Alternative firmware for various LiPo chargers. Supported Hardware
Note: Not fully implemented yet. Only use if needed.
Feedback is welcome: cheali-charger Google Group
- Li-ion, LiPo, LiHV, LiFe:
- Charging (terminates at 10% of Ic, adjustable)
- Fast charging (terminates at 20% of Ic)
- Charging + balancing
- Discharging
- Balancing
- Storage
- Storage + balancing
- NiCd and NiMH:
- Charging (-dV/dT method)
- Discharging
- Cycling
- NiZn:
- Charging
- Fast charging
- Charging + balancing
- Discharging
- Balancing
- Pb (not well tested):
- Charging
- Discharging
- Other:
- Internal resistance display
- Single cell resistance
- Whole battery resistance
- Battery leads resistance
- Internal/external temperature monitoring
- Overcharge/discharge monitoring
- Input voltage monitoring
- Memory for 30 batteries
- LogView support
- Internal resistance display
- Calibrate charger before use.
- Use an external temperature probe (if you like your house ;) )
- ALWAYS Connect power supply first, then battery.
- ALWAYS Disconnect battery before disconnecting power supply.
WARNING: You can get two chargers with the same name but different CPUs even if you buy from the same seller.
Only chargers with a ATmega32 or M0517LBN CPU are supported.
ATmega32 CPU:
- G.T. POWER A6-10 200W
- IMAX B6 Charger/Discharger 1-6 Cells
- AC/DC Dual Power B6AC 80W RC Balance Charger/Discharger
- Turnigy A-6-10 200W Balance charger & discharger
- Turnigy Accucel-6 50W 5A Balancer/Charger w/ Accessories
- Turnigy Accucel-8 150W 7A Balancer/Charger
- Turnigy MEGA 400Wx2 Battery Charger/Discharger (800W)
- Thunder T610 Balance Charger/Discharger
- Redox Beta 50W 5A charger (at least later model with yellow soldermask)
- ... many more
Nuvoton NuMicro M0517LBN CPU:
- IMAX B6 Charger/Discharger 1-6 Cells
Unsupported due to old or uncommon CPU See #106
- Turnigy Accucel-6 80W Balancer/Charger
- IMAX B6 Mini 1-6 60W Balancer/Charger
- IMAX B6 V2 Balancer/Charger
- ... others, do your research or ask on the forum
- Flash your charger and reset to default settings ("options" -> "reset default").
- Then calibrate it, now your charger is ready to use.
- Select a battery slot (1., 2., ...)
- Go to "Edit Battery":
- Change battery type "Bat:"
- Set battery voltage (number of cells) "V:"
- Set battery capacity "Ch:"
- Set charge current "Ic:"
- Set discharge current "Id:"
- Set time limit "Tlim:" (can be unlimited)
- Press "create name"
- Select battery.
- Choose program: "Charge", "Discharge", etc.
- You should see an "Info" screen. (If you hear beeps, check your battery connections)
- Hold "Start" for 2s to begin.
- Use "inc"/"dec" to navigate screens.
- Press "Stop" to exit.
- Information about settings
- Charging NiMH and NiCd batteries
Important: Do NOT connect a fully charged LiPo battery to both the main leads and the balance port. If you don't have a battery with a balance connector, use a regular one (~4V). Connect it to the main leads and the first two pins of the balance port pins (pin "0" to Bat-, pin "1" to Bat+).
Steps:
-
Voltage Calibration:
- Go to: "options" -> "calibrate" -> "voltage".
- Measure the voltage on all cells and the power supply voltage (Vin) using a voltmeter.
- Set the voltage for Vin, Vb1, Vb2, ..., Vb6.
- Only Vb1 is mandatory. The battery main leads and balance port must be connected.
- Change at least one value (this will copy V1-6 voltage to Vbat).
-
Charge Current Calibration:
- Connect your ammeter in series with the battery, using the 10A(20A) input.
- Disconnect the balance port.
- Go to: "I charge".
- For "50mA" (or "100mA" on some versions):
- Press the "start" button (current flow should be visible on the ammeter).
- Use the "Inc" and "Dec" buttons until the ammeter shows 50mA (or 100mA on some versions).
- Press the "start" button to save the setting.
- For "1000mA":
- Press the "start" button.
- Use the "Inc" and "Dec" buttons until the ammeter shows 1000mA.
- Press the "start" button to save the setting.
- WARNING: The battery will be charged with high current!
- For "50mA" (or "100mA" on some versions):
-
Discharge Current Calibration:
- Go to: "I discharge".
- Repeat the same steps as in the charge current calibration.
- WARNING: The battery will be discharged with high current!
-
Temperature Probe Calibration (if needed):
- Go to: "temp extern" (or "temp intern").
- Set two calibration points.
Done.
If you encounter any problems with calibration, go to "options" -> "reset default" and try again.
-
After flashing, I see "options" and some strange characters (e.g., squares) on the second line. What should I do?
- Reset the charger to default settings: Go to "options" -> "reset default" and press the "start" button.
-
I get "calib. error". See this guide.
-
Occasionally, when the power is turned on, an "eeprom error: 2 yes" (or any other number) pops up. See issue #291.
-
After flashing, the charger doesn't work (display shows squares):
- Download the *.hex file again using the "RAW" button on GitHub.
- Check the SHA-1 sum of the file and compare it with the *.sha1:
- Linux:
$ sha1sum cheali-charger*.hex
- Windows: Install Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier
- In cmd.exe:
fciv.exe -sha1 -add cheali-charger-*.hex
- In cmd.exe:
- Linux:
-
[Atmega32 CPU] If the SHA-1 sum is correct and the charger still doesn't work (display shows squares):
- Reset Atmega32 fuses using avrdude:
- Windows:
avrdude.exe -patmega32 -cusbasp -Uhfuse:w:0xc5:m -Ulfuse:w:0x3f:m
- Linux:
avrdude -patmega32 -cusbasp -Uhfuse:w:0xc5:m -Ulfuse:w:0x3f:m
- Windows:
- Reset Atmega32 fuses using avrdude:
- Flashing
- Calibration - Expert (IMAX B6)
- Building from Source
- Troubleshooting
- User Guides and Documentation
- Iggnus fork, branch: v0.99, v0.33+
- sasam M0517 flash tools
- Cheali Charger v1.00 Manual / User Guide (draft 002) by PascalRZ
- Cheali Charger V0.33m - User Guide: English, Hungarian
- balancer modification, Hungarian: pdf, website
- Gyuiri's schematics: turnigy 2X400, turnigy 2x200, turnigy 8150
- Imax B6 Schematic from: rcgroups
- Panasonic ni-mh-handbook-2014, Duracell Ni-MH_Rechargeable_Batteries_2007
- batteryuniversity.com
- Atmel AVR463: Charging Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries with ATAVRBC100
- Atmel AVR121: Enhancing ADC resolution by oversampling
- Programming of different charge methods with the BaSyTec Battery Test System
- Pulse Charging NiMh Batteries Candle Power Forums
- 9 stages Charge algorithm
If you have any questions or suggestions please write to us at: cheali-chargerATgooglegroups.com
or visit: http://groups.google.com/group/cheali-charger
The mailing list is open for all.
Have fun!