|
|
Post by 1finium on Sept 12, 2019 22:24:51 GMT -8
Hi,
I use the SunControl Advanced Solar Controller with OurWeather Complete Weather Kit since August 2017. Everything was fine until now excepted the AM2315 stability.
But last week the Lithium Ion Battery Pack (3.7V 6600mAh) seems to be dead (0V). I ran test on another SunControl Advanced Solar Controller. Tested both batteries and one chip (738712AA) on the board become really warm. Even with USB input charger the new battery seems to discharge when plugged in (3.4V -> 3.2V).
What can I do to fix that ?
Thank you in advance.
|
|
|
|
Post by lbendlin on Sept 13, 2019 2:44:26 GMT -8
has the physical appearance of the battery changed? I had a similar case where the battery bloated up, probably shorted inside, and took the controller with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by 1finium on Sept 13, 2019 10:42:27 GMT -8
The battery looks good, then SunControl board are broken too ?
|
|
|
|
Post by lbendlin on Sept 13, 2019 11:41:15 GMT -8
Can you charge the battery via different means (different board or external charging circuit? Not bloating is definitely good, but it could still be shorting inside.
Besides the chip, does the 4R7 get hot too?
|
|
|
|
Post by SDL on Sept 13, 2019 18:19:15 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by 1finium on Sept 15, 2019 12:56:50 GMT -8
I have 2 SunControl Advanced one on the OurWeather Complete Weather Kit and the other one as spare but they both seems broken. I used the second one with the USB input.
A 6,2V Zener Diode across the solar panel
|
|
|
|
Post by SDL on Sept 15, 2019 15:10:23 GMT -8
You should use a 5.6V Zener. 6.2V is above the spec and may blow the units.
BP
|
|
|
|
Post by 1finium on Oct 2, 2019 7:00:55 GMT -8
OK, I bought a new SunControl Advanced board with a 5.6V 10W ZENER. Now the new battery is fully charged. Maybe I don't understand the operating values of the board but the input voltage (Vin Solar) is 4.8V to 6.5V That's why the 6.2V Zener was used in my case.
lbendlin Maybe adding a fuse between the battery and the board can help to avoid a dead controller on next battery problem? |
|
|
|
Post by lbendlin on Oct 2, 2019 7:18:55 GMT -8
Interesting idea with the fuse - I just don't know if there is one on the market that is fast enough to react. I also don't know if the cause was overvoltage (where the fuse would be useless) or overcurrent from the battery, or maybe a short.
Reminds me of my times in the Johannesburg office where we would install very elaborate lightning protection devices just to see the lightning walk right through them into the servers that the devices were supposed to protect, taking both down. We ended up with a fully air gapped setup that would activate in thunderstorm conditions. But I digress...
|
|
|
|
Post by SDL on Oct 2, 2019 10:06:51 GMT -8
The problem is not only the 5.6V. The charge controller used on SunControl does not like voltages above 5.6V. It increases the 5V booster circuit to go above 5V, which is not good for computers! 5.25V is the max it should be.
I don't think a fuse would work. It's a voltage thing and not so much current. When this happens (V above 5.6V) it is when there really isn't much current flowing into the battery and so the voltage on the solar panel goes up. And then phhhhhtttt.
BP
|
|
|
|
Post by 1finium on Oct 5, 2019 4:40:08 GMT -8
Thanks for your reply, I put all back in the field and it's seems fine now ![]() The board and battery :  |
|
|
|
Post by SDL on Oct 6, 2019 16:22:43 GMT -8
I LOVE your heat sink. That is a macho Heat sink! Make sure that the bottom is not touching the battery! It could melt through the battery.
BP
|
|
