 -            1068             68
74 -            1046             46
61 -            1006             6
56 -            1020             20
77 -            1008             8             
54 -            1026             26
8  -            1020             20
80 -            1007             7                 
                               total 231

[Burgerman]

will post it - to figure out the best way to group them -

Charge each individually. Write down the exact Ah returned (mAh) onto each cell with a marker pen and a number. Like 1 or 2 or 3 as you go. So say 1045mAh cell 1. Next, 1003mAh cell2. etc.

And then when you have done add together all the mAh readings from each cell. Make a list. Start at 1 and end at whatever number your last cell is.

And divide the TOTAL mAh of all of the cells added together by 8
That gives you an ideal TOTAL mAh for each GROUP of cells.

How many in a group? Make sure each group adds up to the same or close, mAh overall. Miine worked out at 231mA per group. So I just needed to shuffle cells about into boxes (groups) that TOTALLED 231 altogether.

LIKE THIS:

Code: Select all

PL8 charger used.
Charged individually to 100% 15mA termination 3.600v, then 1000mAh accurately removed, stored 1.5 month in box a cupoboard.

Then, 5A charge 200mA termination, 3.600CV.
Subsequent re-charge gives us the amount lost through self discharge:

Cell           EndCharge  Self Discharge mAh (Lost)
1              1038             38
2              1016             16
3              1002             2
4              997             -3
5              1024             24
6              991             -9
7              1019             19
8              1020             20   
9              990             -10
10             1104             4
                               total 101

11             995             -5
12             1011             11
13             1019             19
14             1016             16
15             1020             20
16             1023             23
17             1034             34         
18             1008             8
19             1013             13
20             1120             120
                               total  246

21             1010             10
22             1012             12
23             1047             47
24             1015             15
25             1007             7
26             1018             18
27             1024      24
28             1016             16
29             1016             16
30             1018             18
                               total  183

31             1024             24
32             1004             4
33             1017             17
34             1020             20
35             1002             2
36             1019             19
37             1102             102
38             1071             71 
39             1003             3
40             1024             24
                               total 286

41             1020             20
42             1041             41
43             1009             9
44             1022             22
45             1056             56
46             1019             19
47             979             -21
48             1010             10
49             1025             25
50             1080             80
                               total  261

51             1005             5
52             1059             59
53             1023             23
54             1026             26
55             1022             22
56             1020             20
57             1050             50
58             1055             55
59             1023             23
60             1012             12
                               total 265

61             1006             6
62             1002             2
63             1005             5
64             1003             3
65             1008             8
66             1020             20
67             1057             57
68             1027             27
69             1068             68
70             1034             34
                               total  230

71             1019             19
72             1019             19
73             1068             68
74             1046             46
75             1004             4
76             1018             18
77             1008             8             
78             1027             27
79             1016             16
80             1007             7                 
                               total 232

odd             
odd             1128             128




MIX  225 END

ONE
1  -            1038             38
3  -            1002             2
7  -            1019             19
57 -            1050             50
33 -            1017             17
21 -            1010             10
79 -            1016             16
9  -            990             -10
42 -            1041             41
23 -            1047             47
                               total 231
TWO
11 -            995             -5
34 -            1020             20
13 -            1019             19
14 -            1016             16
15 -            1020             20
16 -            1023             23
4  -             997             -3   
18 -            1008             8
19 -            1013             13
20 -            1120             120
                               total 231
THREE
2  -            1016             16
22 -            1012             12
24 -            1015             15
25 -            1007             7
72 -            1019             19
12 -            1011             11
28 -            1016             16
29 -            1016             16
30 -            1018             18
37 -            1102             102
                               total 232
FOUR TOP
31 -            1024             24
32 -            1004             4
26 -            1018             18
5  -            1024             24
35 -            1002             2
36 -            1019             19
27 -            1024              24
38 -            1071             71 
71 -            1019             19
49 -            1025             25
                               total 230


