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paulz
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2019 11:11am - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: somewhereinusa I think it's there but covered up by screen resolution maybe?
That must be what it is but there is no zoom or unzoom like a browser. Haven't found a way to change it other than changing it in for the whole computer. Thought I read on another link that the software runs on Android, would you mind checking where you got the Windows download to see if an Android version is available? I don't have anything Windows at my cabin.
Been reading the user manual a bit more, found these regarding minimum voltage. If I have it right, the normal range is down to 11.2, warning range down to 9.2 and alarm below that.
And again thanks for making this available to us.
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somewhereinusa
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2019 03:07pm - Edited by: somewhereinusa
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Since the Valence batteries don't have any protection built in (only cell balancing), I've designed a protection system. It will totally disconnect the battery bank from everything if things go awry. It will also turn on a compartment cooling fan or turn on a heat pad if called for.
I have it bread boarded and the code written. For you coders out there mine is probably a bit clunky but, it works. Not really necessary but nice for a bit of bling I'm working on a screen to see what temps and voltages are.
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somewhereinusa
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2019 03:30pm
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Quoting: paulz would you mind checking where you got the Windows download to see if an Android version is available? I don't have anything Windows at my cabin.
The link I got it from is gone and I haven't seen anywhere else. I've only seen windows. I'm assuming that when Valence finds out I'm sharing they will make me take it down.
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paulz
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2019 10:09am
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Quoting: somewhereinusa Since the Valence batteries don't have any protection built in (only cell balancing),
My understanding from the manual diagram I posted above, 'stand alone' means the battery is not connected to a BMS, and Shutdown means it will turn off contacts if cell voltage falls below 2v. Is that not correct?
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somewhereinusa
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2019 10:31am
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I think the internal BMS only does cell balancing. The UBMS, the unobtainable box that Valence won't sell to the likes of us, takes the information from the internal BMS and uses that information to control charging/discharging and safety disconnect. I bought one of the control boards out of a truck. It had a UBMS and some really nice 500A solenoids. Unfortunatly the UBMS was the high volt model and not something I could use.If I knew how to read the data from the CAN bus I could control my stuff from that data.
I'm just using external sensors to accomplish the same thing(I think). I'm not able to read cell banks, just the entire battery.
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TataSafari
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# Posted: 7 Dec 2019 03:32am - Edited by: TataSafari
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Hello I have the software and made a conection with my Valence U27-12XP 138AH mine is the first gen but this is the same for the 2nd gen batteries i am using windows 8.1 DO NOT try to charge the battery without this hookup first as you have no way of knowing what state the battery is in guessing is the way forward
i will down load some screen shots on sunday
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jpmelliott
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2019 01:11pm
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Hi All,
I have 8 U27's and have built a connector but need the software could someone that has the software possibly share it, or point me to a location that has it?
Thank you!!
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jpmelliott
Member
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2019 02:47pm
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Hi All, please disregard my ask. I found the software. Thnx!
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jpmelliott
Member
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2019 02:53pm
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Since the lack of a BMS controller is an issue for all of us with Valence secondary use batteries, I wanted to share that there is a company that is going to be producing a replacement for the Valence BMS.
I talked to them yesterday and they should be shipping at the end of January 2020. They need to program the BMS to your specific configuration, just a Valence did for there OEM solutions.
Also, for those with Victron, they were indicating that they would be releasing a Victron integration. Pretty sweet!
Last, they also sell used U27 Valence batteries. They are $499. I know that's more than ebay but, it includes shipping AND a battery life/health print out.
I bought mine from Ebay but, if I was to do it again... I'd have gone with these folks as my seller was very vague as to the battery statistics.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2019 11:18am - Edited by: paulz
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I took my battery off the charger yesterday, been sitting unused. Plugged it into the software just now, this is what it says. First time I have seen 'balance active'. Obviously cell 1 is different from the others..
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somewhereinusa
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2020 11:52am
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There is a guy on DIY solar forums that has successfully communicated with the Valence battery.
[URL="https://diysolarforum.com/threads/interfacing-with-valence-built-in-monitoring. 2183/"]https://diysolarforum.com/threads/interfacing-with-valence-built-in-monitoring .2183/[/URL]
His github project.
[URL="https://github.com/t3chN0Mad/OpenXPBMS"]https://github.com/t3chN0Mad/OpenXPBMS[ /URL]
I'm waiting for some parts now.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2020 03:58pm
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I thought we were already communicating with the battery with the software you provided?
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somewhereinusa
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2020 04:47pm
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We are. With this we can act on the information such as using the internal temperature sensors to turn on/off things and setting limits using the internal individual cell voltages.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2020 09:28pm
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OK. I read what he's up to in the links, way above my pay grade. But keep us posted on your progress, never know. Thanks.
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dr67
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2020 04:19pm
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Fantastic info on this thread. I was able to communicate with my Valence 27 xp batteries. All 4 are balanced. I have noticed that the State of charge doesnt really change on the valence software. I am charging the batteries individually right now just to see if it changes, but it does not. I drained one down to 20% and the state of charge will go down with the software, but will not show state of charge going back up. My Victron Battery monitor does show the charge % going up, and the batteries are taking a charge. Has anyone else seen this?
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somewhereinusa
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2020 08:41am
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I can't say for sure, you may need to cycle them a few times. Valence manual says the bms "learns" .
