PL8 Code 17 Cells Dont match

[expresso]

I got this code error on a pervious pack -

only happens when i was discharging with the PL8 - not charging - i reset it and discharged again - it was fine -

so i figure ok i have to rewire that pack - which i was going to do anyway -

now i did another pack - wiring is fine - all tight etc, - i went to discharge it and it happened to this pack also - code 17

its making me wonder - could it be the PL8 issue - and not the packs themselves ?

charging working fine so far - only when discharging with the PL8

it happened again - i reset and restarted the discharge -

i can double check the connections later - but its odd that its now with two different packs - same issue -

seems cells 8 is lower than the rest of the pack - and the other pack it happened with - also Cell 8 acts the same way -

i find that hard to believe its the packs now - Can the PL8 be the issue here ?

for me as long as it charges - i be fine - i can discharge with a load dump which i will do maybe later - i want to get down to the end to see how low i can go -

or i can try another PL 8 ? now i am going to be running low on PL 8s - between me and my friend i gave her one of mines

what do you think ?

[Burgerman]

Its neither.
It checks the cell voltages as a safety before charging or discharging and if it suspects that the cell count is wrong it gives an error.
It may be a slighly dirty plug or connector or it may have the cell gap between highest and lowest too large. It may just be one of those things. Spray all the connectors with switch cleaner on chair and pl8.

[expresso]

i can spray them - its discharging now - going fine -

strange same on both packs - i wonder if its the BT also - could it be cutting off or weak signal then cuts off ?

i went to use the load dump i had - to discharge it down - well that didnt go well either - the load dump took a dump - its broken somehow and not safe to use - so back to just PL 8 to discharge as much as i can till friday - then recharge and install

i am going to rewire the other pack anyway - but i though it was the wiring for some reason - it didnt do it before though - but since it did it here also on a new pack - i find it strange both giving the same code 17 after a few restarts - it works

i will spray the connectors without removing them -

any suggestions for another kind of load dump 24V simple not huge or expensive -

thanks

do you mean the charge connectors SB25 we use - or the battery connectors each one also ?

[Burgerman]

I mean spray all connectors that plug in/out.

As for discharging a battery practically anything can be used. I sometimes use a 24V DC to AC inverter. I keep it in case of power cuts. Its rated at 2kw.
And then plug in a 2KW heater. Its got a switch. So I can discharge (or heat) at 1KW or 2KW... And warm my room!

Remember that 1000w when driven by 25V (your lithium battery) is 40A discharge, plus the losses so say 45A. And 2kw means 90 full amps! continuously. That will test your batteries and wiring. And even the anderson connetors will be very hot. So best to stick to a 1kw load.

[expresso]

you know i do have a few power inverters - 2000 watt - chinesse of course so may not be true

they are 240V version - i would need an adapter first - then make a connector to connect to SB 50 and just connect a hair dryer - thats it - turn it on and let it run -? would be noisy for sure but simple enough

story is this - when they stopped the PL 8 - i searched a bit - found one for sale - i was shown a picture of it - to be sure its correct - i said yes - thats it - give me two -

when i received the package - seemed to small for 2 PL 8 - i opened it and found two red inverters instead -

i showed the seller - he agreed it was a mistake but never heard back -

call CC got my money back and kept the inverters - brand new - i would need an 240 to 120 adapter only to be fine ?

let me find them and i post a pic first - i dont want to discharge at 90A for sure - but 25A 40A ok if its 2000 Watt - if correct - what would the discharge rate be ?

[Burgerman]

What is the OUTPUT voltage on the inverters?
What is the INPUT voltage on these inverters.
How many Watts?

Do you have any 240V hair dryers, room heaters? If not and if they really are 240V inverters, then then you cant use them. Here in europe its simple. Everything is 240V. You could buy a 240v hairdryer or room heater.

240v room heater. 1 and 2kw switchable. £15... Work well.

[expresso]

i dont think they would work alone

i need a step down converter first in between to output 110 or 120V then i can plug in my 110v hair dryer or similar

https://www.amazon.com/Yinleader-VTF-10 ... d24d2&th=1

i have to check what i got later - i didnt bother - i put them away and never looked at them after but they have a different plug - pretty sure they are 240V or 220V - none of which i can use here with out a step down

actually if they are 2000 watt - that may be a problem here also - might over load the breaker - 15A - i have to see what they sent me - its been a while back - two nice shiny new inverters for free -

[Burgerman]

You can also use these 800 or 1000w truck heaters. At 24V. No need of inverter.

