ddodge
Junior Member
Posts: 75 
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Post by ddodge on Feb 19, 2019 6:32:25 GMT -8
SDL: I have the SunAirPlus board (recent purchase) and things have seemed to be going ok with it. I have 3 solar panels from the OurWeather extension kit. I have also posted issues I am having in another thread (with the USB power board). Today, the system is still on the workbench, it's a cloudy day and I have almost 4v coming from the panels. However, there is no voltage on JP4. A few times my meter indicated the voltage was slowing rising but then it went right back to zero. I ran the INA3221 example code. Results below. I am still trying to understand what I am seeing but at first glance I am asking myself if the board is even charging the battery or could the battery be bad? (I uploaded a pic for you). Please help set me straight....
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LIPO_Battery Bus Voltage: 0.02 V
LIPO_Battery Shunt Voltage: 0.00 mV
LIPO_Battery Load Voltage: 0.02 V
LIPO_Battery Current 1: 0.00 mA
Solar Cell Bus Voltage 2: 4.26 V
Solar Cell Shunt Voltage 2: -0.28 mV
Solar Cell Load Voltage 2: 4.26 V
Solar Cell Current 2: 2.80 mA
Output Bus Voltage 3: 2.42 V
Output Shunt Voltage 3: 0.00 mV
Output Load Voltage 3: 2.42 V
Output Current 3: 0.00 mA
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ddodge
Junior Member
Posts: 75
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Post by ddodge on Feb 19, 2019 6:59:58 GMT -8
Here is about an hour late when the Board decided to give some voltage to the battery:
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LIPO_Battery Bus Voltage: 2.11 V
LIPO_Battery Shunt Voltage: 0.00 mV
LIPO_Battery Load Voltage: 2.11 V
LIPO_Battery Current 1: 0.00 mA
Solar Cell Bus Voltage 2: 4.58 V
Solar Cell Shunt Voltage 2: -0.68 mV
Solar Cell Load Voltage 2: 4.58 V
Solar Cell Current 2: 6.80 mA
Output Bus Voltage 3: 4.04 V
Output Shunt Voltage 3: 0.16 mV
Output Load Voltage 3: 4.04 V
Output Current 3: 1.60 mA
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ddodge
Junior Member
Posts: 75
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Post by ddodge on Feb 19, 2019 7:23:22 GMT -8
Adding an external USB power supply to the mini USB plug has some affect BUT JP4 still only has <3v on it so the USB Power control board will not power my OurWeather board even though the USB output plug has almost 5v on it.
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LIPO_Battery Bus Voltage: 2.97 V
LIPO_Battery Shunt Voltage: -8.84 mV
LIPO_Battery Load Voltage: 2.96 V
LIPO_Battery Current 1: 88.40 mA
Solar Cell Bus Voltage 2: 5.12 V
Solar Cell Shunt Voltage 2: -0.40 mV
Solar Cell Load Voltage 2: 5.12 V
Solar Cell Current 2: 4.00 mA
Output Bus Voltage 3: 4.98 V
Output Shunt Voltage 3: 0.24 mV
Output Load Voltage 3: 4.98 V
Output Current 3: 2.40 mA
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Post by SDL on Feb 20, 2019 18:37:03 GMT -8
Your battery is not charging. You have a very low battery (below 3.4 or so). So that is why USB PowerControl won't turn on as you surmised. If your battery is charging, it will show negative current.
BP
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ddodge
Junior Member
Posts: 75
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Post by ddodge on Feb 21, 2019 12:20:57 GMT -8
Thanks. After waiting a while and actually taking the USB control out of the picture.
So my guess is that the battery is charging Since I have negative current on it.
BTW, the voltage on J4 took all day to build up to trigger the USB board. That voltage usually sits at 3.1v
Now my readings are:
Battery Voltage: 3.58V
Battery Current: -38.40mA
SolarPanel Voltage: 4.75V
SolarPanel Current: 340.80mA
Load Voltage: 4.94V
Load Current: 204.40mA
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Post by lbendlin on Feb 21, 2019 14:11:28 GMT -8
Thankfully you were able to revive the battery, normally they do not recover from such deep discharge.
When using the USB cable to charge, try various power adapters. Some of them will only deliver 20mA, others 200 mA etc. The charging circuit can push up to 1A into the battery but (I think) only via the solar panels. Best I have been able to achieve with USB cable is 200mA, and that will take about a day to charge your battery.
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