Originally Posted by BlueAngel2000

I have cleaned the pcb and made a last test:
The same result as before.
Balancing still not work.


Sometimes when tried to upgrade, the upgrade software writes following when i press update:
connecting ...
connecting again ..
then came a window with: "connection error 0"
when i press update again:
connecting ..
then came the standard window like always: "Not find device"


Junsi:
I can live with not upgrading the software, but not with a charger which balancing function not working.
What can i do to get that working?

i am so frustrated.
Get a new perfect charger and killed the balance function in 2 days.

While you may have killed the balance function, if the charger is still working o.k. otherwise, you can use a stand alone balancer as a work around.

question : when using CHARGE WITHOUT BALANCING, the 106 terminates the proces when lcc/10 is reached ... isn't that too early ? are the lipos full enough ?

I think you will find there is very little capacity difference between terminating at Icc/10 and Icc/20.

There is also the factor that lipos last longer if charged to less than 100%. That is one reason I set the balance mode to Fast and use Fast Charge when not balancing. My packs end up at about 4.17V/cell. I get the same flight time as if I had charged them to 4.20V/cell but my packs should last a lot longer. Plus my packs are ready sooner so I get to fly more often

Originally Posted by BlueAngel2000

I have cleaned the pcb and made a last test:
The same result as before.
Balancing still not work.


Sometimes when tried to upgrade, the upgrade software writes following when i press update:
connecting ...
connecting again ..
then came a window with: "connection error 0"
when i press update again:
connecting ..
then came the standard window like always: "Not find device"


Junsi:
I can live with not upgrading the software, but not with a charger which balancing function not working.
What can i do to get that working?

i am so frustrated.
Get a new perfect charger and killed the balance function in 2 days.

Hello BlueAngel2000,
I had sent you a PM, please check!

Regards,
Junsi

Originally Posted by junsi

Hello,
Sorry to say that the iCharger with USB are under consideration, It will take times!

Regards,
Junsi

Do you have any idea when? Because I have to buy a new charger and I would like a iCharger.
But I am a bit concerned about soldering. Especially by reading the problems some users have with doing the mod by themself.
So any time window? 1 week 3 weeks 6 months?

Originally Posted by ivanhoes

Do you have any idea when? Because I have to buy a new charger and I would like a iCharger.
But I am a bit concerned about soldering. Especially by reading the problems some users have with doing the mod by themself.
So any time window? 1 week 3 weeks 6 months?

Morning,

an other way for Junsi if it is take time to build in an USB connection, you can also delivery with the next iCharger an interface for the RS232-TTL connexion and found a solution for the connection and connector inside.
Maybe do you have access in the industry to special connector that we have not for the common.

Fabrice

Yes,

I think it would be enough to include a way to connect an interface, which could be bought independently. Maybe compatible with one of the USB/TTL interfaces which have been mentioned here (from ESCs etc.).

- Oliver

I totally agree with Fab66 and Smeagle.

There is no need to have a "real" USB Interface in the charger. A serial 232 would do it as well i.e.
Important is only (at least for me) not to solder around at a new charger. So any kind of "out of the box" connection would be highly appreciated.

Yep!

My other chargers have Rs232, and it works like a charm.

Will it be possible to get data out of the TTL RS232 interface now used for upgrading? If so can one expect future versions of firmware that have dataoutput through this one?

Fred

Originally Posted by thomanie

Tried swapping TX and RX too, now that we know your adapter board works?

T

I am not sure I fully understand how the connection is to be made between the charger and the TTL interface. Which way should this be connected TX to TX and RX to RX or just the opposite? There seems to be confusion without answers on this question.


I did find this photo which seems to show how it should be hooked up.

Originally Posted by Phoenex

I am not sure I fully understand how the connection is to be made between the charger and the TTL interface.

When you hook up two chips like this, chipA TX should connect to chipB RX, and opposite. chipB should listen (RX) to what chipA says (TX), and opposite. That simple, really.

But...

This starts getting 'interesting' when you have multiple chips chained like the upgrade setup we use here. Add to that some uncertainty as to dongle labeling, and add a dab of picture error, and you can see this wandering off.

To my (non-electronics-head) understanding the picture in the upgrade manual is wrongly labelled. It tells you what pin on the max232 chip each pad should get, not what its function is.
Pin 9 (or 12) on the max232 chip (TX TTL) should go to the pad labeled "TX TTL" (which happens to be the charger internal microcontrollers RX TTL).
Pins 10 (or 11) on the max232 chip (RX TTL) should go to the pad labeled "RX TTL" (which happens to be the charger internal microcontrollers TX TTL).

T

Well were into next week nd still no chargers at HC... Junsi have you shipped them yet please?

thomanie-

Thanks for clearing this up. I will try the upgrade when the USB TTL device shows up and report back. My two 106B's were shipped with version 3.01 of the Firmware. I have had them running testing charge/discharge processes. I am very impressed so far. They are easy to use and quite powerful making them a great value. Once I get parallel, balance charging setup and test it out, I am going to sell off many of my other chargers these will be replacing. Has anyone tested the new ability to charge a Transmitter without diode bypass or is this a feature added to a future update that has not been released yet?

I'm convinced

Just put down a backorder at HC.

Peter