tatasal
(tatasal)
April 17, 2014, 12:52am
145
Lothar:
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.
Henry_Xu
(Henry Xu)
April 21, 2014, 3:25am
146
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.
Icon
(Icon)
April 21, 2014, 6:22pm
148
Excuse my ignorance on such things, but this says it will discharge, does that mean it will set a charge for storage?
danjayh
(danjayh)
April 22, 2014, 9:00pm
149
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?
Chloe
(Chloe)
April 22, 2014, 9:16pm
150
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.
Henry_Xu
(Henry Xu)
April 23, 2014, 1:12am
151
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.
dekelsey61
(dekelsey61)
April 23, 2014, 2:24am
152
How can you tell what firmware is installed on the unit?
Henry_Xu
(Henry Xu)
April 23, 2014, 3:33am
153
when first power up, before full segment is turned on, it will show 2.0 for 2 second.
Alexp
(Alexp)
April 24, 2014, 3:47pm
154
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
sales2@opus-instrument.com
What methods CHARGER stop! working?
–ΔV ???
0ΔV ???
1.45v???
Today I received a response.
===
Whom to believe ?
Manufacturer ?
Or pictures HKJ ?
Chloe
(Chloe)
April 23, 2014, 9:57pm
155
Welcome to BLF, Alexp! :party:
It looks like Henry already explained; it uses both negative delta voltage and zero delta voltage (there are temperature sensors too). It is even recommended to use all three in this PDF dated from 2001:
http://www.le.ac.uk/seis-uk/downloads/Charging%20Nickel%20Metal%20Hydride%20Cells%2030.01.01.pdf
This thread may help. It mainly discusses the Maha C9000 which has similar behaviour (and also uses trickle charge).
Anyway, I just charged some slightly discharged Eneloop AAA at 500mA and they terminate past 1.45V but the current was falling from 1.47V, and trickle charge is <24mA.
Alexp
(Alexp)
April 24, 2014, 11:00am
156
Chloe:
Welcome to BLF, Alexp!
Thank you. I know it.
OPUS BT-C3100 uses which method at the end of charge NiMh?
I just OPUS BT-C3100 interested.
In HKJ (# 153) was not seen these methods closure charge .
fricco
(fricco)
April 24, 2014, 3:05pm
157
Im wondering if the C and D adapters for models BM200 and Maha C9000 will fit and work on the BT-C3100??
Anyone knows?
Thx.
I mean this ones:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2Pcs-Lot-Battery-Adapter-Charge-Test-C-D-Cells-PowerEx-MH-C9000-Charger-or-BM200-Free/1061338631.html
Chloe
(Chloe)
April 24, 2014, 5:00pm
158
fricco, I believe so. Here are some Powerfocus branded that Banggood are selling, these fit for sure. It shows them in the BT-C3100:
They appear to be the same.
fricco
(fricco)
April 24, 2014, 6:29pm
159
Thanks Chloe!
I ordered the adapters, now just waiting the $41 group gearbest.com to close and oder the charger.
About gearbest.com , i saw that its a new website, opened this year (or at least with last host), its a realiable site?
Thx again!
Alexp
(Alexp)
April 29, 2014, 2:41pm
160
Explain
Powerfocus BT-C3100 LCD Display Ni-Mh lithium-ion Battery Charger
version V.1 or versions V.2
Thank you.
Alexp
(Alexp)
May 2, 2014, 10:22pm
161
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.
Henry? What do the owners of BT-C3100 V.1?
As most opus BT-C3100 V.1 alter in BT-C3100 V.2?
Write instruction.
Give advice!
CircaM
(CircaM)
May 5, 2014, 2:53am
162
I want to go from my hobby charger that charges 1 cell at a time to a 4-cell at once charger . is this "the charger" to get to replace my hobby charger?
tatasal
(tatasal)
May 5, 2014, 3:10am
163
I have both a hobby charger and the C9000. Although a hobby charger and the C9000 have more choices in charging/discharging rates, this one can analyze 4 cells at a time, individually. No need for outboard cradles too.
So has anyone done any experiments using this charger to charge 4 18650 batteries to 4.35 volts?