PLEASE NOT USE.

This is obsolete version.

Use the original(NEW) version from Pawel.

https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger

FOR TESTING.

Plus Features

• Simple Estimated Time for Accomplishment (TESTING)
• Powerscren (Watt and Watthour)
• cycle discharge/wait/charge program for Nixx and Lixx etc.
• cyclehistory screen
• Lixx charge without balancer-port
• time limit per battery plus Unlimited time.
• Unknown battery voltage stepping 0.1V always.
• smooth current rising/falling (protect the power supply voltage-breakdown) (limited current riseing/falling speed: 3A/sec(>50W chargers))
• graphical balance status (compiler optionnally)
• Li-Ion 4.30V and 4.35V supported
• simple charging-percent meter
• beep on/off
• fan off this program end (50W chargers). (Thanks Pawel)
• discharge-charge cycle Pb, NiZn, Lixx and Nixx batteries. (1S-lixx-cycle mode not working without balancer, sorry)
• minimal I adjustable: 1/5Ic to 1/50Ic (higher value, longer charging time, but fully charged battery)
• overload prevent hadware failure (partially protect for failure pump-charge FETs)
• 200W+ uart-mode disable ext-temperature (for common wire ext-temp and serial Tx. NOT TESTED)
• minimal adjustable current 100mA
• Minimal internal current is 50mA (hardware limit)
• sensing balancer connector breaking
• balancer battery icons is one screen for 6 and 8 cell chargers
• restore calibration overflow routines.
• calculated and stored EEPROM PWM 'maxvalue' limits.
• Hex-name and startup-name with current date.
• update logview ini file

manuals:

English: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nv2vBXbWo6qE2U9rXZfzVDTfWu3j778flImbFJp74tk/edit Hungarian: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1RXXTatsA1cWVJYbERUSWo5Q28/edit

sample screens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQxE5fpoIbU

hex/idnus folder for testing. NOT BURN YOUR CHARGER, strong_balancer modding info:

http://file.emiter.hu/file/Modellezes/Cheali/Tuning/HK_es_TURNIGY_TOLTO_BALANSZ_tuning_javitott.pdf http://rc-miskolc.emiter.hu/rc-miskolc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=278&Itemid=205

plus zero_amp option:

adjustable current from 0 (for testing)

original source and hex: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger Thanks Pawel.

Icluded Features (from Pawel Stawicki)

• Li-ion, LiPo and LiFe:
  • charging
  • fast charging
  • charging + balancing at the same time
  • discharging
  • balancing
  • storage
  • storage + balancing
• NiCd and NiMH:
  • charging, method: -dV/dT
  • discharging
  • cycling (not implemented yet)
• NiZn: - not well tested!
  • charging
  • fast charging
  • charging + balancing at the same time
  • discharging
  • balancing
• Pb: - not well tested!
  • charging
  • discharging
• Internal resistance display
  • single cell resistance
  • whole battery resistance
  • battery leads resistance
• Internal and external temperature monitoring
• Overcharge and overdischarge monitoring
• Input voltage monitoring
• Memory for 32 batteries
• LogView support
• CALIBATION!

WARNING

Please CALIBRATE the charger before use!
Use an external temperature probe.
(if You like your house ;) )

Hardware

• G.T. POWER A6-10 200W (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__7386__GT_A_6_10_200W_Balance_charger_discharger.html)
• IMAX B6 Charger/Discharger 1-6 Cells:
  • original:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__5548__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html
  • clone:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15379__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_COPY_.html
• .... - any suggestions are very welcome

Flashing: G.T. POWER A6-10 200W

• Connect a standard AVR ISP 10-pin cable to the board: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/GTPowerA6-10/front.jpg
• set "Device" to: atmega32
• use the cheali-charger/hex/cheali-charger-GTPowerA6-10-0.32.hex file as "Flash"

Flashing: IMAX B6

• Connect a AVR ISP to the board, make sure that you have the appropriate connector!
  • IMAX B6 - original: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/imaxB6/imaxB6-original-front.jpg
  • IMAX B6 - clone: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/imaxB6/imaxB6-clone-front.jpg
• set "Device" to: atmega32
• use the cheali-charger/hex/cheali-charger-imaxB6-original-0.32.hex (or cheali-charger-imaxB6-clone-0.32.hex) file as "Flash"

Calibration (IMAX B6 and G.T. POWER A6-10 200W)

Connect a NOT fully charged LiPo battery to the main leads and the balance port.

go to: "options"->"calibrate":

• voltage calibration: go to "voltage"
  • use a voltmeter to measure the voltage of all cells and the power supply voltage (Vin)
    and set the values in the appropriate fields.
• charge current calibration: go to "I charge"
  connect your ampere meter in series with the battery on the red wire! (+)
  • go to: "50mA"
    press "Inc", "Dec" buttons until the amperemeter shows 50mA
    press "start" button
  • go to: "1000mA"
    press "Inc", "Dec" buttons until the amperemeter shows 1000mA
    press "start" button
    WARNING: the battery will be charged with high current!
• discharge current calibration: go to "I discharge"
  Repeat the same steps as before
  WARNING: the battery will be discharged with high current!
• when needed: external (internal) temperature probe calibration: go to "temp extern" ("temp intern") You have to set two calibration points

Done.

Calibration - Expert (IMAX B6)

If you want to improve the accuracy of the balancing on the first two cells you can try
to calibrate the voltage on the first three pins of the balance port. BE AWARE THAT ON SOME CHARGERS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS!!!

First check if you can safely proceed by using the following test:

• disconnect everything from the charger
• measure the resistance between the BLACK battery terminal and Pin "0" on the balance port
  (this is the furthest pin from the battery terminals and is
  common to all the balance port connectors - it is also the most negative terminal of the battery)
• if the resistance is very low (less than 1k Ohm) STOP THIS PROCEDURE!

If the measured resistance is much more than 1k Ohm you can proceed as follows:

• connect the power supply to the ImaxB6 and go to "options" -> "calibrate" -> "expert DANGER!"
• connect a 1.5V battery and a resistor (1k Ohm to 10kOhm) in the following manner:
  BLACK battery terminal of ImaxB6 to one end of the resistor, the other end of the resistor
  to the negative pole of the battery, and the positive pole of the battery to Pin "0" (as above) on the balance port
• with a multimeter measure the voltage between the BLACK battery terminal of ImaxB6 and Pin "0" on the balance port. Adjust "Vb0pin" to this value using the inc/dec buttons
• disconnect the 1.5V battery
• connect a 2-cell (or more) LiPo or LiIon battery to the charger
  (connecting both the main battery terminals and the balance port connections)
• measure the voltage between the BLACK battery terminal and Pin "1" (next to pin "0") on the balance port,
  and set the appropriate values on "Vb1pin"
• measure the voltage between the BLACK battery terminal and Pin "2" on the balance port, and set the appropriate values on "Vb2pin"
• the Expert Calibration is now completed - now proceed with the normal calibration

Troubleshooting

• After flashing charger doesn't work (display shows squares):
  • download the *.hex again, use the "RAW" button in github
  • check the sha1 sum of the file, compare it with *.sha1:
    • linux: $sha1sum cheali-charger*.hex
    • windows: install http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11533
      • in cmd.exe: fciv.exe -sha1 -add cheali-charger-*.hex
• The sha1 sum is correct and the charger still doesn't work (display shows squares):
  • check if the BOOTRST bit from "Fuse High byte" is unprogrammed (set to 1) and change it if needed
  • You may also want to program (set to 0) the EESAVE bit

Mailing list

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!