Progressiverc 8 PowerLab User Manual

PowerLab 8 User’s Guide For Version 2 firmware and software © 2011 FMA,Inc. 08/22/2011

running multiple PowerLabs in Expansion Channel mode). If it doesn’t, press INC or DEC until you see PRIMARY CHANNEL. Press ENTER. 8. At the Power So

Set options 1. Connect PowerLab 8 to a 10–32V DC power supply or Lead Acid battery. 2. Press any button on PowerLab 8’s panel. 3. At the Power So

Connect packs: basic Connect the pack to PowerLab 8’s Output jacks, Balance Port or both. The Balance Port accepts a 9-pin Cellpro balance

For non-balanced charging, connect the pack to PowerLab 8 like this: If stock REVOLECTRIX adapters don’t work for your packs, you can

14Connect packs: advanced The table below lists several common PowerLab 8 charging configurations. Find the con-figuration that most closely matches

Configuration A Summary: basic one-pack charging through balance wires. Components:  1 PowerLab 8  1 power source  1 standard adapter (Safe

Configuration B Summary: basic one-pack charging through balance and discharge wires. Components:  1 PowerLab 8  1 power source  1 standard

Configuration C Summary: parallel charging. Components:  1 PowerLab 8  1 power source  1 Safe Parallel Adapter for each pack (do not use sta

See also Charge packs in parallel 18

Configuration D Summary: parallel charging split pack (10s or larger). Components:  1 PowerLab 8  1 power source  2 Safe Parallel Adapters

Contents Contents ... 2 About PowerLab 8...

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Configuration E Summary: two PowerLabs charging separate packs, one power source. Components:  2 PowerLabs  1 power source  2 standard adapte

Configuration F Summary: two PowerLabs charging separate packs, one power source, Expansion Channel Mode. Components:  2 PowerLabs  1 power sourc

Configuration G Summary: two PowerLabs charging split pack (10s or larger), one power source, Expansion Channel Mode. Components:  2 PowerLabs 

S ee also Expansion Channel Mode 24

Configuration H Summary: two PowerLabs charging pack (10s or larger) with center tap, two power sources, Normal mode Components:  2 PowerLabs  2 E

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Power supplies PowerLab 8 is one of the highest power RC battery maintenance devices available. Running full power, it can deliver 1344W to batteries

Charge/discharge/cycle/monitor a pack 1. Connect PowerLab 8 to a 10–32V DC power supply or 12–24V battery. 2. Press any button to display the Po

b. At the START? question, select one of the following, then press ENTER: • CHARGE ONLY (i.e., no discharge). • DISCHARGE ONLY (i.e., no charge).

Save and load options...

11. Press and hold ENTER. Screen displays CHARGER STOPPED. 12. Press ENTER or BACK to return to the User Preset menu. 13. Disconnect the pack from

Charge/discharge/cycle packs in parallel PowerLab 8 can charge, discharge or cycle up to nine LiPo or A123 packs in parallel. Parallel operations can

Expansion Channel Mode In Normal Mode, multiple PowerLabs operate independently. Connect any number of PowerLabs to individual computer USB ports, an

ENTER. 6. During charging:  Press INC or DEC on the Primary unit to view charging data. Data will be displayed on each PowerLab 8 for the pack conne

34Regenerative discharge Regenerative discharge routes most of the energy from the pack being discharged back into the Lead Acid battery powering th

Modify a preset You can change many preset properties directly on PowerLab 8. Use this procedure at any time, but it’s essential when PowerLab 8 isn’

Manage presets On PowerLab 8 you can:  Clear a User Preset.  Copy a Library Preset for use as a User Preset. Clear a User Preset You can remo

1. In the User Preset menu, use INC or DEC to select the slot where you want the new preset. Selecting an EMPTY PRESET is usually better unless you a

Using the Charge Control Software About the CCS The free PowerLab 8 Charge Control Software (CCS) gives you unparalleled ability to customize the

