S646se - Full LITHIUM Pack Project - First Attempt

[Burgerman]

I would love to see if the PL8 survived , and then getting one.

They are electrically much more robust than hyperion. They are more protected against error for eg. Inc connecting battery while not powered up. My 2 are now 16 months old and used daily. Often many times. The software and firmware is not as good as hyperion though. Its a bit too safety orientated and has too many restricted options. That said its still the best charger there is. And presets are a pain. But you soon learn how! Singapore is quite cheap, esp considering what they can do and 1340 watts! You can put back 22 miles in 1.5 hours. So get a spare they are only hobby chargers after all.

[Scollard]

My Hyperion 1420i Net3 is still working after many years.

[Burgerman]

4 of mine are...

[expresso]

i like the Pl 8 alot now - i am impressed with the speed - if you want or need the speed - you know you have it -

have to get used to it at 35A - not used to hearing the fans kicking in on both PSU and Pl 8 - everyone was stepping back - scared to get near it - haha

its great if you have one chair - summer time - and you dont want to wait to charge - i most likely wont always charge that fast - will make two presets like BM suggested

one slower and one fast -

i think i will hide the rest maybe - keep only the two i will use for each chair -

if you factor in you paying to buy a BMS - then a dumb charger - - which yes they last years easily - but knowing and seeing how its working etc, - you cant go back to a dumb charger after this and if using lithium - the cost isnt much difference - unless you get charger and BMS for $100 - then thats about half the cost of the Pl 8 little less - but you save your Cells in the process - which cost alot more than the cost of a PL 8 - i rather buy new chargers instead of new Cells -

unless you have no other choice for what ever reason - then its better then nothing -

[steves1977uk]

I have 4 presets...

Slow which charges at 7.5A
Normal which charges at 15A
Fast which charges at 25A
Very Fast which charges at 40A

All these terminate when current reaches 75mA.

I usually use the Normal preset and occasionly the Fast one.

Steve

[Burgerman]

75mA is ok but no real need to go that far.

Dont try 75 on yours expresso, your pack is much bigger!

[expresso]

yeah i will do that also -

slow - normal and fast -

next time plug it in - will fix the two presets i use - one for each chair - and hide the rest - so i dont see them at least -

[expresso]

75mA is ok but no real need to go that far.

Dont try 75 on yours expresso, your pack is much bigger!

i am not going to touch anything on the presets - just change the charge rate of each - and save - i will double check what the full pack is set too - 250 or 200ma

i will do that next time i plug it in - and hide the rest - how do you hide them - and get them back after ?

i want to hide all of them except the ones i will use for each chair -

[Burgerman]

how do you hide them - and get them back after ?

On screen, next to the preset on left is a small drop down box. Pick hide.

Once you have the presets set exactly as you want, thenh you can lock them too. On the GENERAL tab. Then you cant change settings by mistake.

[expresso]

ok thanks - will have to make the changes - adjust the presets - save them - hide the rest - lock it -

next time i go use it to charge - maybe tomorrow since i have to go exchange my Modem now - another fun day there and then to get all the wireless going again - my TV - printer - computer - fun fun fun - cant wait

[Burgerman]

How is this going?

[expresso]

i think its going well - i havnt used the chair since the first few rides i took with it -

first ride was about 10 miles - then i did about 22 miles next ride - then weather got cold and rainy - i have it sitting now
havnt used it since

i charged both times - but i used it for 3 miles before leaving it alone - feels great so far - i have reprogrammed it with the file steve did for me -

i made a few adjustments - speed etc, - turning - but i havnt used it yet after - cant say i wont have to go back in and adjust a little more

the engineer from PG - told me - since i have the dealer dongle - but also the OEM software - cant get a OEM dongle -

he told me for sure - that the file opened with the OEM software and adjusted etc, - will be able to write it to the chair - i just cant view it - change anything etc,

the only way i would know - is how the chair feels - - i cant confirm it other than using the chair -

so i left the motor comp at 40 that steve did - - normally its at 30 felt fine there - - and see if i notice anything - the problem is i wont notice it even if it works - it should start to warm up - will use it again - that 22 mile ride is a long one - amazing still half left in there

[Burgerman]

You should fit the addon, and do a test. Take the PL8 and a phone. Call a freind to bring a car you can recharge the batteries from. And set the GPS. Then just go at 7AM as far away as you can go.

Should use about 2.1Ah per mile as before. And you have 141Ah... So about 67 miles.
At that point save the journey on your phone and call a car! That would be a record.

