spintec I.C.C charger
12-06-2007, 02:16 PM
#1366
I have no idea what this could be.
So the external output doenst really work well huh, need to remember that... cause 8.5A charge is a bit too much even if you dont wanna fill the cells up completely.
12-06-2007, 02:46 PM
#1367
Has anyone measured the Amps the charger is really putting on the External output?
Yesterday I set it up for 2A, measured with a Multimeter I got a reading of 8.5A!
I tried it several times but all it gave was 8.5A...
2nd question, I cycled my 4 cell packs yesterday and cell 4's voltage is floating... measured on the clamps: 1.35V, charges indicates something varuing from 0.7->1.1V.
the strange thing is, when I put in a 6 cell pack readings are perfect! Also for cell 4.
Just got it back from repairs and I dont feel like sending it in again if anyone knows the failure, please tell me and I'll see if I will do the repairs myself.
(oh yeah, using soft version 1.07b)
Yesterday I set it up for 2A, measured with a Multimeter I got a reading of 8.5A!
I tried it several times but all it gave was 8.5A...
2nd question, I cycled my 4 cell packs yesterday and cell 4's voltage is floating... measured on the clamps: 1.35V, charges indicates something varuing from 0.7->1.1V.
the strange thing is, when I put in a 6 cell pack readings are perfect! Also for cell 4.
Just got it back from repairs and I dont feel like sending it in again if anyone knows the failure, please tell me and I'll see if I will do the repairs myself.
(oh yeah, using soft version 1.07b)
Is that 8.5 under load reading?
12-06-2007, 03:31 PM
#1368
Tech Master
I do not think the ICC is actually capable of charging at 8.5A on its external output... the max is 5.0A. There must be something else going on here. (you would probably blow up the external hook up or something... i am guessing) It is very easy (as some other members have posted here have said)... very easy to screw up, blow up the external outputs if u hook a motor up or something else.
Does this happen to only cell 4 on that pack? or does it happen to every 4 cell pack you have charged?
Does this happen to only cell 4 on that pack? or does it happen to every 4 cell pack you have charged?
12-07-2007, 09:06 AM
#1370
Tech Initiate
question
Is this interesting?
http://cgi.ebay.it/Spintec-ICC-charg...QQcmdZViewItem
It isn't new but there is 5 cells cable and pc cable inside.
Ciao
http://cgi.ebay.it/Spintec-ICC-charg...QQcmdZViewItem
It isn't new but there is 5 cells cable and pc cable inside.
Ciao
12-07-2007, 12:08 PM
#1371
12-07-2007, 12:50 PM
#1373
if all else fails best is to email Erik Jonk @ Spintec
from the manual, see the red text
5.2.4. System Settings
1. PC Interface
Use this function to connect to a PC when you have the Interface
Cable (optional item) installed.
The PC Interface Cable can be used to update the firmware of the
ICC with the latest version. You can download the latest version
from www.spintec.nl. Here you can also download your free copy
of the Firmware Upgrade Tool for PC.
To update the ICC take the following steps:
1. Switch the power supply to the ICC off.
2. Remove all packs and cables from the ICC.
3. Connect the Interface Cable between the ICC data port and a free
serial COM port on your PC.
4. Start up the Firmware Upgrade Tool on your PC.
5. Select the right COM port and press the ‘Connect’ button.
6. Now switch on the power supply of the ICC.
7. Scroll to the PC Interface menu and confirm with ‘yes’.
8. The Upgrade Tool should respond with ‘ICC Connected’.
C h a r g i n g → 5 . 0 A
2 5 . 0 m V
7 . 6 5 V 1 2 3 4 m A h 2 4 3 s
S t a r t E x i t
→ 1 . P C I n t e r f a c e
2 . K e y S o u n d O f f
3 . S y s t e m I n f o
4 . E x i t
15
9. Click on the ‘Upgrade’ button and select the latest firmware file
(file extension .icc).
10. Upgrading process will start, progress is indicated by status bar.
This will take a couple of minutes.
It is very important that the upgrading process is not
disturbed. Do not disconnect the cable, do not switch of the
power supply, do not close the Upgrade Tool and do not shut
down the PC!
Note: If anything goes wrong, memory of the ICC will be cleared
and the unit will not start up anymore. In this case the ICC
autmatically always starts up in upgrade mode. So just repeat above
steps to install new firmware in memory.
1. PC Interface
Use this function to connect to a PC when you have the Interface
Cable (optional item) installed.
The PC Interface Cable can be used to update the firmware of the
ICC with the latest version. You can download the latest version
from www.spintec.nl. Here you can also download your free copy
of the Firmware Upgrade Tool for PC.
To update the ICC take the following steps:
1. Switch the power supply to the ICC off.
2. Remove all packs and cables from the ICC.
3. Connect the Interface Cable between the ICC data port and a free
serial COM port on your PC.
4. Start up the Firmware Upgrade Tool on your PC.
5. Select the right COM port and press the ‘Connect’ button.
6. Now switch on the power supply of the ICC.
7. Scroll to the PC Interface menu and confirm with ‘yes’.
8. The Upgrade Tool should respond with ‘ICC Connected’.
C h a r g i n g → 5 . 0 A
2 5 . 0 m V
7 . 6 5 V 1 2 3 4 m A h 2 4 3 s
S t a r t E x i t
→ 1 . P C I n t e r f a c e
2 . K e y S o u n d O f f
3 . S y s t e m I n f o
4 . E x i t
15
9. Click on the ‘Upgrade’ button and select the latest firmware file
(file extension .icc).
