They say, the best things come to those who wait…
What does that mean? Its $62.99 on that site?
Is the spike still an issue? I'm not clear on all this. Looks like a great charger other than that issue.
That Powerfocus is too expensive unless it's revised and working properly.
so anyone already arrange a group buy for this charger?
i cannot reach the bogus website powerfocus.net
This URL has much commercial material about the product?
What does it say, it it the revised version of Chloe's product? :)
Hopefully it’s the fixed one. There is a fixed firmware according to post #127. Google Translate gives me a headache though.
- Joe
I thinks the group buy fir this charger just started:
Hi Chloe
The main issues found by HKJ was:
- The charger is oscillating and stops the charging a bit too premature
- The "resting"/overheating periods during 2A charging or 4 x 1A discharge
- Power spikes from the power supply
- Uses trickle charging for NiMH when cell is fully charged
Do you know if all the issues above have been fixed, or only some of them?
Is there a way of determining whether a charger has got the revised firmware?
Thanx
Chloe: pipifax:Is that a group buy for the corrected version of the charger?
Yes, if you click the Google docs link in the TLF post it says new firmware including error correction.
Hi Chloe
The main issues found by HKJ was:
- The charger is oscillating and stops the charging a bit too premature
- The “resting”/overheating periods during 2A charging or 4 x 1A discharge
- Power spikes from the power supply
- Uses trickle charging for NiMH when cell is fully charged
Do you know if all the issues above have been fixed, or only some of them?
Is there a way of determining whether a charger has got the revised firmware?
Thanx
I have sent to Dora of Gearbest a copy of HKJ’s CONCLUSION section of his review.
Dora will forward it to Opus for their perusal.
1. The charger is oscillating and stops the charging a bit too premature
This has been solved by firmware update: charger will make no current increase back in the CV stage. So no oscillating at all circumstances.
2.The “resting”/overheating periods during 2A charging or 4 × 1A discharge
2A charging is supposed to be used for high capacity Li-ion batteries, we should mention this in user manual that charging with ni-mh AA batteries with 2A charging current is not appropriate. Since 1A discharge current for 4 pcs li-ion batteries will generate a lot heat, and the fan exhausting speed is not fast enough.So it can lead to thermo-protection kicked in, which this safety mechanism is designed for. So I hope it is acceptable. If only two batteries is discharged at 1A speed, it should be no problem.
3. Power spikes from the power supply
We noticed for 9A peak current with very little period time of less than 10ms. we improved this problem by adding a larger enough filtering capacitor and its peak current now is reduced to 7A. The problem is not 100% solved, however it is improving the power supply quality significantly.
4. Uses trickle charging for NiMH when cell is fully charged
I think trickle charging current for nimh is necessary. And we believe this is a good feature of this charger. We have no plan to take this trickle charging away for nimh batteries. For li-ion batteries, there is no trickle charge current.
Thank you, Henry!
Excuse my ignorance on such things, but this says it will discharge, does that mean it will set a charge for storage?
- The charger is oscillating and stops the charging a bit too premature
This has been solved by firmware update: charger will make no current increase back in the CV stage. So no oscillating at all circumstances.2.The “resting”/overheating periods during 2A charging or 4 × 1A discharge
2A charging is supposed to be used for high capacity Li-ion batteries, we should mention this in user manual that charging with ni-mh AA batteries with 2A charging current is not appropriate. Since 1A discharge current for 4 pcs li-ion batteries will generate a lot heat, and the fan exhausting speed is not fast enough.So it can lead to thermo-protection kicked in, which this safety mechanism is designed for. So I hope it is acceptable. If only two batteries is discharged at 1A speed, it should be no problem.
3. Power spikes from the power supply
We noticed for 9A peak current with very little period time of less than 10ms. we improved this problem by adding a larger enough filtering capacitor and its peak current now is reduced to 7A. The problem is not 100% solved, however it is improving the power supply quality significantly.4. Uses trickle charging for NiMH when cell is fully charged
I think trickle charging current for nimh is necessary. And we believe this is a good feature of this charger. We have no plan to take this trickle charging away for nimh batteries. For li-ion batteries, there is no trickle charge current.
So are the PowerFocus units for sale at Banggood being shipped with the updated firmware?
Excuse my ignorance on such things, but this says it will discharge, does that mean it will set a charge for storage?
No, the discharge program will discharge li-ion cells fully (to 2.8V, Ni-MH 0.9V).
It is best to store around 3.7V, so you will need to take the cells out, but you can see the voltage as it discharges.
not yet. the new firmware will show version number 2.0. But I think they will change to new firmware soon because new version has been shipped to them since last week.
How can you tell what firmware is installed on the unit?
when first power up, before full segment is turned on, it will show 2.0 for 2 second.
HKJ wrote Test/Review of Analyzing NiMH/LiIon Charger Opus BT-C3100
showed …
Charger NiMh.
I asked the seller to OPUS …. “–ΔV where is here?”
Dea”OPUS”: This product is no longer available.
We deploy 0dv and -dv for nimh/nicd battery charging termination. I am sure we used this technic on BT-C3100 charger.
The alogrorithm of charging nimh batteries on BT-C3100 is improved so that termination of nimh battery charging is very precise. As HKJ’s review found, the charger can terminate charging perfectly. He even doubts the result by looking at his graph. Thet charger start to reduce charging current when nimh/nicd battery voltage reach 1.45v, so the heat generated when charger is almost full is greatly reduced, thus the delta v is no longer so obviouse. But due to our controller’s high ad resolution, we can determine a perfect 0dv before -dv arrive, and charger terminate charging automatically. So you don’t need worry. This is our second generation alogrothm after BT-C2000 charger.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
best regards
Henry
What methods CHARGER stop! working?
–ΔV ???
0ΔV ???
1.45v???
Today I received a response.
Hello,
We designed the product and know what technology we used. If you don’t believe, I can’t help it.
regards
Henry
===
Whom to believe ?
Manufacturer ?
Or pictures HKJ?