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

[shirley_hkg]

The longest path amongst the 9 balance leads is estimated 6 feet .

Would it be problematic ?

[expresso]

The longest path amongst the 9 balance leads is estimated 6 feet .

Would it be problematic ?

dont think its a problem - do you mean 6 feet for the battery to the chair wire - then another 3 feet from the PL 8 to plug it in - ? that would be 9 feet total

my charge cable on my chair is 3 feet - PL 8 side is 3 feet also - so its really 6 feet total - works fine -

[shirley_hkg]

TOTAL : 6 feet .

[Burgerman]

Its not length, but resistance. Decent cable at 1 meter or 2 meter both ways, as they supply, not a problem. Just slows balance a little.

[expresso]

TOTAL : 6 feet .

Shirley i want to correct myself - i said mines is 3 feet on the PL 8 and 3 feet on my Chair - i was wrong - its not 6 feet total mines - i remember i cut the 36 inch cable to make two cables out of it - the banana power cables that i got from them are 1.5 feet - i didnt add to it - and used it as it arrive - cut the 36 inch cable into two -

charge cable from the PL is about 1.5 feet - - chair is the same - i have about 3 feet total - i spoke to them about a 12inch extension cable they sell - i want to extend mines just a bit if i can -

i was told that the PL 8 would give out errors or should - if going beyond 3 feet etc, - we know with BM's Preset - thats not the case and it dosnt give errors - i didnt want to get into details with the guy - - hes just assuming i use the PL 8 with there own presets -

[Burgerman]

The cables I use are 36 inches/1 meter long. And another half a meter on the chair. And in the past I used a 36 extension too. So 2 meters. Worked fine every time. It can overshoot voltage slightly for a couple of secs, or balance a little slower thats all.

Regardless of cable length:

1. Dont set balance to begin at 3.300V, or 3.400V. It causes out of balance issues if you charge at a high rate, so set that to start at 3.500V.

2. And for a stored, or a new pack, or out of balance pack, set termination to 1000thC just for 1 charge and then back to 320th to 500thC afterwards. And charge to 3.550V instead of 3.600v. And charge rate quite low.

[expresso]

The cables I use are 36 inches/1 meter long. And another half a meter on the chair. And in the past I used a 36 extension too. So 2 meters. Worked fine every time. It can overshoot voltage slightly for a couple of secs, or balance a little slower thats all.

Regardless of cable length:

1. Dont set balance to begin at 3.300V, or 3.400V. It causes out of balance issues if you charge at a high rate, so set that to start at 3.500V.

2. And for a stored, or a new pack, or out of balance pack, set termination to 1000thC just for 1 charge and then back to 320th to 500thC afterwards. And charge to 3.550V instead of 3.600v. And charge rate quite low.

I am using your Presets - work fine - i didnt change any of your settings - if you get a moment - maybe you can double check the presets you sent me which i am using - if you feel there needs to be some changes made etc,

now i charge slow at 15A - no rush - and just using the lead combo chair - not charging each day - not using it much - at least every two weeks -

this was todays charge - been a few weeks - i used the chair today for a short ride - feeling better and it wasnt too cold today

[Burgerman]

It is here, the world all turned white.

[expresso]

It is here, the world all turned white.

what happened now ? what did i do wrong this time ?

[Burgerman]

Nothing. The world is covered with a layer of white global warming and I don't like it.

[expresso]

Nothing. The world is covered with a layer of white global warming and I don't like it.

Oh ok - got it - snow - haha - making the short extensions i will use on the cables today - will get the 12 inch extension for the balance cable tomorrow - and hopefully the steel plate next week -

then call the tech and do it- and install tires !!! finally i hope

[shirley_hkg]

Finally , the first charge lead is made . It was very much time consuming than expected .

[steves1977uk]

Why didn't you use the safe banana plugs you can buy on ebay... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291550725763? ... EBIDX%3AIT as these would be better.

Steve

[Burgerman]

Maybe he likes sparks and smoke and extra excitement!

[steves1977uk]

Haha, an indoor firework display!