FIVE
41 -            1020             20
51 -            1005             5
43 -            1009             9
68 -            1027             27
45 -            1056             56
46 -            1019             19
47 -            979             -21
60 -            1012             12
40 -            1024             24
50 -            1080             80
                               total 231

SIX 
52 -            1059             59
53 -            1023             23
78 -            1027             27
44 -            1022             22
76 -            1018             18
58 -            1055             55
6  -            991             -9
48 -            1010             10
39 -            1003             3
59 -            1023             23
                               total 231

SEVEN TOP
75 -            1004             4
62 -            1002             2
63 -            1005             5
64 -            1003             3
66 -            1020             20
10 -            1104             4
67 -            1057             57
17 -            1034             34
69 -            1068             68
70 -            1034             34
                               total 231
EIGHT
65 -            1008             8
55 -            1022             22
73 -            1068             68
74 -            1046             46
61 -            1006             6
56 -            1020             20
77 -            1008             8             
54 -            1026             26
8  -            1020             20
80 -            1007             7                 
                               total 231

[shirley_hkg]

Steve - your chair does 10 MPH ? what kind of chair is that - did it come that way - or did you modify it somehow to go faster ? i would love that speed -

I used to regard 646SE was 8.5 mph configured with big Electrocraft motors



However, your chair seems using gear train similar to cheaper 636 model . Is your chair original ?

[Burgerman]

Quickie use Electrocraft in the US for their 8 or 8.5 mph chairs.
Quickie (and many others like Amy, Handicraft etc) use AMD in Germany for their 8.5 and 6.2 mph motors.
Both are 235 rpm I think at 22V. Both are over 120A stall @ 24V.

No clue which is best.

[expresso]

Hi Shirley - yes those big motors you have - those are OLD - they dont make them any more for years now - my P222se has those motors - that was the last of them - over 4 years ago - My 646se motors you see in the picture are the only ones they offer now - 636 and 646 look the same - but 636 is 6.5 and 646 is 8.5 - if they are different inside or just the gearing as BM things is most likely - who knows -

they feel fine - fast and smooth - but do have a Wine to them that the older motors didnt - or a different wine to them - the newer motors have a steady wine all the time - you get used to it -

yes chair was built for me - Brand new from Sunrise medical - its original as they get - the motors in the pic you posted have to be at least 10 years old since those came off a 626 model chair - ?? which has issues and reason for making the upgraded 636 and 646 -

the 626 has failure with the Wheel area - was too weak etc, either from the motor being too strong for it maybe - who knows - but they stopped making them for many many years ago - i can tell from the release thats on your motors there in the pic. that ball in the end you pull to make the chair manual - thats old - hasnt been used in a long time -

the new motors do look smaller in size - and have the level on the side to make it manual - its strong and has a postive click to it - you can use your foot to use it with no problem - i never touch them - always use the power and i teach my workers to move my chair with the power - reason why i keep one setting for indoor use for them to move -

[expresso]

Quickie use Electrocraft in the US for their 8 or 8.5 mph chairs.
Quickie (and many others like Amy, Handicraft etc) use AMD in Germany for their 8.5 and 6.2 mph motors.
Both are 235 rpm I think at 22V. Both are over 120A stall @ 24V.

No clue which is best.

New motors are DC 22.5V - Gear Ratio - 26:1 and RPM 210 - Rnet 120A controller - - this is the new chair 646se - as in the pic.

