Hyperion EOS 1420i NET3 14s Balance Charger...

[hillzofvalp]

I don't need to, do I? You are effectively recouping energy that you would otherwise lose as heat. Isn't that the only benefit? You get to keep your room cool and save $.02 per discharge. ...at one discharge every day for a year.. You have now saved $7/year plus any gain from not running AC.

[kfong]

That makes no sense, this is what I'm doing with the iCharger. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12654&start=150

I don't need to, do I? You are effectively recouping energy that you would otherwise lose as heat. Isn't that the only benefit? You get to keep your room cool and save $.02 per discharge. ...at one discharge every day for a year.. You have now saved $7/year plus any gain from not running AC.

[hillzofvalp]

So it essentially lets you discharge closer to the 200W charge rating of the charger? aka 130W is what you were seeing after regen losses (instead of 30W)? That's actually extremely useful. Let me dig through the hyperion manual for that one..

update: NO. Unfortunately not. But I just posted on a 275 page thread re: Hyperion chargers/support on regroups.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... e&page=245

[kfong]

Yeah, not only are you able to crank up the load current, but you aren't wasting as much energy to cycle them. The main benifit is it's all automated. I have 12 packs to characterize with 3 charge and discharge cycles. This takes a lot of time to do. I need to be certain the packs are all close to the same amp hrs before they get sealed into the frame. Not needing to leave a 700w power supply on all day with it's loud fan is really nice as well.

So it essentially lets you discharge closer to the 200W charge rating of the charger? aka 130W is what you were seeing after regen losses (instead of 30W)? That's actually extremely useful. Let me dig through the hyperion manual for that one..

update: NO. Unfortunately not. But I just posted on a 275 page thread re: Hyperion chargers/support on regroups.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... e&page=245

[hillzofvalp]

I might note that the charger that just shipped to me has firmware 5.4, which is not offered on the hyperion firmware update web page. The highest downloadable firmware appears to 5.1.

From the looks of it, it just added ability to set the psu Low voltage shutdown.

When linking the chargers, does the pack need to be split? Does each charger need its own power supply to avoid short circuit?

[mr.electric]

I just updated the firmware and LC software from my 1420i. I hope the interface is faster and more stable now.

[hillzofvalp]

Which versions?

[hillzofvalp]

I see you meant 5.5. Didn't realize hyperion updated them.. coincidently.

I have both my 1420is on the same Power supply.. one is reading 19.4V Input.. the other is reading 19.5V. .1V difference?!?! then what's the point of network balancing with two of these things?!

[fechter]

When linking the chargers, does the pack need to be split? Does each charger need its own power supply to avoid short circuit?

Yes, as far as I know they are not isolated, so not only does each one need a separate supply, the supply outputs need to be isolated if you want to charge the whole pack at once. If you opened a connection mid-pack, then you might be able to do both halves at the same time with one supply, but don't forget to unplug the chargers before reconnecting the pack.

[hillzofvalp]

Wait. You're hinting at being able to charge the whole 20S pack at once with no break... I don't think you meant that, but would be GREAT.

I don't want to disconnect pack from controller all the time. I was going to have it all enclosed in my triangle enclosure (15 bolts each side!). I was going to just rely on the sense line to turn the bike on.. and fuses.

I was misled in thinking I could charge the whole pack without breaking it.. otherwise I would've just bought a bms. Still good chargers to have around, and if I can get it to charge without breaking the pack.. that would be ideal.

[El_Steak]

You can charge the whole pack in series without disconnecting anything, not even the controller (use separate leads for the chargers). However you need a separate isolated powersupply for each charger (meanwells work fine) and you can't use the "network balancing feature" (you have to press start charge on both charger). As long as both chargers are configured identically, you should get all your cells balanced to within 0.01V. I've been doing it for a year and it works perfectly on a 24s3p pack.

[hillzofvalp]

Cool. So what's special about the net mode? How is it different from hitting charge start on both chargers with a split pack? Just automation? Do they become more balanced than .01V?

[El_Steak]

Cool. So what's special about the net mode? How is it different from hitting charge start on both chargers with a split pack? Just automation? Do they become more balanced than .01V?

With my unlinked chargers, sometimes all the cells on charger #1 will balance to 4.16 while all the cells on charger #2 will balance to 4.15. If they were linked I guess they'd all end up at 4.15. In real world, that difference is not significant at all. With the right harness, its a really easy dumb-proof system, its really fast (up to 1100W) and safer that bulk charging. Only downside is its pretty expensive as you need 2 chargers (>350$) + 2 power supplies (100$). You also need the harness if you don't want to be fiddling with connections. Goodrum sells one, I made mine with DB25 connectors (AussieJester did the same).

