This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

BQ34Z100EVM: Need assistance in setting up the BQ34Z100-G1 for first usage

Part Number: BQ34Z100EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQSTUDIO, BQ34Z100-G1, EV2400, GPCCHEM, BQ40Z50

Hello,

We are using the BQ34Z100-G1 evaluation board as a fuel gauge for feasibility studies of battery cells in a research project. After having having set up the board and BQStudio (via EV2400) I am able to read register values as reported by the gauge, the I2C comm. works well, and have also set the data parameters as per the battery cells after reading the data-sheet/user guides.

I am quite a new user of any of your EVMs/ICs. So now, from my understanding the next steps are to :

  1. Firstly, Calibrate the gauge (current and voltage mainly as stated in the guide)
  2. Then ,Carry out a charge/discharge/rest to program the CHEM ID (following this)
  3. Finally Carry out a learning cycle for the gauge to read correct values

Is this correct & also a Necessary approach? Before I star to read reliable values? (Since, right now the voltage/SOC/current vary greatly as soon as I attach a load to BAT+,PACK-)

If yes, there are a few questions:

  1. Before going to steps 2 and 3 I must calibrate the gauge. I followed the steps (okay for voltage etc.) but I am unable to calibrate the current before proceeding. It always shows a ~500mA offset from zero even after calibration to -1000mA repeatedly

  2. The GPC tool is a must to use? or can i select a battery from the given list of chemistries (what is recommended?). Is the CHEM ID determination based on 1 cell or whole battery (say 2S or 3S)?

  3. After chem id programming the learning cycle is to be done only ONCE or multiple times? What if we need to switch between (1S, 2S, 3S etc.) must we do multiple learning cycles for each? Can these cycles be saved so we can do tests faster and keep switching the batteries?

I have have subsequent questions to move ahead. I would appreciate some help in getting the gauge up and running. Thanks !

Best Regards,

Shrey KALRA
Research Assoc.
MAE (NTU) Singapore