10. Upgrading process will start, progress is indicated by status bar.
This will take a couple of minutes.
It is very important that the upgrading process is not
disturbed. Do not disconnect the cable, do not switch of the
power supply, do not close the Upgrade Tool and do not shut
down the PC!
Note: If anything goes wrong, memory of the ICC will be cleared
and the unit will not start up anymore. In this case the ICC
autmatically always starts up in upgrade mode. So just repeat above
steps to install new firmware in memory.
12-07-2007, 01:50 PM
#1374
Tech Regular
iTrader: (11)
I have tried installing 107b a second and third try with now luck. The unit still doesn the same thing. I will try the email you sent me, but looking back he hasn't been around for a while. My fingers are crossed. If you or anybody else has a previous update please PM me with it. Thanks for the help.
Donny
Donny
12-07-2007, 03:41 PM
#1375
12-08-2007, 02:45 AM
#1377
I do not think the ICC is actually capable of charging at 8.5A on its external output... the max is 5.0A. There must be something else going on here. (you would probably blow up the external hook up or something... i am guessing) It is very easy (as some other members have posted here have said)... very easy to screw up, blow up the external outputs if u hook a motor up or something else.
Does this happen to only cell 4 on that pack? or does it happen to every 4 cell pack you have charged?
Does this happen to only cell 4 on that pack? or does it happen to every 4 cell pack you have charged?
Measurement was done using a Multimeter in series with the battery.
It also gradually goes up: Starts out with 0.2A -> 0.8A -> 1.2A -> 8.5A
If a FET was blown it would prolly pull everything from my psp in the 4-cell pack. I'm gonna try what it does with a 6-Cell pack, if the current drops I'l know more. If it keeps 8.5A then the charger s definately setting 8.5A.
For Cell 4: yes, it happens to every cell 4 in my 4-cell packs when I discharge so there's something wrong with the voltage measurement. Its really strange that the problem disappeares when using a 6 cell pack and that it charges perfectly!
Gonna call Erik on this, I hope he has an explanation and a solution I can perform myself. I wont pay for shipment twice in 2 weeks.
12-08-2007, 03:28 AM
#1378
Tech Master
Hmm... good luck w/ that Quante,
The last thing I guess you could check is to see if any of the posts have de-soldered because I know i get voltage reading errors when one of the spring posts have desoldered...
The last thing I guess you could check is to see if any of the posts have de-soldered because I know i get voltage reading errors when one of the spring posts have desoldered...
12-08-2007, 06:59 AM
#1379
spintec icc
I feel for the guys having problems with this charger. I bought 1 and sold it. All together I had 2 solder posts unsolder, which I fixed to much better than new (they use very little seemingly weak solder,) and I always had the cell on the left get hotter before the others (unit power supply is on the left and gets hot.)
This charger is a great idea which was built with too many questionable design decisions. These defective design items cause all kinds of problems for the user, as this forum shows, listed below:
1) spring post solder joint under stress (should have never done this,)
2) battery layout opposite of every discharge tray on the market
3) temp sensors are inaccurate (should have been magnetic,)
4) still no lipo support after 2 years of promises
5) no temp sensor on external charging port
6) difficult to use in hot weather
7) $400 price isn't worth it for the unit's bad design
And, unresponsive support. Buyer beware.
This charger is a great idea which was built with too many questionable design decisions. These defective design items cause all kinds of problems for the user, as this forum shows, listed below:
1) spring post solder joint under stress (should have never done this,)
2) battery layout opposite of every discharge tray on the market
3) temp sensors are inaccurate (should have been magnetic,)
4) still no lipo support after 2 years of promises
5) no temp sensor on external charging port
6) difficult to use in hot weather
7) $400 price isn't worth it for the unit's bad design
And, unresponsive support. Buyer beware.
12-08-2007, 08:04 AM
#1380
Ok, did a few tests today, dunno how I got 8,5A the other day but I found this on the external output:
8 cell pack (transmitter): I measured = I set
6 cell pack: I measured = 1,3x I set
4 cell pack: I measured = 1,5x I set
So what you set aint what comes out on the exteral output.
The current also goes very slowly up to the measured current. While it goes up, no mAh are counted (well, 1 or 2 or so). Once the current settles it varies with some 0,04A and mAh are counted ok. When you start charging in the tray you will also see a difference in I measured, current goes down but readjusts.
So when chaging on the external output you need to take into account this factor. Delta peak cutoff also works like a charm.
Since my charger measures the 4th cells voltage well when charging, and discharging a 6 cell pack I'm guessing a bad solder joint on the FET responsible for discharging Cell 4, maybe even a bad FET (but thats doubtfull). But I'll talk to Erik about that.
8 cell pack (transmitter): I measured = I set
6 cell pack: I measured = 1,3x I set
4 cell pack: I measured = 1,5x I set
So what you set aint what comes out on the exteral output.
The current also goes very slowly up to the measured current. While it goes up, no mAh are counted (well, 1 or 2 or so). Once the current settles it varies with some 0,04A and mAh are counted ok. When you start charging in the tray you will also see a difference in I measured, current goes down but readjusts.
So when chaging on the external output you need to take into account this factor. Delta peak cutoff also works like a charm.
Since my charger measures the 4th cells voltage well when charging, and discharging a 6 cell pack I'm guessing a bad solder joint on the FET responsible for discharging Cell 4, maybe even a bad FET (but thats doubtfull). But I'll talk to Erik about that.