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BQ20Z45-R1: bq20z45 parts not recognized in our manufacturing process.

Part Number: BQ20Z45-R1
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQ20Z45, BQEVSW, EV2400

We designed in the bq20z45-R1 10 years ago and intend on continuing to use it. Recently purchased bq20z45 chips are giving us an error and will not accept our .dfi file to set them to LiFe cells. Seems there might be a revision to the chip that was not communicated when we recently purchased parts from TI. How would one get -R1 parts ?

  • Hello Ken,

    You can order the BQ20Z45-R1 on the product page directly.

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • So you are saying the bq20z45-R1 is available? We tried to order through distribution and find nothing, so ordered from TI and build product but then found we were sent bq20z45  (no suffix). Is this an older part because it appears from SLUA588 that we were sent older parts? Is the functional difference correctly noted in SLUA588?  Can the parts we received be field updated to -R1 by loading code?  SLUA336B is noted in SLUA588 as a way for that to happen but SLUA336B is not found on the TI site.  bqEVSW that we have for the -R1 does not work with the parts we were sent and our product is non-functional.

  • Hello Ken,

    You should be able to order the R1 firmware versioned parts, if you received none R1 parts you can update the firmware to R1 and then upload your golden image like you see in the documentation.

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • thank you Wyatt. I just checked TI's site and they show none of the parts we need are available. where do you see them available? The parts we got were marked on the outside packaging as non-R1 parts. All of these parts are marked bq20z45 on their cases no matter the revision. You say we can update them but our bqEVSW does not recognize them. old forum posts indicate maybe we need an older bqEVSW (v0.9.59 maybe ?? ; in sluc157 and not sluc175a). Can you give us a link to the older PC code, the needed update  gauge chip code to bring these to -R1, and a bit of instruction on the update process? The instructions might be in slua336b also mentioned in old posts but is not available on TI's site either. Then we can load our chemistry file adjusting file (.DFI) with our current process and get our production line back up. Are you able to please contact us directly? 

  • Hello Ken,

    I was just in contact with Connor about this, I double checked and it looks like we do not have stock of the R1 currently, you have have to order the none R1 part and upload the firmware with the .senc file. Or you would have to order them if they are available from another supplier like Digikey that might still have stock.

    We don't support these parts much anymore due to the age, I will need to check through the archives to see if I can find the installer you need in order to update the firmware.

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • well great, glad Conner is with us.  none are available through distribution. We already built with most of the chips from our last order and then found we had incompatible chips.  We need to reprogram in place.  So we need an old version of bqEVSW for these parts to be accessed (sluc157 ??), the appropriate .senc file( ??), and the process instructions (slua336b  ??) .  Can we get these resources today or within the next day or so?

  • Hello Ken,

    I shared an installer with Connor, he should forward it to you. Let us know if it works for you.

    We can forward the default .senc file as well but I need to know the version and build you were using previously.

    The process would be to upload the default .senc file to upgrade to the R1, then use your regular .dfi file to finish. The .senc upload is in the pro tab of bqeasy.

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • well I did find slcu157 so have profiles for more than our expected 20z45R1 (v1.05). starting bqEVSW gives me a choice of that and 20z45 with v0.02, v1.00,v1.01,v1.03,v1.04  None of them are working for us. All give "No communication with EVM Gas gauge could be established. Please check connnections."......yadah, yadah.    Swapping out for a known good pack with the expected gauge and all is good. We see the programming tab at the bottom of the Pro screen. We will need more help in accessing these parts we received as they are not giving up easily their current state. We will need the .SENC file please.  Have not heard a bit from Connor. ................................Oh, I find him in the an alternate folder.  in contact now....

  • Hello Ken,

    Please share screenshots with the errors you see. The installer I sent should work for that gauge (BQ20Z45), if it is not working there may be an issue with the gauge you are communicating with or the hardware. Have you verified it's not in shutdown mode or powered off? REG25 should have voltage if the device is powered and not in shutdown. Also double check the hardware connections to the EV2400 module.

    Also I need to know the build and version number of your previous parts in order to share the .senc file with Connor.

    The firmware version command is in the TRM A.1.1.2 Firmware Version (0x0002).

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • we have 2.5v out on pin 26. the setup works with the same boards and a bq20z45R1 installed. 

    We are using EV2300, not 2400.

    How do we determine the build and version of the parts we have in hand?

    What is TRM A.1.1.2 Firmware Version (0x0002) ?

    Does it matter which of these builds I try first? (tried them all and none work)

    finally the word write does nothing either:

    We have been using bq20Z45-R1  (v1.05) for 11-12 years. It is our certified product so will be an issue for us to change it.

    all of a sudden parts, purchased from TI instead of our normal distribution, do not work...

    clock and data are wiggling.

    TRM:

     ok yes , if only the chips would respond to ANY commands.  They do not.

    We removed some of the recently purchased parts from a few boards and placed some of our old stocked parts and that allows our product to work.

    What next?

  • Hello Ken,

    It looks like the gauge is not communicating at all, the most common reasons for this is the gauge going to shutdown, it's not powered, or there's a hardware connection issue. It should detect the gauge if it is communicating. Make sure you are applying voltage on the pack+/pack- pins to keep the gauge awake if it is trying to shutdown.

    Even if you have the wrong version you should be able to read data from the part with the pro tab.

    TRM = Technical Reference Manual, it is linked on the parts product page and defines all the registers and operation. The section for the command to read the version is:  A.1.1.2 Firmware Version (0x0002) 

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • Wyatt,

    The parts we received recently were v1.04 after checking parts that were not put through our complete process.  Our first run with them all appear bricked after trying to load our chemistry and data files.

    We will need the v1.05 firmware file to attempt the update of the chips we have left that have not been bricked.

    Thanks.

  • Hello Ken,

    I just sent the files to Connor for version 0105, he should forward them shortly.

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller