Battery Meter!
05-01-2011, 08:48 PM
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Battery Meter!
I completed a little project tonight that I have wanted to do for some time but never had the requisite parts until today (thanks Mr. O!)
The need was a way to check/monitor airborne packs ( 2 A123 2S packs) with an on-board display. Most of the solutions available were ugly IMO....
Now I have a way to get it done. Push the red button (below the BVM fill valves) to test the left pack, push the black to test the right...with no buttons pushed the display is off and not consuming power. Nice...
Some pictures (note that I am powering the system with a Ni-Cad for these photos and I will post finish install pictures once it is installed):
The need was a way to check/monitor airborne packs ( 2 A123 2S packs) with an on-board display. Most of the solutions available were ugly IMO....
Now I have a way to get it done. Push the red button (below the BVM fill valves) to test the left pack, push the black to test the right...with no buttons pushed the display is off and not consuming power. Nice...
Some pictures (note that I am powering the system with a Ni-Cad for these photos and I will post finish install pictures once it is installed):
05-01-2011, 10:37 PM
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RE: Battery Meter!
Dave
I use A123 batteries for all my planes. As the batteries hold their voltage until almost exhausted I would have thought monitoring the voltage would not tell you much. It would be much more use to connect a cellpro charger and let it tell you what power is left.
John
I use A123 batteries for all my planes. As the batteries hold their voltage until almost exhausted I would have thought monitoring the voltage would not tell you much. It would be much more use to connect a cellpro charger and let it tell you what power is left.
John
05-02-2011, 07:53 AM
#4
RE: Battery Meter!
I don't know if Fromeco still make the Kodiak switch, but that shows you the cumalative Mah used during flights, more usefull I think, especially with A123's.
Mike
Mike
05-02-2011, 09:46 AM
#7
RE: Battery Meter!
I called em and asked. The dude said they wanted to "improve" the product, from which I inferred it wasn't working as designed.
Scroll down to the 2nd and 3rd fro last items on [link=http://www.hkm-models.com/Emcotec%20DPSI%20Systems.html]this page[/link] and you will see that Emcotec sells some neat, albeit expensive, battery monitors.
Scroll down to the 2nd and 3rd fro last items on [link=http://www.hkm-models.com/Emcotec%20DPSI%20Systems.html]this page[/link] and you will see that Emcotec sells some neat, albeit expensive, battery monitors.
05-02-2011, 09:47 AM
#8
RE: Battery Meter!
ORIGINAL: InboundLZ
I completed a little project tonight that I have wanted to do for some time but never had the requisite parts until today (thanks Mr. O!)
The need was a way to check/monitor airborne packs ( 2 A123 2S packs) with an on-board display. Most of the solutions available were ugly IMO....
Now I have a way to get it done. Push the red button (below the BVM fill valves) to test the left pack, push the black to test the right...with no buttons pushed the display is off and not consuming power. Nice...
Some pictures (note that I am powering the system with a Ni-Cad for these photos and I will post finish install pictures once it is installed):
I completed a little project tonight that I have wanted to do for some time but never had the requisite parts until today (thanks Mr. O!)
The need was a way to check/monitor airborne packs ( 2 A123 2S packs) with an on-board display. Most of the solutions available were ugly IMO....
Now I have a way to get it done. Push the red button (below the BVM fill valves) to test the left pack, push the black to test the right...with no buttons pushed the display is off and not consuming power. Nice...
Some pictures (note that I am powering the system with a Ni-Cad for these photos and I will post finish install pictures once it is installed):
05-02-2011, 12:00 PM
#10
RE: Battery Meter!
Neat design, but like others say, A123 discharge characteristics make reading voltage not very effective.
There is a new product out that is designed to work with A123 batteries. It measures consumed amperage of 2 batteries. Its called Intelliswitch. It looks like it has potential.
I don't have a turbine....yet, but I plan to try one of these switches in another plane. If it works I will use it in my "soon to be bought" turbine jet.
There is a new product out that is designed to work with A123 batteries. It measures consumed amperage of 2 batteries. Its called Intelliswitch. It looks like it has potential.
I don't have a turbine....yet, but I plan to try one of these switches in another plane. If it works I will use it in my "soon to be bought" turbine jet.
05-02-2011, 12:10 PM
#11
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RE: Battery Meter!
There is also this gizmo. Can't say if it is good or not:<div>
</div><div>http://www.electrodynam.com/rc/EDR-207/index.shtml</div>
</div><div>http://www.electrodynam.com/rc/EDR-207/index.shtml</div>
05-02-2011, 02:52 PM
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RE: Battery Meter!
Good lookin set up. What's the G401 for? I ask because I thought the 401 was a heading lock system.
05-02-2011, 03:01 PM
#13
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RE: Battery Meter!
As Far as I am concerned the ED meter is the best way to go with A123's. It breaks down each individual cell under load and lets you know A: if the pack is balanced, B: the voltage of each cell. E/D recommends no less then 3.30 per cell. They claim that at that voltage there is still 25% left. It will give you the voltage to the 100's column. Example: 3.35. Extremely accurate.
Really easy to do. You can monitor your cells after each flight in a matter of seconds. There are several guy's at our field using them and everyone of us swear by them. They will also balance the cells for you if you wish.
http://www.electrodynam.com/rc/EDR-207/index.shtml
Stan
Really easy to do. You can monitor your cells after each flight in a matter of seconds. There are several guy's at our field using them and everyone of us swear by them. They will also balance the cells for you if you wish.
http://www.electrodynam.com/rc/EDR-207/index.shtml
Stan