[terry2]

@expresso
Once you've finished building yours, it's time to come to England and build mine

[Burgerman]

Hes done, buy him a ticket hes the US lithium powerchair expert now.

[terry2]

Hes done, buy him a ticket hes the US lithium powerchair expert now.

Now I know I can keep my controller I've sent shops emails asking if they will build one for me. No reply as yet!
My chair just about takes 2XMK gels with no room left to play with.

[Burgerman]

Shop???
I see trouble ahead...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1813

FIRST OF ALL READ THIS:
WHY A READY TO GO LEAD BRICK REPLACEMENT IS A BAD IDEA

[terry2]

Shop???
I see trouble ahead...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1813

FIRST OF ALL READ THIS:
WHY A READY TO GO LEAD BRICK REPLACEMENT IS A BAD IDEA

Like this one http://www.eclipsebikes.com/headway-lif ... -1012.html they have said no to me in the past.

[Burgerman]

What are you actually asking them?

They will build a too small pack, and add a BMS and a dumb charger. You will gain little in range or service life and it will cost almost the same...

[steves1977uk]

Terry, there's little point in asking a shop to do it for you. They won't understand half of it, and even if they did I can assure you it'd still be wrong! They'd probably fit a BMS which is a big NO NO as these ruin cells. Unless you're prepared to learn how to build a Lithium pack, and have someone to instruct in building it, then you're better off staying with Lead which is plug and play.

Steve

[terry2]

What are you actually asking them?

They will build a too small pack, and add a BMS and a dumb charger. You will gain little in range or service life and it will cost almost the same...

No. I asked if they could make a 72 cell pack like the one here. They said no. No harm in asking.

[Burgerman]

Did they say why?

[terry2]

Did they say why?

Nope. I just got a "sorry mate, no"
I know the batteries was going to cost me a £1,000 so I thought they would do it as I'd pay the extra.
Maybe it would take them to long?

[Burgerman]

Well, DIY!

[steves1977uk]

What are you actually asking them?

They will build a too small pack, and add a BMS and a dumb charger. You will gain little in range or service life and it will cost almost the same...

No. I asked if they could make a 72 cell pack like the one here. They said no. No harm in asking.

Don't see them ever doing it, because they don't want to be held liable if something goes wrong. Your powerchair supplier would have a fit if they knew you were swapping to Lithium. The thing is you have to DIY and take own responsibility if anything goes wrong, which is hardly likely if you understand it all. Not trying to be harsh, but you do have to learn how to do this.

Steve

[terry2]

What are you actually asking them?

They will build a too small pack, and add a BMS and a dumb charger. You will gain little in range or service life and it will cost almost the same...

No. I asked if they could make a 72 cell pack like the one here. They said no. No harm in asking.

Don't see them ever doing it, because they don't want to be held liable if something goes wrong. Your powerchair supplier would have a fit if they knew you were swapping to Lithium. The thing is you have to DIY and take own responsibility if anything goes wrong, which is hardly likely if you understand it all. Not trying to be harsh, but you do have to learn how to do this.

Steve

O don't have a supplier. I paid cash for mine as I've no choice. Going to a place in a few weeks that race little cars and fly quads.
I will find someone....I'm on a mission from God

[steves1977uk]

I'd offer to do it for around £1700, but I would need help to put it all together. I've made sure all cells were properly balanced and set up the PL8 for you.

Steve

[Burgerman]

You still need to understand it, the cells, the wiring, the charging etc to maintain and stay problem free.

But once you go lithium done PROPERLY theres no going back to lead. That permenant worry about "will I have enough battery to get back", that actually prevents you using much of the crappy range lead gives anyway, is gone. Theres always enough.

So you quite naturally tend to venture further, for longer and go out later in an evening into town worry free. Even if you forgot to charge the night before. If you are the type that gets out and about its massively life changing.

And again done properly, with a 40A PL8 charger you can shove a massive 35 miles back into it, in just 2 hours!
It takes 10 to 16 hours to do that with lead, even then you will only get 15 miles to dead.

And remember that after 6 months the lead will give much less. After a year in heavy use its due for replacement. Instead of 10+

[terry2]

I'd offer to do it for around £1700, but I would need help to put it all together. I've made sure all cells were properly balanced and set up the PL8 for you.

Steve

Thank you. I will keep you in mind if I don't find anyone else.
How's Norfolk these days? My granddad was born and bred there. He lived in sandringham. I loved the place.

[Burgerman]

https://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/hou ... d-gardens/

Nice!