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

[expresso]

i have 4 of them and used them all - two are used all the time and another to a friend - All PSU are used server units - and all work fine - both PL8 and PSU - i did get one PL8 new which shot flames out the rear - it happened very very early on and was returned for another - going on 6 years for my first PL8

[stevelawiw]

I sent my PL8 back to the address Revolectrix gave me for repair

Ship To:
Afifah / Eko
PT. REVOLEKTRIK HOBI INDONESIA
Komplek Tanjung Pantun Block i No 15
Jodoh Kota Batam Kepri 29453

But got it back today with an RTS label on it saying address incomplete
That's £20 down the drain

[stevelawiw]

My broken PL8 has arrived at Revolektrik in Indonesia
I sent it again with INDONESIA as the last line of address even though they assured me it wasn't nessesary

[expresso]

PL8 back in stock if anyone interesting - on sale also with Code they supply PD2020 - another on the way for spare -

[stevelawiw]

Still showing Out of Stock on the singapore site, they said April when I asked them when they would be back in stock!

[expresso]

i received an email today saying they are back in stock - i signed up to know - from USA site - could be different there sign up to be notified

[Burgerman]

It is the most advanced charger they make.The only one with any real adjustability at an advanced level, and the only one with any PC software, So unless them make something better I dont see them stopping it. Not everyone wants one of their dumbed down solutions.

[terry2]

It is the most advanced charger they make.The only one with any real adjustability at an advanced level, and the only one with any PC software, So unless them make something better I dont see them stopping it. Not everyone wants one of their dumbed down solutions.

How about the new PL8 Touch? $374

revolectrix have now told me I can get it fixed for £120 which includes shipping back to me.
The cheapest I've found with tracking back to them is about £40.

[expresso]

Pl8 cost me 216 us new with the coupon code pd2020. It dosnt cost the same thrre

[steves1977uk]

Trouble is with the PL8T we don't know what the charging algro does, it might need a few firmware/software updates before it's usable. But I would take their offer getting your PL8 repaired.

Steve

[stevelawiw]

One interesting thing about the specs of the PL8T is the input voltage max is 48v

Edit: Also, I just checked both the USA and Singapore sites and the PL8 is out of stock on both?

[steves1977uk]

Yep, it states it's on back-order when you add the PL8v2 to the shopping cart.

Steve

[terry2]

Another email from them.
They got the price wrong yeeehhhh

The £120 to fix it does not include shipping it back to me Boooooo

So it's not worth getting it fixed.
I may as well wait till they have refurbs and buy one of them as it's cheaper.

They may have a good charger...but everything else about the company sucks.

[shirley_hkg]

It should have been sent to Irving instead.

Sounds like I might need to dust off my "PL8-a-like" design. There's nothing magic about a PL8 if you understand the technology, I've had mine to pieces several times and have reverse engineered large bits of it to understand how it works (so I can fix if it goes wrong). Indeed the design is showing its age with essentially discrete parts for key functions, as there are now chip sets out there for the EV market that can do 400v (96S) and >5 amp balancing per cell, and still only consume <50uA when active (so can be left permanently connected). Obviously expensive but dropping in price all the time as volumes increase, and a plethora of lower end devices that can do 16S and you don't need to use the BMS functions only the monitoring & balance features. The clever bit about the PL8 is the ability to buck/boost on demand (a standard capability of some SMPS chips now - PL8 does its own) and the charge rate throttling when its balancing (still not rocket science).

[rickystyx]

I've just had my PL8 update to v3.35 from V3.3 - is this OK or do I need to set it back to V3.3?

[biscuit]

So it's not worth getting it fixed.
I may as well wait till they have refurbs and buy one of them as it's cheaper.

Who knows, you might get your own one back.

[Irving]

It should have been sent to Irving instead.

I'm not quite ready to offer a repair service yet - still focussed on my PhD and then R-Net stuff (ditto re repairs on ISM and PMs).

Still, if someone wants me to have a look-see for anything obvious, I'm sure a way could be found...

[steves1977uk]

I've just had my PL8 update to v3.35 from V3.3 - is this OK or do I need to set it back to V3.3?

V3.33 is the latest, so don't know where you're getting V3.35 from! It's probably some custom firmware that does weird things.

Edit: Just updated the CCS software and V3.35 is listed. Will let BM test it first.

Steve

[rickystyx]

I just got an update alert today and it brought in version 3.34 and 3.35 - I haven't installed them just in case

[steves1977uk]

Here's the CCS changelog...

Code: Select all

PowerLab 8v2 PC SOFTWARE

This software is automatically updated with an internet connection.

