Difference between revisions of "Smart Battery Charger with Graphical Data Logger"
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*May be used to charge, discharge, test, or cycle batteries. | *May be used to charge, discharge, test, or cycle batteries. | ||
*Charging algorithim on the PC: High current phase may be ended by peaking, time limit, or voltage limit | *Charging algorithim on the PC: High current phase may be ended by peaking, time limit, or voltage limit | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Hardware == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Hardware will come in 3 parts, the powersupply, the microcontroller and the analog charger section. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === PIC Hardware === | ||
| + | |||
| + | BitWacker will be fine, will also have some alternatives. | ||
| + | We will need 2 analog inputs, 2 digital outputs, and a third digital or analog output. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Analog Charger Hardware === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Circuit overview. An op amp and darlington transistor will be used as a constant current source. A second op amp will amplify the current signal for input to the PIC. A third op amp will amplify and condition the voltage signal for the PIC. The op amps will be powered by a single 5 volt power supply. Input voltage will be between 12 and 25 volts so that many cell batteries can be charged. To reverse the current for discharge 2, 2 pole relays will be used. The relays could be replaced by a double pole double throw switch ( the user, not the software would have to be used to throw the switch ). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Board design will be in Eagle, single sided for Toner Transfer. | ||
== Software == | == Software == | ||
| Line 41: | Line 56: | ||
*Off the shelf BitWacker Software should be fine if used with BitWacker. | *Off the shelf BitWacker Software should be fine if used with BitWacker. | ||
*Will have a BoostC implementation for the PIC16F977A and similar | *Will have a BoostC implementation for the PIC16F977A and similar | ||
| − | |||
=== PC Software === | === PC Software === | ||
Revision as of 15:19, 22 January 2009
Contents
Summary
- Name: Smart Battery Charger with Graphical Data Logger
- Status: still developing, java is close to working.
- Technology: Java -- should run on many platforms, Windows 98 through Vista, Mac, Linux PIC, could be BitWacker or even other microcontroller with serial port.
- Author: russ_hensel ( where you can find an email address to reach me )
- License: not fully determined, but open source and object code.
Purpose:
- A smart battery charger ( one component of which is a PC ) for charging, discharging... NiCad, Nickel Metal, and perhaps other battery types.
- Graphical record of the charge current and voltag.
- A complete log of activity is provided both to the screen and to a log file.
This is one of a series of articles on Microcontroller Serial Communications, rooted at this site here: Microcontroller Serial Communications Articles
Collaborator Anyone?
Anyone want to help with this project? I have plans for the hardware, but software could support a lot of variants, and you may prefer a different hardware configuration. The Java software I will work on untill it works well enough, but I could use testers, and once it works well enough the code will be open and available for others to enhnace.
OverView
Screen
Notes:
- Comming soon
Some Features
- Charging data graphed and saved to log file.
- May be used to charge, discharge, test, or cycle batteries.
- Charging algorithim on the PC: High current phase may be ended by peaking, time limit, or voltage limit
Hardware
Hardware will come in 3 parts, the powersupply, the microcontroller and the analog charger section.
PIC Hardware
BitWacker will be fine, will also have some alternatives. We will need 2 analog inputs, 2 digital outputs, and a third digital or analog output.
Analog Charger Hardware
Circuit overview. An op amp and darlington transistor will be used as a constant current source. A second op amp will amplify the current signal for input to the PIC. A third op amp will amplify and condition the voltage signal for the PIC. The op amps will be powered by a single 5 volt power supply. Input voltage will be between 12 and 25 volts so that many cell batteries can be charged. To reverse the current for discharge 2, 2 pole relays will be used. The relays could be replaced by a double pole double throw switch ( the user, not the software would have to be used to throw the switch ).
Board design will be in Eagle, single sided for Toner Transfer.
Software
PIC Software
- Off the shelf BitWacker Software should be fine if used with BitWacker.
- Will have a BoostC implementation for the PIC16F977A and similar
PC Software
Java Based have almost working version.
Menu Choices
- File -> Exit
- Closes the comm port and exits the application.
- File -> About the Application
- About Box for the Application
- More comming as work proceeds.
Download and Install
See the page BitWacker PIC and Other Microcontroller to Java Communications for the Java Components. For the microcontroller and other hardware email me.
Command Details
comming.....
Bugs and Enhancements
See the list at RS232Probe Enhancements and Bugs a list for all the related applications.
