PINNED - Lithium battery conversion/info

[expresso]

i still have the one you sent me Shirly - i will try to make a cable for it - i will just extend those wires long enough so i can lay it near me on the side of my leg chair - - and able to check it that way -

still be nice to have the JS lights give some sort of indication also - if it in fact works or is close enough - -something to tinker with i guess -

[snaker]

I just fitted a led voltmeter

[expresso]

very nice snaker - do you have a toggle to turn it on and off - you dont want to leave it On all the time -

[snaker]

Yes, it has an on/off switch but I will rarely use the switch. The voltmeter connects to the joystick xlr socket, I only plug it when riding.

[expresso]

Nice I will do it same way. Does the red POS wire connect to pin one on the xlr ? And black on pin 2. ?

[Burgerman]

Even ifyou getit backwards it will likely just fail to work. Most tings like this are idiot proofed to day.

[snaker]

Yes. Red and White wires connect to the positive, Black wire connects to the negative.

This cheap voltmeter is surprisingly accurate. Its number is only 0.05V lower than the voltage shown on PL8. It can be calibrated to be more accurate but I leave it 0.05V less for better safety.

[expresso]

I only have two wires on mines I think. So just red and black

[Gnomatic]

The one I use has only two wires; seems to work well enough.

[expresso]

The one I use has only two wires; seems to work well enough.

i got the same ones you got also - two wires - you used the red on pin 1 and black on pin 2 ?

leaving one pin empty ? i will add a toggle switch on it also - i can leave it attached that way and just toggle it when i want to check it -

[shirley_hkg]

Better leave it ON all the time .

Unlike cell alarm , it won't cause imbalance amongst cells .

[expresso]

Better leave it ON all the time .

Unlike cell alarm , it won't cause imbalance amongst cells .

it wont drain battery if i leave it on all the time ? thats great then -

why would the Cell monitor drain it and Volt meter not ?

or it does but just dosnt affect balance of the cells since its the whole pack its checking - not each cell ?

IF left on all day for 40 miles - would it drain alot or nothing to notice ?

[Burgerman]

why would the Cell monitor drain it and Volt meter not ?

Cell monitor was designed to be connected to 1 up to 8 cells (groups). So is powered by just 1 cell group. So it takes very little power but its all from group 1. That unbalances the pack.

[snaker]

IF left on all day for 40 miles - would it drain alot or nothing to notice ?

Mine consumes 20mA. If left on 24h, it will eat about 24x0.02 = 0.48Ah. Very small for the whole pack

[expresso]

IF left on all day for 40 miles - would it drain alot or nothing to notice ?

Mine consumes 20mA. If left on 24h, it will eat about 24x0.02 = 0.48Ah. Very small for the whole pack

Ok so its nothing to worry about then if left on all day when out - i will give it a go - i have the parts - just have to solder it and try it out - once you plug it in the XLR on the JS - it will just be active - and stay that way - i wont even bother with a toggle switch then -

[snaker]

I also fitted an inline fuse to protect the expensive controller. We do not know what will happen with cheap gadgets

[expresso]

I also fitted an inline fuse to protect the expensive controller. We do not know what will happen with cheap gadgets

ah - i didnt think of that - i am going to make it today and have everything i need - but no fuse for that -


do you think i really need a fuse ? now you got me worried -

it should just be reading what the pack volt is and display it - its not an active device ?

[Burgerman]

If its got thin wires going to it, dont worry.

[expresso]

If its got thin wires going to it, dont worry.

very thin wires - i am extending the wiring with 22awg wire - its about that thin if not more from the device

[snaker]

I used this holder below. It's small and easy to solder. At least it adds some peace in mind
This cable also powers my camera, a fuse is a must for my case.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-5x20mm-A ... 2749.l2649

[expresso]

i did it already no fuse - its only going to used to show the Volts - and it works so far - not sure how accurate it is - mines seems to change as move it - i have to see how it works when in use -

also - what size wire is the most i can use with the XLR connector if i want to make a charge cable - i realize 12AWG seems too thick - would 14AWG be too thin if using for charging on the Chair XLR port - ? would i be able to charge at 8Amp or 10Amp with PL 8 with a 14AWG wire with the XLR ? or 16 AWG wire ?

thanks

[Gnomatic]

BM's XLR preset for 24v MK gel is 12A max.

[Burgerman]

i did it already no fuse - its only going to used to show the Volts - and it works so far - not sure how accurate it is - mines seems to change as move it - i have to see how it works when in use -

Of courseit changes as you move. You draw Amps from the battery. All batteries have resistance. Lithium will change very little. Lead changes by up to 6 voltsas you wheelie or turn... Voltage drops under load.

My presetcharges at12A max, works great. Thats the max allowed by the charge port and by the manufacturer of the control system.

[expresso]

BM's XLR preset for 24v MK gel is 12A max.

yes i notice that - but what size wire should i use - to handle that in case i did charge at 12A - i dont trust the rest of the chair wiring - would a 16 AWG wire handle the 12A - or do i need to use 14AWG - - the 12AWG i have seems too thick to solder to those small XLR Pins

[expresso]

i did it already no fuse - its only going to used to show the Volts - and it works so far - not sure how accurate it is - mines seems to change as move it - i have to see how it works when in use -

Of courseit changes as you move. You draw Amps from the battery. All batteries have resistance. Lithium will change very little. Lead changes by up to 6 voltsas you wheelie or turn... Voltage drops under load.

My presetcharges at12A max, works great. Thats the max allowed by the charge port and by the manufacturer of the control system.

haha - i didnt explain myself correctly - i wasnt in the chair - the chair wasnt moving - i was holding the volt meter in my hand moving it - seems to change or maybe it was trying to figure it out and then settles down ?

[Burgerman]

Mmmm. Shouldnt move at all.

[expresso]

Mmmm. Shouldnt move at all.

i figured - most likely a crap unit - they were cheap from ebay china - i believe i ordered the same ones Genomatic used - who knows if i got the same quality

[Burgerman]

Those are not the most accurate either. Some are however adjustable. I have about half a dozen chinese ones kicking about inc one with 3 decimal places which you need.

I t has a trimmer screw in the rear so you can calibrate. I set it to read the same as my Fluke 289 at 20C and 30V on my power supply. But at 12V its then miles out! And at 10 degrees its miles out at 30V.... So you do get what you pay for. But good enough to monitor the battery.

[expresso]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-28-4-00-30V- ... 2749.l2649


this is the one i got

[Burgerman]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-3-5-30V-Min ... 0010.m2109

This has an extra digit. It makes it easy to see volts rising or falling. If you drive your chair it will fall enough to see anyway. If you stop, or if the battery gets warmer in use, the volts will go up.

Your r-net software, with a laptop, lets you see :-
Battery Volts.
Battery Amps.
R.Motor Volts.
R.Motor Amps.
L.Motor Volts.
L.Motor Amps.

And:
Actuator Lift Amps
Actuator Lift Volts.
Actuator Tilt Amps and channel used, inhibit if any, etc for each below
Actuator Tilt Volts
Actuator Recline Amps
Actuator Recline Volts.
Actuator Footrest Amps
Actuator footrest Volts.
Actuator Footrest length extender Amps
Actuator Footrest length extender Volts.
Lights Amps
Lights Volts
Indicator Amps
Indicator Volts

Al in real time.
As you operate the chair. Just click system tests, then Power module, and ISM or any other module you have and watch! R-Netis definitely the most advanced system out there right now. And the most configurable.