my older chair with the ADD ON is the p222se - has the older large motors 8.5 mph - which i just got new motors for that chair - so those didnt last 4 years - maybe 3 before having the pulling to one side - left side - i didnt really notice or paid too much attention - i always figure it was the sidewalk or the road i was on etc, - or my hand moving - but realized it wasnt me - it was the motors -

so i got new ones - for the older chair - i kept the older motors for what ever reason i dont know yet - i figure if i really ever needed a pair on a chair which is not covered by insurance - i can send them out to be rebuilt - and have two new rebuilt motors for less than the cost of ONE new motor - so i kept them - i may never use them but nothing to loose - there were mine -

new motors feel fine - they should maybe 6 months old - not even sure if i seen a label on them now that i think about it - they feel great and with the ADD ON - nice - if they last another 4 years - most likely i will have another chair before then and this one will be retired - off the insurance - so not covered any longer --

i would get another 646se when time comes for new chair - just in silver maybe - someone here has one and looks nice - my friend has her chair in silver also and looks nice - so maybe i change it up a bit - i have had black for all my chairs so far - time to change - plus you can see all the Dust on black

[expresso]

BM - the Pack i am going to shoot for is 105ah - if i can fit it - or else its going to be 90ah - so 8 groups of 7 cells - i will write it down on paper as i do it - cell 1 - mAh - Cell 2 etc, down the roll - easier and faster than writing on the Cell itself

the Cells are labled though - 1 - what ever i have -

i will post it when i am done -

[Burgerman]

Charge the ADD ON via its cell balanc connector first.

http://www.usastore.revolectrix.com/Pro ... sion-Cable Use one of these if its too short. But it WILL plug straight in.
It will charge at 3A and balance those cells properly on screen. Save the data file, and just rename it, to .zip. Dont bother zipping or anything.

It doesent need the thick wires, only the balance wires. If they are cotrrect, plug them in!

[expresso]

Charge the ADD ON via its cell balanc connector first.

http://www.usastore.revolectrix.com/Pro ... sion-Cable Use one of these if its too short. But it WILL plug straight in.
It will charge at 3A and balance those cells properly on screen. Save the data file, and just rename it, to .zip. Dont bother zipping or anything.

It doesent need the thick wires, only the balance wires. If they are cotrrect, plug them in!

i am going to make the cable today to finish up the ADD ON - i have extra extension balance cable - but not sure it will fit on the both ends - the connectors - i could be wrong - i have to check and see - if it fits on both my pack and the PL 8 end for the balance wires only -

i would just plug in the balance cable and use the Preset you made for the ADD ON to charge ? if the cable dosnt work out - i will just plug the whole thing in as i would normally and charge -

to save the data - i am not sure if i am saving the correct data version etc, - i have to try it again next time i charge - i have renamed the last one to zip but it still keeps the .txt at the end for some reason - - i dont seem to have the option to save it as - other then TXT - clearly i am missing something and doing something wrong - i figure it out one day

[Burgerman]

Yes. That ext cable will fit the addon and the PL8...

And yes, set it to FMA wiring mode, because that then allows charging just down the balance connector wiring should you wish. No need for the main connectors. But only at 3A max. You dont need to tell it that, it will automatically limit itself to 3A...

i would just plug in the balance cable and use the Preset you made for the ADD ON to charge ? if the cable dosnt work out - i will just plug the whole thing in as i would normally and charge -

Yes, and it will work. I do it all the time on hobby packs.

To save choose save graph from the main window, and email it to me at burgerman@ntlworld.com if you cant just rename it

[expresso]

ok very good - will do that later once i am all done making the Cable - since i am getting all my items ready now - later when done - i will charge it that way first and then put it on my chair and connect it in its final spot as before ready to use once the weather is better -

i will check the preset first - change it to FMA wiring mode - save it - and start - when done - i will change it back to the other wiring mode ? or just leave it -

[Burgerman]

ok very good - will do that later once i am all done making the Cable - since i am getting all my items ready now - later when done - i will charge it that way first and then put it on my chair and connect it in its final spot as before ready to use once the weather is better -

Once the first charge is done, and it may be messy as the BMS will have not done its job very well, then email that to me, and then DISCHARGE it by 5 Ah or so using the same preset, and then recharge again. It should charge much faster, with all cells at an identical level and be a much tidier graph the 2nd time. And stay that way... Send me that one too.

THEN hook it to your chair, only after its lead has had a full charge.

[expresso]

ok you know - i am going to put it on the charge right now before i start making my cable - let it go - and when i am done with the Cable - will go check - if done - save the graphs and data if i am saving it correctly -

then start it again and discharge it 5ah - short time it will take i think - and then recharge it again - save data graphs again - and then when done - should be done by tonight - i have the cable made - and hang it on my chair - connect it and thats it - ?

going to do it now -

[expresso]

oK - i just did it - but you left out one little detail- - it kept asking me for the bananas - the wiring mode was already set to FMA wiring - didnt work - i change it to the other one - didnt work either - got error etc, -

when i trying just changing the charge speed from 12A - to 3A - and then it worked - i had a box to choose if i wanted to use bananas or not - before i didnt have that option - it said i had to use bananas - with the 12A charging in the preset -

but its good now - i put it to 3 A - saved it and its charging now - i am not there to watch it - i have to get started with the cable now if i am to finish this and put back on my chair tonight i go check it again when i am done with the cable and if its done - i will discharge and recharge as you suggested -

i will try to save everything i can in data etc, - can you PM your email ? so i can send it there - i dont believe i have it -

thanks - be back in a few hours if i am lucky

[Burgerman]

I put it in the post!

burgerman@ntlworld.com

If set to FMA wiring, it asks the question DO YOU WANT TO USE BANANAS? The Amps are reduced to 3 automatically. You can put that back to what it was before and it will work just the same. I do this daily!

>>>i had a box to choose if i wanted to use bananas or not - before i didnt have that option

Yes you did. But didnt spot it!


Save graph data!

[LROBBINS]

Expresso,

To rename a file to zip, first just save it as you normally would. Then go to Windows Explorer (or the Mac equivalent), find that file, click on it to highlight it, wait a moment and click it again. (Or right click on the file name and select from the context menu.) This will put the name in a little edit box and you can just add .zip after the .txt. You'll end up with "filename.txt.zip". Although you could delete the ".txt" I like to leave it as a reminder that it's really a txt file just renamed as zip.

Ciao,
Lenny

[Burgerman]

His PC may be dumbed down, not showing file extensions, not showing hidden files, etc. Most are like that. They just rely on hidden associations and icons.

[LROBBINS]

I think that the context (right click) menu should still let you change the name, including adding a ".zip" suffix - there will be a warning that changing the suffix may make the file "not work". If not, we can tell him how to change the view settings in Windows Explorer. Ciao, Lenny

[Burgerman]

I dont know how it works with extensions off! First thing I ever do to any PC I get hold of is:

Speed up the mouse pointer to max...
Turn off all that hidden folders, hidden files malarky...
Turn on file extensions, turn on full path in title bar...
And list everything by "detail"...

Then click apply to: ALL FOLDERS.

Then the thing is at least partly usable!

Then go on a rampage with what opens what...
And deleting all the junk, and uninstalling all the garbage and ransomware everyones PC is infested with.
Then run about a dozen anti spyware, anti virus, anti malware, adware anti everything demo or generally crap software programs.
And get rid of half a dozen junk toolbars that the user has allowed to be installed by "free" crap.
Then go through the what gets loaded at startup list...

After about 1 hour I am ready to start.

[LROBBINS]

Sounds familiar, I do the same, and get rid of the nearly-useless recovery partition and make a Clonezilla image while I'm about it.

I did just check how renaming works with the suffix hidden. No good, as it adds the .zip before the existing suffix. So, Expresso, if you have file extensions hidden in Windows Explorer and don't know how to show them, let us know and one of us will guide you to the right menu.

Ciao,
Lenny

[Burgerman]

Sounds familiar, I do the same, and get rid of the nearly-useless recovery partition and make a Clonezilla image while I'm about it.

And after stopping everything auto updating, phoning home, and added 4000 lines to the hosts file,
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/ Copy paste... It works great!