[itchynackers]

I haven't been able to figure out when it is simply charging, or balance charging. The "manual" is piss-poor, and not even for the 1420i series. Is it balance charging simply when I connect the balance wires to the charger and begin "solo charge"?

[kfong]

The software knows when you have balance connectors connected so it will go into balance mode.

I haven't been able to figure out when it is simply charging, or balance charging. The "manual" is piss-poor, and not even for the 1420i series. Is it balance charging simply when I connect the balance wires to the charger and begin "solo charge"?

[itchynackers]

Great! It seems not to balance if the cells are within .005V of each other. My charger says "Balance Complete" at one of the screens, even when balance charging. So far, I like the charger. It is a bit more complex than my old faithful accucel 8150 chargers, but much quicker charge times!

[mr.electric]

It would be cool if two networked chargers output a single graph showing 28 cells when connected to a pc.

[hillzofvalp]

I actually think that might be possible. When u link the chargers in the software, it comes up as a single charger. If it didn't graph them all at the same place, I would be disappointed

[mr.electric]

The cycle function seems like it would be great for picking out bad cells. Just refer to the graph and find the weak ones.

[mr.electric]

This may have been covered in this thread but I'll ask anyways. Can you charge a pack with a cell log plugged in. Using a balance lead splitter could I just leave a cell log plugged into the pack and use a splitter to bring another balance lead to the hyperion charger? Would the charger shut down or malfunction due to the cell log being connected?

[fechter]

I don't see any reason you can't leave the CellLog on while charging. I don't think the current it draws will be enough to mess with the charger. You could also possibly tie in the alarm on the CellLog to kill the charger if a cell goes over.

Don't try connecting more than one USB balance charger at a time in a series connected pack. I don't think the USB plug is isolated. (big spark, fried computer) I've seen USB isolated cables at work that could solve that problem. They have some kind of isolation built into one of the connectors.

[El_Steak]

I've charged using the 1420i with a cell log plugged into a parallel balance lead. No problem.

[hillzofvalp]

You can charge the whole pack in series without disconnecting anything, not even the controller (use separate leads for the chargers). However you need a separate isolated powersupply for each charger (meanwells work fine) and you can't use the "network balancing feature" (you have to press start charge on both charger). As long as both chargers are configured identically, you should get all your cells balanced to within 0.01V. I've been doing it for a year and it works perfectly on a 24s3p pack.

It would simplify my setup greatly if I was able to tap into three places of my pack instead of disconnecting it. I have isolated supplies. In this setup, one lead would be shared between chargers: the middle break between 20S. Is there a short circuit doing this? I do not see how there could be. The balance connectors also share the same thing.

[El_Steak]

It would simplify my setup greatly if I was able to tap into three places of my pack instead of disconnecting it. I have isolated supplies. In this setup, one lead would be shared between chargers: the middle break between 20S. Is there a short circuit doing this? I do not see how there could be. The balance connectors also share the same thing.

If I read this correctly, its the same way as mine so no short.

Your pack stays in 20s at all time and can remain connected to the controller at all time.
You have 2 x 1420i chargers, each connected to its own separate power supply

You have 5 connection points coming out of your pack:

1- Main discharger lead that covers all 20 cells (74V) - connected to the controller
2- Charge Lead for the first half of the pack (cells 1 to 10 - reads 37V nominal ) - connected to (+) (-) of charger 1
3- Balance leads for the first half of the pack (cells 1 to 10) - connected to balance port of charger 1
4- Charge Lead for the second half of the pack (cells 11 to 20 - reads 37V nominal ) - connected to (+) (-) of charger 2
5- Balance leads for the second half of the pack (cells 11 to 20) - connected to balance port of charger 2

As I and others did, you can also reduce the number of connections by combining the charge leads and balance leads for each half of the pack in a bigger connector (DB25 or the ones from Gary). Then you end up with only one connector for each charger and the main discharge connector for the controller.

[hillzofvalp]

Sorry for not getting to the real question. What you have described is what I have done already.. I have no problem doing this. My question is can I leave the mid-pack connected... In other words only 3 main charge leads are going to chargersinstead of 4 ---AND (key point) still use the network cable?

I figure yes, cause its probably just data transfer... But there are two swapped red and black pins.. Not sure what's going on there.


Note to those who want to use a pre-wired db25 serial cable: don't be an idiotsnd wire the bare ground wie thats secretly grounded to the metal profile of the connector,,,, or u will end up with a nice white streak on your hand and a heightened heart rate