PL6 Error Code

[Cobradave]

Hi All

I am just using my PL6 for the first time. I have this connected to an MPA board using the MPA-FRC adapter cable. I have the PL6 set to charge XH batteries.

I have successfully charged through this set up a Turnigy 2200 2 cell battery where it correctly idenitified and measured the 2 cells as they charged.

I have now come to parallel charge my two main Turnigy 3300 6 cell batteries and I am getting an error code - 'Bad Cell Count, Node Wiring XH'. I have tried charging one at a time, tried using different ports etc. and still get the same message. I have depowered and repowered the unit etc. Having a look around the forums the next step seems to be using a digital volt meter to check the output on (I think) the output from the adapter cable coming from the charger (into MPA), the output on each of the balancing ports on the MPA, and the output on each of the balancing port elements of the battery, to see what voltage they are reading.

As I don't have a DVM (Although I probably should get one anyway!) is there anything else I am missing before I go down this route? Would it be worth buying a straight Adapter Board (JST-XH PL8GPKOSTD) for £7 and plugging this straight into the PL6 and seeing if it will charge a single battery then?

I have very little electronics knowledge so any help gratefully appreciated but please keep it basic! TRying to learn as I go.

many thanks
Dave

[rudi]

Are you specifying 6 cells in the Presets' detection tab or are you using AutoDetect?

[maddog7]

Hi Fella,
Set the node wiring type in the charger to FMA.
Also if you want to charge at more than 10amps without creating profile/table choose the high power lipo option.
D

[Cobradave]

Tx, will look at those settings. I thought the mpa board meant i had to set to xh, but will try FMA.
to date I have just been using the first auto option setting when turning on, the generic accurate lipo charge, so have not preset any specific cell count.
dave

[maddog7]

Neither will you need to mate after you get the node setting correct, the charger will sort it out from there. I think what's happening at the minute is it cant tell how many cells are in the pack because it thinks the balance tap is wired differently.
Hope this helps
D

[Cobradave]

Ok, set to FMA and now it's not finding any battery packs, so guess I need to set it back to xh and look at other options?

[maddog7]

Cobradave,
Where did you buy your PL6 from?
D

[Bronek]

Ok, set to FMA and now it's not finding any battery packs, so guess I need to set it back to xh and look at other options?

Yes, if you use PMA with PL , the wiring mode should be XH. It's documented at Revolectrix

[Cobradave]

Yes, thought so, but worth a try.
i got the pl6 from fast lad.
d

[maddog7]

The reason I asked is because when I got mine, the people I got it from gave me the wrong adaptor board. After I got the correct one it still gave the same error your getting. At that point I was very confused. Did a bit of digging on't web and found that the wiring type needed to be changed to FMA. Luckily for me it worked as soon as I changed it.
Perhaps if your using the Fused FMA para board the setting are different?
Sorry it didn't help.
D

[Cobradave]

thanks for helping, I'll give them a call and see what they say, otherwise back to the drawing board!

cheers

Dave

[Cobradave]

Ok, fastlad could not help. So am waiting on call back from opti fuel.
in the mean time I have plugged one lipo into mpa with power lead and balance lead, have then tested the end of the white lead that goes from the mpa into the pl6. It is correctly outputting the voltage for each cell, building up to the c23volts by the time I get to the 6th cell. So this looks ok. Can anyone tell me, if whilst plugged into this configuration with the pl6 off, should I also be able to get the 23volts off the power leads that go from the mpa to the pl6 as well? When the battery is unplugged I get the right voltage from testing the output on the discharge leads of the battery itself, but when plugged into the Mpa with the balance lead I get no reading, is this right or not?
tx

dave

[Red3]

hi can i ask if you got it from fastlad why they could not help?
i will plug my one in tomorrow morning and see what i get. cant do it tonight of out in a bit

[maddog7]

Cobradave,
Can you post a pic of your battery hooked up to your charger, high resolution enough to be able to see the markings on the boards etc?
Cheers
D

[Cobradave]

DSCN5021.jpgDSCN5023.jpg

Hopefully a couple of photos attached. Fast Lad did try, but had not come across the problem I described, so passed me on to the suppliers.
If you see anything obviously wrong please shout!
cheers
Dave