I make a proper disc backup on a removable drive and throw it into a car boot or something...
Best free backup program is http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx The FREE version that they make it hard to find or download! It works FAST and is bootable from anything, and portable. Makes the old Ghost, Etc look a bit dated.

[expresso]

Sounds familiar, I do the same, and get rid of the nearly-useless recovery partition and make a Clonezilla image while I'm about it.

I did just check how renaming works with the suffix hidden. No good, as it adds the .zip before the existing suffix. So, Expresso, if you have file extensions hidden in Windows Explorer and don't know how to show them, let us know and one of us will guide you to the right menu.

Ciao,
Lenny

its not one of those things i do off the top of my head - so yes - if you can step by step it for now - i try it over the weekend - i am using Win 8 if that matters or 8.1 dont know - i just got a laptop to use for spare and now for charging -

i dont bother doing anything unless a need arises for it - like now i guess - my main computer - different story- i play around more on there and do what ever - i use WD free true imgaine to make a backup and every few months or so - i restore it back - update things - etc, and make a new copy -

takes 10 mins to restore -

thanks -

BM - i emailed you the first set - and one with the BMS - only one i did -

[expresso]

Sounds familiar, I do the same, and get rid of the nearly-useless recovery partition and make a Clonezilla image while I'm about it.

And after stopping everything auto updating, phoning home, and added 4000 lines to the hosts file,
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/ Copy paste... It works great!


I make a proper disc backup on a removable drive and throw it into a car boot or something...
Best free backup program is http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx The FREE version that they make it hard to find or download! It works FAST and is bootable from anything, and portable. Makes the old Ghost, Etc look a bit dated.

i keep everything off the main drive - thats just for windows etc, - main drive is SSD - storage is 2 WD Black 2T each- partitioned in half - each drive -

besides a few of those external WD 2T and 3T USB 3.0 drives - i save other things there - movies DVDS etc, - worst case for me - i just wipe out the main drive and start over - but never needed to do that - just restore with True imagine when i need - 10 mins done - then update of course and make a new backup -

[Scollard]

Bahahaha. I have a couple of Macs. They work perfectly all the time, never crash, only reboot when the OS is updated. I run Windoze 10 in a Parallels VM when I need to talk to my Hyperion. And my computer is always fast, even my 2011 MacBook Air, which runs on the latest OS. I would like to see a 2011 notebook run Windoze 10, it would run like a slug.

[Burgerman]

I hear this all the time from apple users. Every time anyone mentions PCs. I have had macs here. Junk, wont run anything. Its like buying a betamax video player. Whats more I had my brothers wifes one here a week ago because it kept crashing. It arrives every time it wont work properly. So that "never crashes" is obviously wrong! I have all sorts of tools, chargers, hobby stuff like programable servos, quadcopters, heli stabilization/flybarless systems, multimeters, cameras and various controllers, rc systems, and even my mower that all need a windows machine. Probably 2 wheelchairs, and 2 roboteq controllers too. And powerchair programming software. Een my own automotive dynamometer systems. Most smaller companies never bother with the betamax computer systems.

And other than initial configuration, from dumbed down (mac mode?) to proper computer, as described above, something a mac doesent actually do, my windows 7 machine ran non stop 24/7 for many years. And my win 10 machine is doing the exactly the same. (Bar hard disk failure! twice)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... ation.html

Colour me very unconvinced. And to do anything useful with it you have to run windows! They are no better than windows, dont do any more, cost more, and are attacked less just because there are far less of them. Windows has be self repairing and super stable for about 15 years. The only way it isnt is if ignorant users choose to invite garbage to run. I dont even have an anti virus program running. Because its not required. Although Apple advise you do! I run one periodically just to be sure. Never had a virus or a crash in donkeys years. It just goes. And my windows server space is completely problem free. My linux one is far from it... And is attacked more often.

15 years back there may have been some truth. Today I think its just fashion.

[Scollard]

I suppose it depends on what you think is useful.

