08/09/2009 Progress

EV Charger

• Further experiment ... 60cm of 10A power cable is OK (after balance taps - does not affect outcome).
• This means shunt balancer does not need to be located directly on the balance taps.
• Further experiment ... Close connection between sense resistors and power source improves outcomes.

• Decided definitely not mount on the Kart itself.
• Decided definitely 2 x PCB.
• Created new PCB, with close connections. 5 channels per board. With space for further control circuitry (ie BM6 mounting, and RSP-1000 control.

• Control circuit must "latch" ... otherwise it will cycle between "on" and "off".
• All Jaycar double throw relays (ie simple solution) require 12V.
• All Farnell relays are $11.00 +++ and come from the UK only.
• Designed a latching circuit using a dual optocoupler.

• Created the dual optocoupler latch on the breadboard. Works !! Hooray !!
• Tested optocoupler latch with remainder of circuit. Works !! Hooray !!
• Tested optocoupler latch with RSP-1000-48 power supply. Works !! Hooray !!
• Thoroughly tested ... with "Shunting" and "Over-current" output. Good !
• Over-current operates the optocoupler at 1.3A. This, as it turns out, is fortuitous ... because it is the level at which the shunting isn't so accurate (because of the resistance effect of the balance tap wires).