Sv: DN: "Think konseptet er dødt"

[BauDemo]

I have been researching my think's OBD connector for some months now, and finally I am getting somewhere. I managed to make an obd connector that in combination with a program I wrote, shows all parameters available from the BMS and the charger.
I am still testing the program - and will be fixing all the bugs, and adding new features. My interest was mostly the BMS and the charger, but I suspect I would be able to get similar parameters with the motor controller...  no promises though.

Is anyone interested in the connector and such a program? I have parts to assemble 10-15 such connectors, and can probably assemble them for about 150EUR per connector. The program that shows the parameters is free (... for the time being).
I need someone else to help me test the program and give feed back.

I am running the whole setup on a small laptop with a serial port, will try and see if it can work with usb to serial adapter.
At this point I am thinking of either porting the program to windows mobile (pocket pc) device or putting more features in the program...
Maybe test the bluetooth serial adapters...

Will post some screen shots of the program later today.

[Think]

Hi
Am very interested. I have 3 cars and also the original Actia FR2000 diagnostic box. Am very interested in getting control of the motor controler to see what can be done with the control algorithmn to protect the batteries better and cope with my modified think with 21 blocks in the battery. Have simply not had time to get as far as you have.

Send me a mail martin.slater(alfakrol)lyse.net and we can take it from there.

RGRDS

[elektrolux]

If possible to extract info onto a small dash mounted display I think most people on this forum would like one.

Like you know, Think does not show current from batteries while driving. This and voltage would be great to have.

I am also wery interrested in the PC vertion you are developing now. I just bought my first Think, and am testing use of PSA batteries in it instead of the Think batteries.

Lately an alarming no of original Think batteries have had cracked housing, leaking electrolut. I think soon PSA convertion will be a hot Item. 

If you are looking for additional features wishlist. I'm sure ability to initialize waterfilling charge would be on top of the list.

[cra]

I might very well be interested in such cable and software. Is the source code for the software availble also?

[BauDemo]

Thanks for the interest!
I just picked up the car from maintenance charging and made a screenshot of the BMS parameters screen while waiting on a traffic light ... Please keep in mind that some of the values are still off and will need adjustment. I will be working on it and will provide new screenshots.

Think - I will send you a PM. My program (and plug) is mostly for monitoring, and I may eventually implement some checks, but I can tell you now - I am not going to implement any possibility to change parameters in the motor cotroller.

Elektrolux - I could make a small display too. One would still need the plug though... My project started out as a wish to see pack current and voltage, but there are temperatures, and then maybe one would like graphs, and logging... and maybe an sms when the charge is ready...
As you say, even the ability to initialize waterfill, currently my program just shows parameters. The service functions will take more time to implement.

cra - the program is closed - I am not planning to provide the source code. Unless someone convinces me otherwise. If you would like to write your own program I am planning to provide a c++ dll, which one could use to make his/her own program for display.

Thanks again for the interest!

[El rayo]

but I can tell you now - I am not going to implement any possibility to change parameters in the motor cotroller.

That is what I'm most interested in for my conversion project electric old Mini. It's got smaller diameter wheels than Th!nk.

I've got the Actia FR2000 diagnostic tool for Th!nk, otherwise I'd get your OBD adaptor and program.

[El rayo]

Baudemo, your logged battery temperature is about the same as my 40000 km Th!nk.

[El rayo]

I could make a small display too.

Several Th!nk owners wants an eco meter like Buddy, PSA cars and 2008 Th!nk have. A small graphic display indicating battery current would be great,  3 indicator lamps OK. Displayed numbers are not easy to see while driving. I would get one from you.

[Lynet]

I also want one, but I need USB, it's not a seriell on my
Eee901 who it's perfect in the Think 

[Elmo]

..... I need USB, it's not a seriell ....

There are many "serial to USB" adaptors available. Eg. this USB Serial Port Adapter RS-232 for NOK 250,-

[BauDemo]

Actually, a Serial to USB adapter may or may not work. It depends on too many factors. I have one and will test to see if it works and what settings are needed.
The eco meter is a very good idea - what would be the limits for the different colors?
green from 0 to 100A?
yellow from 100A to 140?
red above?

El rayo - Interesting - I haven't thought about it. Maybe my car had a battery accident before I got it...

I have fixed all the parameters for the BMS and I am working on the parameters for the charger. I noticed though that the 3 charger temperatures while charging are up to 40C! Is this normal, or am I having a failed fan?
Also - what kind of currents are you getting while charging? I am having reported around 13A-14A charging current on the battery side, when in 10A mains current charging.

On a side note... it is really interesting how having the possibility to observe the parameters while driving changed my driving style...

I am attaching a screen shot.

[hens]

The charging current to battery is depending on the input voltage, the battery voltage and the position of the selector switch.
pos 10 A and 230 volt=9,9 Amp in and about 16 A to the battery when empty (115 V) and about 14A when 140 V battery voltage.
In position 15A the current is adjusted to 14 A in, and battery current start at 22 and end at 19 at the same input voltage.

Use the current selector only in pos.10 A (bright light) to avoid burning of the chargers in and out connections, and blowing the intake fuse.

[El rayo]

The eco meter is a very good idea - what would be the limits for the different colors?
green from 0 to 100A?
yellow from 100A to 140?
red above?

I'd suggest the same limits that PSA use: green 0-100A, yellow 100-170A and red above 170A (you may want to double check the limits in the PSA thread).

El rayo - Interesting - I haven't thought about it. Maybe my car had a battery accident before I got it...

Maybe I wasn't clear enouogh. Your battery temp time data is in the lower range of what I've seen logged on other cars. If you have more than 40000 km on yours then the battery temp data is even better than mine.

I have fixed all the parameters for the BMS and I am working on the parameters for the charger. I noticed though that the 3 charger temperatures while charging are up to 40C! Is this normal, or am I having a failed fan?

I haven't checked charger temps. There are 3 fans and 3 temp sensors, so I'd guess that as long as all temps are the same all is OK. When the air temperature is about 20^oC my charger fans come on after about 10 - 15 minutes charging.

Also - what kind of currents are you getting while charging? I am having reported around 13A-14A charging current on the battery side, when in 10A mains current charging.

That is normal. The charger regulates the mains current. The battery current will be dependant on the actual mains voltage. Connect a long mains cable and you will see the battery current drop.

On a side note... it is really interesting how having the possibility to observe the parameters while driving changed my driving style...

Yes, isn't it amazing how input data to one's brain work? I noticed the same back in the '70s when I installed a vacuum meter in my fossil car. Instantly saved one desiliter in 10 km.

[Ken]

40 degrees celcius  for the charger cooling fans is normal and so long as all are similar, I wouldnt  worry.

[BauDemo]

Thanks for all the info!

The charger temps are floating within 3C of each other. So I guess all is good. Maybe I should think of implementing warning checks... like if the temperatures are not within 4 degrees - check the fans? Or if the difference between the average and max temperature in the battery is higher then 10C.

This gets more interesting every day!

Today I noticed that because of the low temperature (1C) when the car is turned off the accessory battery voltage goes almost immediately below 12.5V, which in it's turn switches on the charging of it.

The charging of the accessory battery (in my case) takes approx 1A from the main battery pack (127V), this should translate roughly to 8A (after losses) at the accessory battery (14V).
So, if I leave the car parked in the cold for 10hours, and the charging of the accessory battery is on practically all the time, the car would loose an energy that would need 1 hour of charging to compensate!

My battery is 1 and half year old (from biltema), and I have been very nice to it.

Anyone figured out a way to handle this? There are Li- accessory battery replacements I have seen... maybe they do not have that big voltage dip in cold weather.