No PL8 No Charging?

[saker98]

I currently have a 8 x 105ah cell pack and a to be built 8 x 230ah cell pack.

My PL8 does not work(it died!)

Is there a working alternative balance charger I can use with Shirley's new ZXD2400 TFT 3.2" charger or another way of charging them.

Thanking all in advance

James

[shirley_hkg]

https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/ ... 56#p210956

JK active balance (0.4A--2A) BMS, programmable and BT connectivity.


I can find decent PL8 (used).

[emilevirus]

Or Junsi iCharger works fine too.

[saker98]

https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12583&p=210956#p210956

JK active balance (0.4A--2A) BMS, programmable and BT connectivity.


I can find decent PL8 (used).

Hi Shirley,

I have a Victron 24v 12A with a Neutrik XLR connector.
Also Victron 12v 30A with a SB50 Anderson connector.

Plus a Victron Shunt.

I am looking for a long term charging system with Balancing.

Thank you
Saker98

[saker98]

Or Junsi iCharger works fine too.

Hi,

There seems to be a few Junsi iChargers with a heavy price tag.

Could you suggest one that might work?

regards
Saker98

[Burgerman]

Any that can do 8S or greater. The more power the better as you are charging a large battery.

[shirley_hkg]

ZXD2400 plus a programmable BMS are pretty good, or Victron charger in power supply mode will also do.

Less than £30.

We all have 220Ah packs here. I seldom use PL8 now.

[martin007]

ZXD2400 plus a programmable BMS are pretty good, or Victron charger in power supply mode will also do.

Less than £30.

We all have 220Ah packs here. I seldom use PL8 now.

Could you expand on this a little more?

He means PL8s hard to get.
And so he uses a GOOD BMS + the ZXD (or other olde lead type charger) externally together as a charger. The chair has the same 9 pin balance and 2 wire charge wires.

He just adds a BMS as well as a ZXD in order to balance cells. Not on the chair.

[saker98]

ZXD2400 plus a programmable BMS are pretty good, or Victron charger in power supply mode will also do.

Less than £30.

We all have 220Ah packs here. I seldom use PL8 now.

Thank you Shirley,

Please see PM

[Burgerman]

Something like this, 2A balance, BT 8S etc.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007 ... in_prod%3A

[saker98]

Any that can do 8S or greater. The more power the better as you are charging a large battery.

Does this https://www.rccarshop.co.uk/x8-icharger-x8-30a-charger-p?srsltid=AfmBOopbWPRdcwrzhZzYGdtxtjmBIyvZW6qn43UMj3GOioR4shJaTqsE have enough power?

James

[Burgerman]

Look at it like this.
230Ah battery. Actually those are 244...

So if its fully discharged (it shouldnt be! ) and you charged it with that charger at say 25A. Then it would take about 10 hours. Chances are that it will be about 2/3rds discharged, so about 6 or 7 hours. Plus balance time. Again that shouldnt take long after initial build and balance.

[emilevirus]

Does this https://www.rccarshop.co.uk/x8-icharger ... R4shJaTqsE have enough power?

James

That's what I use. Works fine. Just don't charge at max. Charge at 25A. Leave some headroom.

[saker98]

Does this https://www.rccarshop.co.uk/x8-icharger ... R4shJaTqsE have enough power?

James

That's what I use. Works fine. Just don't charge at max. Charge at 25A. Leave some headroom.

Hi, what is the connection cable between the charger and battery pack Sub D lead (9 balance and 2 power) lead.

I have the battery to Sub D (9 balance and 2 power) lead

I need a cable Sub D lead (9 balance and 2 power) to charger port?

James

[Burgerman]

Yes. Use 12awg silicone for the charge wires.

[saker98]

Yes. Use 12awg silicone for the charge wires.

I am going to go the ICharger x8 route with Shirley's ZXD2400 3.2" TFT and the above cables.(John's Photos)

This way it will hopefully alleviate any further pit falls or mistakes.

Thank you John, and everyone else for their advice and wisdom

Regards
Saker98

[ex-Gooserider]

One minor suggestion for more flexibility...

I forget the exact JST "families" but the PL8 uses a different family for the balance connector than the one used on most other chargers, and it is one that is mostly not available pre-wired, and is a somewhat difficult one to home build... IMHO the PL8 connector is somewhat less robust than the more common one, and obviously would be harder to repair since you'd have to take the charger apart to do it.

Given that PL8's are probably going to be harder and harder to get (Despite Shirley's best efforts) I would suggest that people consider making any new cables with the more common JST connector (which are readily available pre-wired) and make an adapter cable to connect that to the PL-8.... It would reduce the number of connect cycles that the PL8 connector would need to handle, and move any failures to the more easily repaired standard connector.

Yes, this will cause some increase in resistance, but it seems to be a common practice for many of the hobby chargers to have an 'adapter board' to fit between the charger and different voltage (and number of balance wires) packs, so presumably not a big concern, as each balance wire would presumably be seeing the same resistance increase, so no net change.

ex-Gooserider

[Dan]

Something like this, 2A balance, BT 8S etc.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007 ... in_prod%3A

In the wiring diagram for that BMS the charger is the power supply but what is the controller?

[Burgerman]

Beats me!

[shirley_hkg]

but what is the controller?

It means the LOAD.

[snaker]

Something like this, 2A balance, BT 8S etc.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007 ... in_prod%3A

In the wiring diagram for that BMS the charger is the power supply but what is the controller?

The "controller" means "consumer" or load.