Cheap, small.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364030598865

[expresso]

i had one of those before years ago - not sure why i returned it -

all reviews say no good -

seems easy enough but not sure

https://www.amazon.com/Windshield-Defro ... r=8-4&th=1

wiring in the rear seems very thin to me -

[expresso]

https://windandsolar.com/600-watt-diver ... stor-bank/


https://www.amazon.com/Longzhuo-Resisto ... s9dHJ1ZQ==


would be easier if i can find just a adapter plug for the inverter - cheaper and not another item to sit around hardly used -

[Burgerman]

An adapter plug does not change the voltage. So you would need a 1kw thing to plug into it. That takes 240V.

[expresso]

dont they have ones that change the voltage also - ?

i have to search amazon - 240v to 110v adapter plug - let me see what that shows -


https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Intern ... 111&sr=8-5


https://www.amazon.com/International-Ad ... 111&sr=8-8

would these work ? i seen those small dischargers for lithium but they are 12V - i believe - https://www.amazon.com/MakerHawk-Electr ... uage=en_US

[Burgerman]

https://www.amazon.com/Converter-International-Transformer-Worldwide-Adapters/dp/B07RXKL6WL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=6536P6AOA2VK&keywords=240v+to+110v+converter+plug+adapter&qid=1674082600&sprefix=240v+to+110v+adapter+plug+%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-5

This would. But you are going from 25V to 240v. Then back to 120v then to a 1kw device to lose power. All a bit heath robinson.

[Burgerman]

https://www.amazon.com/MakerHawk-Electronic-Adjustable-Intelligent-Resistance/dp/B07F3NHHST/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=battery%2Bcapacity%2Btester&qid=1580929614&sr=8-8&linkCode=sl1&tag=vehicledwelling-20&linkId=563173858c9c38761b819e99dfa6add7&language=en_US&th=1

This is only 150w. The PL8 is already 100w discharge...
You need around 1000w discharge.

[expresso]

thats what i though - its useless for what i need

i like to discharge at about 25A at least give or take - or else it will take for ever also -

when i get a moment to check on the inverters i got - i post a pic - then take it from there

or else this will be fine -

https://windandsolar.com/600-watt-diver ... stor-bank/

which side would be the Pos - and Neg. would they be labled on this unit

[Burgerman]

Its just a resistor. Has no plus or minus.

The reason your old one broke is because they get super hot. And brittle. In any case they can burn the bench etc. I added a couple of old PC memory fans. So the thing doesent ge too hot. And it blows warm air, like a hairdryer.

[Burgerman]

It worked better after I removed the metal behind the fans. Stays cool enough to handle and never burn anything. Takes around 40A at 24V and 20A at 12 volts.

You would do well to do the same. Couple small computer fans.

[expresso]

i Had a much better fan outside running all the time inches from it -

those coils somehow just got bad weak and broke -

i may just get this one

https://windandsolar.com/600-watt-diver ... stor-bank/

25A discharge - its fine - with this model - either side i can connect the Pos wire ?

[Burgerman]

Yes. Its a resistor. A bit of wire that gets hot. It doesent know or care which way you connect it. Not cheap though. A desk fan is not effective in keeping it cool. Tried that first.

[shirley_hkg]

Cheap and no fan required, and not one failed in years.

12V/24V at our own discretion.

[Burgerman]

For 1000w, you need 20 of the 24v 50watt ones.

[expresso]

i already ordered the 600 watt dump load from a solar site - almost the same as i had but better - last night i just ordered

i left the Pl8 discharging it was going fine - last night at 4:40 am - i heard the beeps - i had my girl just shut the power off - and leave my laptop so i can see the error today

i looked and no error codes - so not sure what the beeps where and why it stopped - i restarted it again

BM is there some time limit on discharging - since its such a large pack - it takes for ever

i wonder if the connectors used are wearing out maybe ? i used the same as you did - 25pin sub d high quality 40A rated


then theres another thing - the PL8 i am using now - something must have went wrong at some point - the banana Pos one - is bent a little - must have gotten too hot and melted maybe because its stuck in there and i cant remove it - the neg is fine - the pos i cant -

if someone tries hard - maybe they can rip it out - but might also break it at the same time - so i left it alone - i can piggy back off those bananas

making me wonder if this PL8 is a bit iffy now - its charging fine - these error codes 17 showed up during discharging only so far

i may cut those bananas at the wire end - leaving them in the charger - if i have to change chargers -- since the cable there is a long one - i needed -

what do you think ?