Macs are superior for:
Typesetting, the professional version of what you might call Desktop Publishing.
Any sort of Professional Photography.
Any sort of Professional Video Editing.

For everything else, 99% of what people do is surf the net, send emails, etc. Why do that with an incomprehensible computer. Just look at what You and LRobbins have to do with a brand new machine. Get rid of Recovery partitions, Clonezilla, etc., even Expresso can't rename a file because of the POS that is Windows. None of these problems exist on a Mac. And if your sister-in-law's Mac is crashing it's probably because it's ancient or it has all kinds of old software that is no longer being updated. Want to fix it, do a clean install of the latest OS. It will be back to working perfectly again and all you have to do is re-install a little software. Restore your user account from your Time Machine Backup and you are good to go. Or, in the Windows world, you can buy a new machine, take a day to make it so that it will actually work, then, I dare you to try and restore anything from a Windows backup and have it work.

Bahahaha. I live in both these worlds extensively, and I have never seen anything "just work" in the Windows world. And the only thing that crashes on my computer is Microsoft Office, in particular Outlook. But it never takes down the computer.

[expresso]

Hey BM - i just finished the Charge on the ADD ON - after the discharge - i now went to charge the LEAD alone and it dosnt work -

keeps telling me - Cells exceeded - push to reset - i checked the wiring mode - it shows - use bananas yes - and i hit start -

something is off on that preset you made me for the LEAD only - Can you check it ?

[expresso]

it does show - NODE Charging only on the screen - cant get rid of that - that my have something to do with it

[Burgerman]

Macs are superior for:
Typesetting, the professional version of what you might call Desktop Publishing.
Any sort of Professional Photography.
Any sort of Professional Video Editing.

Why would you think this?
When I was working with Emap publications, they came to the conclusion in 96 that there was no longer any advantage to a mac and were happy to use either for publishing magazines etc. Performace bikes, etc.

I use both with similar 30 inch monitors and with industry standard photoshop regularly and cant detect any difference. Apart from mine (PC/Windows i7 clocked to buggery, and with 16gb of very expensive super low latency memory is much faster) And has a better keyboard and a much better mouse...

For everything else, 99% of what people do is surf the net, send emails, etc. Why do that with an incomprehensible computer. Just look at what You and LRobbins have to do with a brand new machine. Get rid of Recovery partitions, Clonezilla, etc., even Expresso can't rename a file because of the POS that is Windows.

Thats just setup choices. Choices is something you dont get on a mac. And why I think they are best suited to the sort of user that doesnt like or care about computers. They suit the computer illiterate the best, I agree,

None of these problems exist on a Mac.

Rubbish. Its all a problem. You cant get it to behave as YOU choose, everything is locked down. They are not configurable enough for me or most more advanced users. Glorified phone/game console type thing.

And if your sister-in-law's Mac is crashing it's probably because it's ancient or it has all kinds of old software that is no longer being updated. Want to fix it, do a clean install of the latest OS. It will be back to working perfectly again and all you have to do is re-install a little software. Restore your user account from your Time Machine Backup and you are good to go.

Exactly the same as windows then. But that never happens to me? Because I run updated recent software...

Or, in the Windows world, you can buy a new machine, take a day to make it so that it will actually work, then, I dare you to try and restore anything from a Windows backup and have it work.

I never bought a PC with an operating system. I build my own (faster) PCs, and install my own operating systems as and where I want as I go along. All free I might add. Although not entirely legal. I restore an automated backup, do it once every week automatically across my network to my kitchen as I sleep. I have multiple boot drives, and multiple operating systems too and clone my C drive to 2 disks on this one PC. 8 hard discs altogether to be exact and 3 operating systems. And always test the latest backup at least monthly in a different PC in my kitchen from a removable disk. Not only does it work, but it works across different PCs faultlessly.

I have never lost a thing since the days of DOS. I have every document, every photo, every web page/site and every fax, email, and every bit of software going back to before my accident into about 1993.