Copyright 2008-2020

FMA Inc.
3520 Sugarloaf Pkwy. Ste. F03-121
Urbana, MD  21704

http://www.revolectrix.com

**************** PC SOFTWARE VERSION HISTORY ****************
Version 1.18 (Feb-19-20) - Increased data file size 10x.

Version 1.17 (Dec-10-18) - Added LTO Chemistry.

Version 1.16 (May-12-16) - Re-compiled and re-published.

Version 1.15 (Dec-12-15) - A123/LiFE start balance increased to 3.5V.  Changed AGM preset.

Version 1.14 (Dec-15-14) - Added LiHV Chemistry.

Version 1.13 (Jan-31-14) - Added an option to disable data file compression.

Version 1.11 (9-12-13) - Increased A123 max timeout.

Version 1.11 (10-10-12) - Allowed higher safety charge voltage diff. for A123.

Version 1.10 (4-18-12) - Fixed Amp hour indication for parallel packs.

Version 1.09 (8-16-11) - Added charge summary screen in place of balancer screen (LCD).  Mah IN/OUT are on different lines.  Added A123 supply battery choices.  Added High Power Accurate to the preset library.

Version 1.07 (4-27-11) - Added parallel packs to the preset parameters.

Version 1.06 (4-13-11) - Disabling Low Volt Restore restricted to OEM.

Version 1.05 (12-9-10) - Added XH compatibility and network disable.

Version 1.04 (11-8-10) - Added bananna warning.

Version 1.03 (9-30-10) - Added supply volts/amps graphs.

Version 1.02 (9-24-10) - First public release of V2.

Version 1.00 (4-29-10) - Alpha release

Steve

[Burgerman]

Cant test till I can get a carerhere. On bed. And no charger/ USB cable etc.

[Burgerman]

Going by the software alone, the ccs, it should be OK. Only tiny changes. All my modified "illegal" presets seem to cause no errors. So go for it.

You will get LTO cell chemistry capability, which are no good for us, and it will display beyond 99Ah on the screen on the charger now.

[expresso]

My mistake - the site that i got the email from about the charger back in stock was from here - https://www.progressiverc.com/

i though it was from Revoletrix - signed up to be notified from Progressive RC site - -

they have one left in stock PL8 and low stock on PL6 https://www.progressiverc.com/fma-powerlab-8.html

[steves1977uk]

Don't forget to backup the presets and save option settings before updating firmware, as the CCS performs a factory reset on the PL8 after the update. Just a heads up.

Steve

[expresso]

Has anyone updated and working fine ? Could u downgrade it if it didn't work out well ?

[Burgerman]

If all my presets and strange "illegal" limits and settings can be loaded in the new version CCS then they will be OK on the charger too. Or errors would show. And they are fine as I checked. So yes, upgrade. The only thigs that will change are that you can now have a new chemistry that wasnt possible before. And previousl the PL8s screen was limited to 99Ah. Now it isnt.

So yes, upgrade! It will remove all your settings and presets. So save those first.

[expresso]

Ok next time i power it up to charge something i will upgrade - i will reload my saved presets again - keeping it limited to the few i really use - i have a few chargers i wont touch till i actually need to use them - spares sitting

[Burgerman]

LTO cells were added.

Note that THESE are all the different chamistries it can now charge.

[expresso]

i do one of them later on - will update it - once i start using two of them at a time - i will update the other one also - and work my way to the spares

[Burgerman]

Empty... No chemistry!

-LiPo = Lithium Polymer. The explosive powerful hobby packs.
-Lith Ion = Lithium Ion, the generic lithium ion cells, from older times. Often charged to a lower 4.1V per cell. Burns...
-A123 = A123 branded LiFePO4 cell. Because the guy that wrote the software didnt understand that A123 was a LiFePO4 cell... Still doesent.

-LiFe (Chinese A123) because it was written by an american that thaught A123 was a chemistry... Its LiFePO4 - same as the A123 above...
-LiMn = Lithium Ion Manganese. Another light variation on the LiFe cells.
-LiCo = Lithium Ion Cobalt cells such as your laptop cells or the generic 18650 cells. Can be a bit explodey.

-NiCd = Nickel Cadmium. The rechargable cells you USED to put in everything...
-NiMh = Nickel Metal hydride. The rechargable AAs you now put in everything.
-Pb = Lead based, gel, AGM etc.

-Primary (discharge only) = for testing your non rechargable batteries for capacity.
-Supply (low voltage) = Amps, low volts, for hot wire cutting etc.
-NiZn = Nickel Zinc batteries. 1.6V AA rechargables! High capacity. They use CC/CV rather than CC/Delta V for charging. Dont mix them up!

-LiHV = Special new LiPo batteries with a higher charge voltage. Instead of 4.200V 4.250 or 4.300 or 4.3500V are used for added power and Ah. Dont try this on any other type of lithiu battery or it wont end well!
-LTO = Lithium Titonate (microcrystal) cells. TIT-onate