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BQ27510-G3: BQstudio connects to my BQ27510-G3 EVAL board through EV2400, but I can't perform learning cycle

Part Number: BQ27510-G3
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQSTUDIO, BQ27510, EV2400,

Hi there

My name is Patrick and I am currently trying to perform a learning cycle on dual NCR18650B parallel battery pack using BQstudio.  I have my EV2400 hooked up, and my BQ27510 EVM all ready to go with load and charger connected.  I looked up the CHEM ID for Panasonic NCF1850B (ID#2012).  IT comes up as a Nichol Cadmium cell, which isn't right, as my panasonic batteries are NCR18650B Lithium Ion cells,  but at this point I'm just trying to wiggle my toes with this software, so I stayed with ID#2012.  The main problem is that nothing seems to match the learning cycle instruction video that TI provides:

https://training.ti.com/how-perform-successful-learning-cycle-gauges

My register map is severely limited when compared to the map in the video. 

Also, I can't select GAUGE_EN, as there is no GAUGE_EN command in the prompt.  

Without this command, I cannot set QEN to 1, and then reset, which is needed in order to start the learning cycle.  

There is also no visible REST bit.   I'm stuck, and have no idea how to perform a learning cycle.  Everything is connected properly.  Enclosed are some pictures.  Can you please help me to figure this out?  The goal is to make a preliminary golden image for a customer to get started with software, but I'm knee deep in confusion.  I can start logging, but considering that almost nothing matches the video above, I don't know what to do.

Most of the values that I'm supposed to enter aren't available either.  Most of these subsections don't exist:  These are just a few examples.  The FC and TC subclasses don't exist.  None of the Advanced charge algorithm section voltage cells don't exist either.

Also, under data memory, the advanced charge algorithm button doesn't exist.  

I was ready to rock and roll this morning, but nothing seems to match up.  I recognize that a different gas gauge was used in the provided video, and that may have something to do with the problems that I'm having, but I'm not able to get anywhere as of right now, and I've been at it for a few hours.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I'm using a panasonic NCR18650B Lithium ion battery.

Thank you kindly,

Patrick Mitchell

Syntronic Canada

  • Hello Patrick,

    This is an older gauge so some of the process is different from the tutorials and app notes aimed for the newer gauges. All of our gauges will also have different bit registers and data flash values (specified in the TRM) but a majority of the bits are the same for learning cycle and Impedance Track gauging.

    You should be able to find some good information from other forum posts regarding the learning cycle procedure for this gauge: e2e.ti.com/.../learning-cycle-queries-on-bq27510

    Sincerely,

    Wyatt Keller

  • H Wyatt

    Sadly that string didn't help.  I've written automation to take care of the entire learning process (Wait for 5 hours with a discharged battery, then charge to full, then wait for two hours, then discharge to empty and wait for another 5 hours).  I do this with a microcontroller with on-board ADC, and two external relays (Charge and Load).  Update status never changes to either 01 or 02.   It is always at 00.  To make things worse, BQStudio has a series of bugs that I'm witnessing.  One bug is a but that is known to TI, but was never fixed.  You can't load parameters into the Q&A secton.  Everything has to be loaded manually in the "Data memory" section.  That's fine, but it makes things more difficult.  The IT_ENABLE button doesn't do anything.  When I started working with this software and my BQ27510-G3 EVAL board, QEN was always set.  IT was never green.   Always red.  I had to go into data memory and change IT_ENABLE from 01 to 00, and write to the register directly.  From there, QEN was always green, and I could never get it to change to red (set).  I had to manually write it back to 01 in Data memory, but it wouldn't let me half the time. I just got it back to 01 now.  

    I recognize that this is an old chip, but I've been dredging through this for a week now, and have had no luck.  I'm using a battery pack containing two Panasonic NCR18650Bs in parallel.  I'm using Chem-ID#2012.  My procedure has been this:

    1) Try to calibrate.  IT works half the time.  If I calibrate each of the five variables manually, I can usually do it.  If I try more than 1, I get an error...

    2) I then discharge the battery to empty.

    3) Once empty, I press IT_ENABLE and RESET (Although I'm certain that neither of these buttons are doing anything).  I then check to make sure that IT_ENABLE is 01 in Data memory.  I don't know how to manually reset the device, but regardless, QEN is set.

    4) I wait 5 hours for a resting period.  I have a microcontroller keeping time on this.  When 5 hours is up, it turns on a relay to the power supply which charges at a constant 800mA, which is roughly C/2 for one cell.  I wasn't sure if I should double this or not, but I read that charge current shouldn't matter too much.  

    Note: I've tried charging to the full 4.1v, but FC doesn't set.  I tried changing FC# from -1 to 90%, but it doesn't change anything.  I can't get FC to set, even though the battery is well charged.

    6) Once charged, the charge relay turns off, and the microcontroller waits just over two hours before starting the discharge cycle.  This is the fully charged point, and I would expect to see UPDATE_STATUS go from 00 to 01, but it does not.  

    7) I then start discharge at 325mA, which is roughly C/5 for one cell.  I'm not sure if I should double this for two parallel cells?  Once fully discharged, the load relay turns off, and the microcontroller simply keeps the time. After 5 hours, I should see UPDATE)STATUS reach 02, but it remains at 00.

    I'm sure that I can get this to work, but I'm spinning my wheels hard at this point.  Our customer chose this specific chip.  I need some real support. I've read forum after forum and document after document.  I'm not getting anywhere.  It takes a full 24 hours for a learning cycle, and every time I set up my automation, I wake up the next morning to find UDPATE_STATUS at 00.

    I would enclose one of the menu logs that I've created, but they don't seem to exist... I can find them if I try to save a log through BQstudio, but when I check the destination folder, they're gone.  If I try to open them directly when trying to save a new log, I can click on the existing logs and try to open them, but they "no longer exist"...  

    I recognize that you guys likely get a lot of frustrating questions on a daily basis, and I can appreciate that, but please give me a hand here.  Because this chip is so old, the software is killing me.

    I'm using Version 1.3.101

    Thanks,

    Patrick

  • Hi Patrick,

    We have a document here that Is better suited for this gauge: e2e.ti.com/.../7418.Achieving-The-Successful-Learning-Cycle.pdf

    There are some common issues for why qmax is not updating

    • The learning cycle qmax update requires a passed charge of 90%> design capacity between OCV readings
    • VOK not being set during the relax, VOK lets you know when the gauge took an OCV measurement that is valid.

    Please upload the logs from your learning cycle for review.

    Thanks.

    Nick