Installing the CCS Install the Charge Control Software (CCS) from the PowerLab 8 Software Install page (in the REVOLECTRIX Web site) using one of the

Specifications: ... 80 Troubleshooting

Cells tab Monitor charge and discharge data in the Cells tab. You can also select a preset and start/stop PowerLab 8 operations in this tab. Operatin

 Monitor progress in graphs.  To stop operations: Click the STOP button. 10. When the operation is complete, PowerLab 8 will “beep beep beep”

Internal Resistance tab The Int. Res. tab displays cell internal resistance when charging LiPo and A123 balanced packs. Internal resistance is not ca

Supply tab Use the Supply tab to:  Set the default power source type.  Specify power source voltage and current limits.  Monitor power source v

 Battery Max Amps Out: Set for maximum supply battery current draw. If the charge rate is set higher than the input current allows, the PowerLab 8

Firmware tab The Firmware tab enables you to:  Determine the firmware currently installed in the PowerLab 8: it is displayed in the center of the t

Full firmware and preset update process Over time, new CCS versions and new factory default presets will be released. These changes may correct safe

Options tab In the Options tab you can:  Specify how information appears in PowerLab 8’s display.  Control whether preset changes made at the Po

 Node Wiring =: When set to FMA Wiring, PowerLab looks for FMA/Cellpro wiring convention on the balance port. When set to XH/EH Wiring, PowerLab l

Presets tab The Charge Control Software gives you almost total control over User Presets, including which ones are available in PowerLab 8, the orde

5About PowerLab 8  Simple to operate: just connect PowerLab 8 between a power source and a pack, select a pack-specific preset and start charging,

Save, load, backup and restore User Presets To save a User Preset: 1. In the Presets tab, click the User Preset you want to save. The selected preset

To restore all User Presets from an archive: 1. In any tab, File > Restore All User Presets... . This opens the Restore User Presets dialog. 2.

Errors tab The Errors tab lists preset errors detected by the CCS. If there are no preset errors, the tab is labeled No Errors. If there are preset e

Graphs CCS graphics enable you to see how battery performance changes over time during charging and discharging operations. When you start a charge,

After you generate a graph, perform the following operations in the main CCS window. To save graph data: File > Save Graph. (This saves all data, n

Generate a custom fuel table PowerLab 8 calculates the fuel level in a battery based on a lookup table for a particular cell manufacturer or chemist

Run multiple CCS instances You can run multiple instances of CCS on one computer to support multiple PowerLabs. Here’s how: 1. Connect the first Po

Other information Charging tips General information  Because PowerLab’s cell balancing technology monitors individual cells, you don’t need to

different number of cells together in parallel. This is less a function of the PowerLab 8 and more about assuring proper connection of packs to the Po

How Auto Current Mode works PowerLab 8’s Auto Current Mode (indicated by the charge rate Ax.0C) precisely monitors individual cell fuel levels (cell

 PowerLab 8 Charge Control Software (CCS, a free download) allows you to customize, save and load presets (including data displays), and view real-ti

Estimating performance factors If you don’t have a way to directly measure your propulsion system’s electrical parameters, PowerLab 8 enables you to

FMA Wiring mode vs. XH/EH Wiring mode By default, the PowerLab 8 ships with the balance connector (output) set for FMA’s Cellpro wiring. This wiring

Balance connector wiring When using FMA Wiring mode (Factory Default Setting) The following diagrams shows how a 9 pin Cellpro (JST PA series) balan

Pin 1RedBlackNode 5Node 6Pack positiveNode 4Node 3Node 2Node 1Pack negative7s PackPack positive(red), 25.9V*Node 4, 14.8V*Node 5, 18.5V*Node 6, 22.2V*

Pin 1RedBlackPack positiveNode 4Node 3Node 2Node 1Pack negative5s PackPack positive(red), 18.5V*Node 4, 14.8V*Node 3, 11.1V*Node 2, 7.4V*Node 1, 3.7V