Mine more or less agree with the Victron monitor.
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dr67
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2020 03:59pm
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I was curious today so I tested 1 of the batteries. SOC was showing 13.73% charged and I ran a 65 amp draw on one of the batteries for 60 minutes and still had plenty of battery. So I know that the 13.73% is not correct.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2020 06:04pm
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Your talking about the soc field on the Valence software? When you got down that far was the green light on the battery still blinking?
I have only been spending one night a week at my cabin lately (cold and wet), I don't think my battery even knows it's been used.
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dr67
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2020 08:28pm - Edited by: dr67
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yes. Green was still blinking. And yes the SOC in the Valence software. Battery never dropped below 12.68 volts under load.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2020 11:50am
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Ran my cabin for 24 hrs. a couple days ago, not a lot of drain, 2-3 LED lights, couple of USB tablets, water pump some. Dang battery still says 99%. I don't know...
Anyway what I really wanted to ask is:
A lady gave me a charger, said it was 12v from an E bike. I could only find one reference to an HP8204A, on Ebay. Says it's 12v but I am skeptical. Lots of references to HP8204B at 24v. I thought I might leave this charger at the restaurant down the road from out cabin in case I needed to charge my battery without going back to the city (where my main charger is).
It does not say what the output voltage is on it, so I hooked it up to an old half charged 12v battery. Within 20 seconds it had gone up to 17 volts on my DVM so I unhooked it. That's too much for a 12v Lion charger, right?
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somewhereinusa
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2020 04:22pm
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Yes that's too much. Do you have more than one battery? You could hook two in series for that charger. Although 24V at 5A is going to be slow and you won't get a full charge at 24V. You should be able check voltage with a voltmeter between the charger leads.
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paulz
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2020 10:34pm
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I am heading to LA this week, the Ebay seller has them on local Craigslist down there, might stop by and pick up a second battery, no shipping or tax.
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paulz
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# Posted: 24 Jan 2020 12:14pm
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Bought two more u27s. So now wondering, just off the cuff, if I had three 20 amp chargers that would be around 900 watts going full bore. Maybe instead of dragging home I could use a small genny at the cabin for an hour a day?
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dr67
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# Posted: 27 Jan 2020 05:37pm
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Gave my 4 U27's a good workout this weekend. They performed quite amazingly. 5th wheel off grid, little to no solar due to a storm and we went 2 1/2 days without needing to charge them. 2 pots with the Electric coffee maker, roughly 6 minutes of Microwave and directv, gas funrnace. the Tv was basically on all day long both days. Got down to 47% after day 2. my old FLA would have needed charged about 10 am after day 1.
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paulz
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# Posted: 28 Jan 2020 11:47am
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Cool, yeah these things are great.
So this E bike charger I mentioned above, I'm sure it's 24v. Now that I have multiple U27s, if I hook two up in series I could use this charger, I assume, and charge until the green light on the charger lights.
I've never crawled above 12vdc usage so new territory.
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creeky
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# Posted: 28 Jan 2020 04:11pm
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Great thread you guyz. Nice to see more lithium action.
If you charge with solar think about getting a solar controller with a relay. You can have your solar controller (or inverter for that matter if you have the right one) fire a contactor if it sees voltage too high or too low.
There are also voltage sensitive relays but I haven't worked with them.
My system, running since July 1 2016 is still running perfectly. And the LG Chem continue to be the very best batteries. They are amazing.
lithium rules.
Oh. Paulz. Be careful with your genny and your chargers. Its usually a good idea to not run these kinds of equipment at full bore. Particularly the genny.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jan 2020 08:43am
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Thanks Creeky. I should get a solar controller that will charge lithium. Even with limited sunlight the 300 watt Harbor Freight panels I have keep a couple of flooded batteries charged. I have two 100w panels I'm not using, bet they could recharge a Valence in the days I'm away.
Do they have small 12v lithium solar controllers?
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creeky
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# Posted: 29 Jan 2020 02:46pm
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Any solar controller will charge lithium. Its only about the voltage settings.
If you can change the settings. You can charge lithium.
I like the Victron controllers as they have bluetooth programming (by a phone app) and give lots of reports which can be useful for tracking system/battery health etc.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jan 2020 06:04pm
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OK, I thought there was something special about the rate related to voltage. My controller is programmable, what would you suggest for these settings?
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mitchk1303
Member
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# Posted: 3 Feb 2020 03:01pm
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So I recently purchased 3 x 12V U27 XPs. I have been doing a ton of research and I would love to know if I am understanding everything correctly.
I plan on wiring the 3 batteries in parallel as a battery bank for a bus conversion. It sounds like each battery has a BMS built in that solely balances the internal cells. So does this mean that with the 3 batteries in parallel each battery should be internally balanced when charging but the batteries themselves could start to become unbalanced compared to the other 2 batteries in the bank? I'm assuming I could pretty easily fix this issue by every couple of weeks (or whenever necessary according to the software readout) disconnecting each battery from the bank in order to charge it to a specific voltage individually?
Does this sound reasonable to you guys? I would prefer just to get the external BMS which would control the battery balancing in reference to the other batteries in the system but I am struggling to find where to buy the external BMS at. I will have a charge controller which I should be able to set charging limits on in order to protect the battery. Temperature control is another thing I will need to look at.
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