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

[shirley_hkg]

[Scooterman]

Like one of theses Shirley, but 3 foot long

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2395248374

[Burgerman]

Andersons. Those wear fast. My choice.

[snaker]

@BM: I bought a new camera battery. After fitting into the camera, the camera cannot turn on. And it does not charge the battery through the usb cable neither. I measure the battery voltage, it is only 3.3V. Maybe low voltage causes this error. I want to use PL8 to charge the battery full first. Can you create for me a preset? It is 1.350mAh li-ion as in the image below.

[Burgerman]

To be clear. It says 2 batteries. Is this 1S or 2S? We dont want any fires...

[snaker]

It is only a battery (1S).

[Burgerman]

These are 3 different presets.
The PL8 wants a balance connection even for 1S to allow a LiPo cell to charge safely and properly. But there are other ways...

LiPo 1S Cam No Nodes 15 min CV.PS8 -- So if you charge as a LiPo without a balance wire, it limits you to a 15 min CV time which means a 90% charge and a limited 500mA charge rate. I doubt it will ever see 5mA or close to it, but no problem, it will still likely work OK.

LiPo 1S Cam with nodes 2 hour CV.PS8 -- This gives a complete full lipo and Lithium ion charge, with 5mA or 2 hour CV. But will need a balance wire... Which is a pain.

Lead Cam 1S LiPo ALTERNATE 2h CV -- is a WORKAROUND that will charge as a 2 cell LEAD battery. With charge voltage set to 2.10V per cell, that means you get the correct 4.20V CV for a single cell LiPo or lithium ion cell. And a 2 hour CV, 5mA termination as well as a 1A charge, without needing a balance lead.

[Burgerman]

You can use these to discharge too.
I have not tested any of them so report any problems or explosions here!

Also take care, that 3.3V should be chargeable. They discharge to that level usually. Actually less. So something is odd. And those chinese cells often claim figures that are higher than the standard cell. And they invariably are less, not more. And a cell thats been under voltage may short internally when charged and burn. So dont charge unattended. At least the first few times. If it will in fact charge...

[snaker]

I charged the battery using the first preset "LiPo 1S Cam No Nodes 15 min CV.PS8" => 823mAh returned. Maybe the real capacity is only about 1.000mAh but that's fine. I put the battery into the camera, the camera now works properly. It also charges the battery through the usb cable. Thanks BM

[Burgerman]

The 2s lead one, will give full capacity though. Camera will run longer. Reduce 1A charge to about 700mA.

[Scooterman]

Sorry this probably isn't the correct thread...

But I need some advice/suggestions to overcome this knotty problem that is taxing me.

For the lithium conversion of my mobility scooter I need to sort out how to connect the charge/balance cable.

The batteries are under the plastic cover with the NGK Motul stickers. But it is a large one piece cover/shroud unit see diagram.

I initially thought of cutting a slot in the bodywork and fitting a sub-d type connector. Which would be neat and tidy. But the problem would then be that I wouldn't be able to lift off the battery cover because of the battery charge/balance leads.

I could bring a short charge/balance cable up through the seat post hole and perhaps velcro it to the bodywork under the seat. At least that way I can still lift off the bodywork by threading the short balance/charge cable through the seat post hole in the bodywork

I could use either sub-d or the +D9 and anderson as shirley suggested.

What you think would be best?

[Scooterman]

This is my original idea of the panel mounted sub-d but perhaps not so clever because of what I mentioned above

[Burgerman]

My battery has some extra connectors at the battery. So you can remove it while leaving the subD bolted to the chair.

download/file.php?id=4301&mode=view
The black/white connectors... For balance. And an Anderson will be for power. BETWEEN the batt and the SubD.

Buy a few of these. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOOGOO-10pcs-J ... +extension

And these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Pcs-Battery- ... werpole+50

[Scooterman]

I see, and thank you for the links, I've added them to my Amazon basket.

[Burgerman]

Actually the 8S extensions are low quality, better to get the Celpro ones ones if you can.

http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Produc ... sion-Cable

Or 2 4S ones if you have 2 12V batteries seperately.

http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Produc ... sion-Cable

[shirley_hkg]

That may be complicated for me.

I was about to make you the female D-sub of the battery end. It has 2 holes , that you can bolt it to a bracket .

Simply secure a mounting plate to the plastic shroud to accept the D-sub .

Unbolt two screws and you'll leave the complete harness behind .

[Scooterman]

That may be complicated for me.

I was about to make you the female D-sub of the battery end. It has 2 holes , that you can bolt it to a bracket .

Simply secure a mounting plate to the plastic shroud to accept the D-sub .

Unbolt two screws and you'll leave the complete harness behind .

That will be fine Shirley thank you

[Scooterman]

Actually the 8S extensions are low quality, better to get the Celpro ones ones if you can.

http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Produc ... sion-Cable

Or 2 4S ones if you have 2 12V batteries seperately.

http://www.store.revolectrix.com/Produc ... sion-Cable

Thank you BM, and for the links .

But I'll leave it to Shirley, what he is doing will be fine. And it's not fair of me to keep changing my mind.

[shirley_hkg]

Grab some spare @£1.00 each .

[Burgerman]

Those are too short unless you lengthen them. I buy the 36 inch long ones.

[shirley_hkg]

Lengthen to 7 foot long. Better and thicker wires will be employed.

Battery end has another 30 inches or so .

Silver coated 0.75mm audio grade one to overcome long resistance .

[snaker]

Where is the link

[shirley_hkg]

Silver coated 0.75mm audio grade one to overcome long resistance .

Telfon wires .

[shirley_hkg]

First try of Scooterman's new iron .

@310℃

[Scooterman]

Ooh I'm sorry Shirley, I missed your updates on this thread.

It's all looking good

Would I be able to have a few of them £1 PL8 tails in the photo, and some of that silver-coated audio wire you used please?

Basically everything I need to clone the charge/balance cable you've made for me, and to clone of the d-sub battery tails for the second d-sub socket I plan to mount on the other side of the scooter (as mentioned in the PM). Plus the spare d-sub/s etc.

Thanks

[Burgerman]

20A discharge. What on earth did you use to discharge 85Ah into? Never mind, just realised it was 12V 4S...

[shirley_hkg]

20A discharge. What on earth did you use to discharge 85Ah into? ..

That's impossible to use PL8 alone . . . ≤ 100w , so it was my chair . .

[shirley_hkg]

Getting used to the new soldering iron, makes it much easier .

Damn ! I didn't use Blu-Teck long before .

It's so handy .

[Burgerman]

I know. You need 2 big bits though. One to hold wires or whatever and one for connectors etc. And you need a bench that is close to your face, raised up. Which I dont have yet. And in my case some prescription glasses with an added +2 dioptre...

[shirley_hkg]

Yes. Need magnifying glass soon .

One question , discharged 85Ah , put back 87Ah. Pretty close .

May not need to take the 87% conversion efficiency into account then .