[expresso]

Cheap and no fan required, and not one failed in years.

12V/24V at our own discretion.

thanks - i ordered a load dump last night already -

[Burgerman]

BM is there some time limit on discharging - since its such a large pack - it takes for ever

Yes. I think its set to 4 days...

i wonder if the connectors used are wearing out maybe ? i used the same as you did - 25pin sub d high quality 40A rated

Its possible. Also possible the lowest cell group reached the discharge limit chosen.

then theres another thing - the PL8 i am using now - something must have went wrong at some point - the banana Pos one - is bent a little - must have gotten too hot and melted maybe because its stuck in there and i cant remove it - the neg is fine - the pos i cant -

if someone tries hard - maybe they can rip it out - but might also break it at the same time - so i left it alone - i can piggy back off those bananas

making me wonder if this PL8 is a bit iffy now - its charging fine - these error codes 17 showed up during discharging only so far

i may cut those bananas at the wire end - leaving them in the charger - if i have to change chargers -- since the cable there is a long one - i needed -

what do you think ?

I think I would find out and fix it.

[Burgerman]

https://www.pp-rc.de/CHARGING-TECHNIC/A ... =2345V&p=6

Keep looking at these. But the devil is in the phone books worth of details and the PC software. No idea if its any good without buying one...

[expresso]

i will first change the cable later tonight -

i cant remove the bananas so will piggy back off them - - if that dosnt work

then change the charger - i will have to cut the bananas and leave them in there - add another set of bananas on the cut cable and reuse that one again - on another charger -

i find it odd that it happens on two different packs - never happened before - i was leaning on the first pack to rewire anyway - i will do - but then it happen on a new fresh pack - now i dont think its the packs at all -

either charge cables - or charger - or both - i want to try to use this charger as much as long as i can - if it charges fine after - but it does give me code 17 out of the blue - sometimes after 8 hours running fine - something after 20 mins - i reset and restart it

i am not near it now - so later i will swap out the charge cable - i really dont want to leave it over night now - if it gives me a error again - i dont want to be bothered at night -

i guess i am almost done with the PL 8 - i had to give one to my friend for her chair - and hope hers dont crap out either - i may have to start looking for another charger just to be ready -

[Burgerman]

i cant remove the bananas so will piggy back off them - - if that dosnt work

Then you will be keeping the bad connection that caused it to melt... You need to FIX the problem, not keep it!

[expresso]

yes i agree - but thats what i am afraid of also - if i open that thing up and try to replace that item i would need to solder it in place -

i am afraid i till brink it for real - then be out of a PL8 that still works - and it may be the charge cable also thats iffy - i will try a another charge cable first

i would try to fix it if it was my last resort and have no other choice - i would try then and have nothing to loose -

i may have to start working on getting an icharger and start to get that ready with cables made etc, in case - but i have a spare now - i had to give one to my friend for her to charge - - if any one of ours goes bad - then would need to do something fast

[expresso]

https://www.pp-rc.de/CHARGING-TECHNIC/ACCU-CHARGER/Profi-accucharger-Pulsar-3-.htm?shop=pp-rc_en&SessionId=&a=article&ProdNr=2345V&p=6

Keep looking at these. But the devil is in the phone books worth of details and the PC software. No idea if its any good without buying one...

what kind is that one - do they sell that here in the States ? i am thinking icharger is the next best option if needed - 308duo is all i would need

[Burgerman]

Its a super high build quality charger. Like the PL8 but proffesional build and more advanced. But it only has logging software. Not control software so you still have to manually set everything on the charger itself I think. And of course the devil is alwys in the details. Which I cant know withot buying and testing. As for available in the US? Its available everywhere else so no idea why not. But not cheap!

Can do more than 8S, is double the power of the PL8, huge balancing power and has a lot of advanced features. Its just the PC control part I would miss. I am talking to them now.

As for swapping that PL8 connector, or the balance connector, its simple to do. I already looked because I was going to fit a fly lead with an anderson or a XT60 or XT90 instead. Quite trivial to do all of those options.