Pin 1RedBlackPack positiveNode 2Node 1Pack negative3s PackPack positive(red), 11.1V*Node 2, 7.4V*Node 1, 3.7V*Pack negative(blk), 0VCell 3Cell 2Cell

FMA Cellpro Connector/FMA Wiring Mode Pin 1RedBlackPack positivePack negative1s PackPack positive(red), 3.7V*Pack negative(blk), 0VCell 1* Nominal v

When using XH/EH Wiring mode These diagrams show how a 9 pin Cellpro (JST PA series) balance connector (REVO PN CPBP9P-10-US) must be wired to an 8s,

Pin 1BlackNode 5Node 6Pack positiveNode 4Node 3Node 2Node 1Pack negative7s PackNode 4, 14.8V*Node 5, 18.5V*Node 6, 22.2V*Pack positive, 25.9V*Node 3,

Pin 1BlackPack positiveNode 4Node 3Node 2Node 1Pack negative5s PackNode 4, 14.8V*Pack positive, 18.5V*Node 3, 11.1V*Node 2, 7.4V*Node 1, 3.7V*Pack ne

Using PowerLab 8 Quick reference This quick reference lists common PowerLab 8 tasks. What do you want to do? To do this… Do this… 1. Apply pow

Pin 1BlackPack positiveNode 2Node 1Pack negative3s PackPack positive, 11.1V*Node 2, 7.4V*Node 1, 3.7V*Pack negative(blk), 0VCell 3Cell 2Cell 1* Nomin

Pin 1BlackPack positivePack negative1s PackPack positive, 3.7V*Pack negative(blk), 0VCell 1* Nominal voltage with respect to pack negative FMA Cellpro

72Open architecture presets PowerLab 8 can be described as being “preset driven.” All major aspects of its operation are defined as parameters at th

LiPo factory presets LiPo Generic Accurate Charge Basic LiPo preset can be used for any LiPo battery. Fuel Table is optimized for generic LiPo batt

LiPo Generic Small Balanced Special LiPo preset designed for charging small batteries but still using balance connector. This preset is recommended f

75A123 factory presets A123 2300 mAh Accurate Charge Optimized for balance charging A123, 2300 mAh battery packs (requires balance wires on the pa

when-ever possible. This preset may also be used for LiFePO4 type batteries which have similar charge characteristics. When using LiFePO4 batteries, F

expected. Default charge rate setting is 3.3A Manual. Max Auto Amps parameter is default to 6A for this preset which means that this preset will not e

of C/20 and max of 15 min timeout for C.V. mode. This preset does not require that every cell in the battery is charged to exactly 100%. If using A123

79NiMH, NiCd and Lead Acid factory presets NiCd Fast Charge with Trickle Basic NiCd Fast Charge with Delta Peak Cutoff and Trickle Charge. Require

1. Apply power and select power source (see above). Details 2. Connect pack. 3. Press INC or DEC to select desired User Preset, then press ENTER.

Specifications: For Battery types: Lithium Polymer (1s to 8s balanced, 1s to 2s unbalanced), Lithium Ion (1s to 8s balanced, 1s to 2s unbalanced), Li

Footnotes: * Please note, for safety reasons, available charger current may be limited for certain battery types and/or charging modes, e.g., non-bal

82Troubleshooting Operating errors appear as safety codes in the display. If possible, correct the error. If errors continue, contact FMA Customer S

Bananas Removed The bananas were removed when charging Negative Amps Check the supply wiring Chg. Not Allowed The preset will not allow charging C

Safety Code #119 Bananas connected while charging Safety Code #120 Cell count not verified Safety Code #121 Shunt FET off while CHG/DSCHING Safety

85Support options For Sales Support on REVOLECTRIX Brand Products: Email: [email protected] or phone: (800) 343-2934 For Sales or Technical Sup

REVOLECTRIX limited warranty REVOLECTRIX warrants this product to be free of manufacturing defects for the term of one year from the date of purchase

Set Smart Power Management 9 You can set a variety of operating options, including the very important power source voltage and current limits. You