I am just starting to use a BQ27510EVM. Do I need to connect a charger or a power supply and a fresh discharged battery for it tto start the learning cycle?
I'm assuming you have completed the prior steps in bqEASY before reaching step 5 (Learning Cycle).
At this point you must be using the actual cell that you plan to use in production.
You must also have identified the best ChemID match to your cell in step 4 of bqEASY and programmed the corresponding default chemistry values into your IC.
Then your cell must be discharged AND relaxed (let it sit for at least 5 hours).
Then (continuing to follow the procedure outlined in bqEASY step 5) you will enable IT (click the button, or send command 0x21 to the Control() register).
Then you will start charging, either with your actual charger or with a power supply set to 4.2V and with the current limited to about C/2.
Once the charging is complete (and the gauge shows the FC bit is set/red on the DataRAM screen), let the cell relax for at least 2 hours.
Confirm that Update Status (Data Flash screen, Gas Gauging tab) has changed from 0 to 1.
Now you can begin your discharge at about C/5. Be sure to stop the discharge at some point below your terminate voltage. Do NOT discharge your battery to 0V (that will destroy your battery). Do NOT discharge your battery so low that the gauge shuts down. Discharge to no lower than 2.8V, then shut off the load and allow the battery to relax at least 5 hours. At some point during the relaxation, Update Status should change from 1 to 2. Assuming you get this to happen, your learning cycle has been successful.
No, I have not started usign the BQeasy software. I just tried using the software by plugging the eval module to a 3.6V supply and it said
What would have caused this error. Iam unable to do anythign with eval kit at all..
Did your eval kit include an EV2300 (USB-I2C box)?
First you must plug it in to your PC and allow the drivers to be installed. It will install TWO drivers and you might have to interact with the dialogues to get them installed. If you plug the EV2300 into another USB port, it will need to install the drivers again for that port. Anytime you plug it into a new USB port, it will need to install the drivers, FYI.
However, once you have the drivers installed, you can start the bq Evaluation Software. If it finds an EV2300 plugged in, it will hook into it. If there is a powered EVM plugged into the EV2300, it will query it for the device and firmware version. If you have installed that version of EVSW, it will automatically launch. If you don't have that version or there is no EVM or EV2300 plugged in, it will pop up the dialogue box where you can select your device and version. If you pick one and continue, but it can't find a gauge to talk to, it will give you the message you just saw.
So...
First plug in the EV2300 to your PC by USB and make sure the drivers are installed.
Second, connect the I2C port of the EV2300 to the I2C connector on your bq27510EVM.
Third, apply 3-4.2V across the Pack+ and Pack- connectors on the bq27510EVM.
Fourth, start your bq Evaluation Software (EVSW).
If this is what you did and you still got the error, let me know.
the I2C lines..and there is nothing on it?? Would the IC hv gone offf?
I just went through the whole process again and noted down the points that I did, and they are exactly the way that you have told. I downloaded and run the BQeval uation file, and then connected the EV2300, it then asks for the drivers, so run the drivers(2 of them)..and everything like hw u said, Still it gives me the same message. AFter that,I tried probing the REG25 pin,jus to see if the IC is getting powered, and I found it does. After this I opened the eval software, and it gave a different message this time around:" device incompatible..... continue at ur own risk""..i clicked ok..thn i checked the I2C lines..and there is nothing on it?? Would the IC hv gone offf?
could somebody please give some suggestions as to waht needs to be done!
It sounds like your communication is fine but you have a different version of firmware in your IC than the version of EVSW that you are running.
Despite the warning message, go ahead and click "Refresh" on the DataRAM screen. It should read a bunch of registers and they should turn color on your screen instead of gray if the reading is successful. Give me a screenshot of this. The top bar of the window will show the firmware version that EVSW is expecting. The bottom bar of the window will show the version actually read from the IC. Did you upgrade to bq27510-G1 (v1.12) yet?
When you say there is nothing on the I2C lines, do you mean there is no voltage as measured with a voltmeter, or there are no waveforms as measured by an oscilloscope? If you are not actively communicating with the IC (by clicking Refresh, for example) then the lines will be low.
Hi David,
Thanks a lot for your reply....I think ,like hwo u say there is a firmware version problem.. How do I get around it?However, I have attached the screen shot for your reference:
Regarding the I2C lines, they are high when the board is powered, and when ths software is enabled, it goes low. Hence,I never saw any voltage on the line. BUt, when I refresh, it goes high and it does toggle everytime I refresh. THe other thing now,is thatI have to click on refresh manually for the software to update the readings, Is it normally like that or is it because of the firmware ver problem or is it yet another problem?
You need to upgrade the IC first by following the instructions in SLUA453A:
Updating Firmware with the bq2750x and EVM (Rev. A)
You will use the SENC file in the Tools & Software section of the bq27510-G1 Product Folder on ti.com:
bq27510 v1.12 Senc (Rev. A)
Skip straight to page 5 if you don't need to save any of your current data flash settings.
After upgrading, you will need to re-calibrate since those values will be wiped out.
It is normal to click Refresh to update the values on the DataRAM screen, unless you have checked the Keep Scanning box. You can change the scan rate in the Options menu. You can also selectively scan only certain commands/registers by making sure only the desired ones have checks in the boxes next to them in the Scan column.
HI David,
Thanks for your response.I am working on your sugestion. Meanwhile do you think its necessary for me to recalibrate? Because,I havent started connecting it to a bateryso far.If this works, it will be the first time, I get to work properly with the Eval module adn software.
It seems to have worked!Thanks a lot!NOW, to get to using the eval module, I should first connect a charged battery, and go to the BQEASY,enter all the values and do a chemistry selection.rite?
Great!
Yes, go through bqEASY step-by-step and you should be fine.
However, on the calibration step it is best to use an external power supply in place of the battery since you will use a 1A load for calibrating the current reading.
I usually just use an external supply up until I'm ready to do step 4 (Chemistry selection) and step 5 (Cycling for learning).
I have a few more queries ...COuld you please help me!
1)It says the default .dfi file bq....0_00 was not found,instead can I use a bq27510_1_11.dfi to start with?
2)My battey chemistry is not found on the list.What should be done?-click on Enable cycling, and how does the data generated be used?
3)FOr Chemistry cycling, I shud connect the battery and use the circuit diagram as mentioned?
4)When you say charge to C/100 taper current,.what does it imply?.(Normally we just charge it to 1A)?
5)And, should the charging done with eval board connected(via the charger pins on the board)or using a power supply with the eval board not connected( Like hw we normaly charge?)