Steve

[Burgerman]

It was very much time consuming than expected .

You get lots faster! And neater. I did 4 now. Can do one in about 1 hour. Preparation is key! Or it takes all day and is frustrating.

[expresso]

Finally , the first charge lead is made . It was very much time consuming than expected .

Looks nice and you got nice 10 AWG wire also - i just did another one finally as a spare just in case - its consuming thats for sure - 4 hours for me - i double check everything and slow to make sure - mines came out a bit shorter than expected - i must have extended the power wires on the first once i made to match the 36 inch balance cable -

this one i cut the balance cable to match the length of the power wires with the bananas -- which results in the cable being only 2 foot long -

[expresso]

BM or Any one who done this cable - would you know what size Heat shrink works best to get it over all the cables with the fuses - etc.

turns out the only kind i have that fits over everything is too large - thick heavy walled with glue inside - the others i have are too small - -

what size do you use BM ? 1/2 inch ? 2 :1 ratio ?

[Burgerman]

I am in the civilized world. We gave up on old analog inches when I was about 14. I am 56 now! I bought a huge bag of pre glued heat-shrink in every size on eBay.

[expresso]

I am in the civilized world. We gave up on old analog inches when I was about 14. I am 56 now! I bought a huge bag of pre glued heat-shrink in every size on eBay.

yeah the problem is i always end up with a TON of the little sizes that i never use and hardly nothing of what i do need - a huge mixed bag ends up in the garbage mostly -

[Burgerman]

The difference is that I use all the sizes on hobby stuff. Ebay it! 1$ a small bag...

You need self amalgamating tape too.

[expresso]

https://www.amazon.com/X-Treme-Tape-TPE ... ating+tape

something like this - and you use this to wrap it around the wiring first making it tight before adding the sleeve loom over it with the heat shrink in place

$1 ? haha - nothing is $1 here - not even a pack of gum any more - thats $1.50

checking ebay - for the heat shrink -

[Burgerman]

Well mine is black... And not silicone. Its rubber and all fuses into one bit. Only way to remove after a few mins is a knife. Stays flexy, adds strength, waterproofs, and means heat shrink can be used on top if you want. I use it on the ends of the nylon sleeving for eg.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Self-Ama ... B000KH9UHM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPOYCDH8wE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-vtvUC4RoQ

[expresso]

Ok thats good i can find that -

its the heatshrink - i think i need one that is 1 1/2 size but not dual walled - normal wall and 3:1 ratio - this way - i can easily slide it over everything and shrink tight enough - but when dry not hard like the dual wall kind which is what i have

i find it much easier to use normal kind with glue - hard to find the sizes i need - again i find kits with a ton of nothing i need -

[expresso]

https://smile.amazon.com/F4-Tape-Self-F ... AGPGEWMKZX

[Burgerman]

I never looked at silicone or triangular... I suspect its for plumbing work! It wont self fuse the same.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape several types. I use rubber. Silicone is fragile and cuts easy.

[expresso]

I never looked at silicone or triangular... I suspect its for plumbing work! It wont self fuse the same.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape several types. I use rubber. Silicone is fragile and cuts easy.

if i can find the rubber kind here - i get it - or else i find tons of the silicone kind and if its good enough the military - i cant imgaine it not being good enough for a charge cable - which i havnt used any in the 3 cables i made -

but i remember this now - i did want to use something to wrap it around tight a bit - so i can slide the loom over it - etc, - just to make it easier to make - if i cant find rubber - silicone should be more than fine for this purpose -

i plan on making another one - full 36 inch long - and then have to make the female end for the ADD ON - and maybe make another Male end to see if i can use the cell monitor - if it works - just curious - not stressing it too much - my system works fine without it -

[Burgerman]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/self-amalgama ... lack-kw29g

Basically slightly tacky non cured rubber. Cures and turns to one thick layer later on. Tougher than silicone and thinner.

10 meters. Or 12 yards.

[expresso]

you use this tape along the whole cable or just on the end near the connecter part

[Burgerman]

I use it wherever its useful. Not whole length...