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Stand alone WbJr device

Started by WillEert, January 24, 2016, 10:42:42 AM

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WillEert

I have been thinking about how handy the WbJr device is. I cannot find another system that measures actual current flow into the batteries with an add on device. Maybe there is one??? I am wondering if it would be possible to develop an Arduino based stand alone WbJr device using the existing card. I think the ability to measure actual current flow to the batteries on other systems that have lesser charge controllers would be very handy and allow implementation of a diversion control that could limit amps based on current flow. I have been following the discussion on communication to the WbJr but do not fully understand how it gets its results. Possibly the Classic does a lot of computation while the WbJr provides the data. It that is the case the  Classic functions might be replaced by Arduino in some fashion.

Will
(1)24 ET 185 mono, Classic 150,8x Surrette 6CS25p, 4x Magnum 4448, homecooked diversion system;(2)15 Heliene 330 mono,Classic 150;(3)2X6 Hansol345mono, 2 stand alone Hotspot ACDC12C Minisplit heat pumps.(4)15 Hanwha Q cell 400 1/2 cell, Classic 200: (5)1X6 HanwhaQcell 400 1 Hotspot minisplit ACDC18C

ClassicCrazy

The Bogart Engineering Trimetric meter does the same thing . But now the Classic Whizbang does the same thing and even better because the Trimetric was not temperature compensated for the readings. Something with the wiring got a bit messed up on my Trimetric and I didn't even bother to try and fix it since not needed now. The only thing that I miss on the Trimetric was that then you had a nice bright LED display showing the SOC at a glance.

Here is one article on using an Arduino to measure current
http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/arduino/current/current.htm

Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

dgd

Will,
The WBjr is an analogue to digital converter, reading the voltage drop over the shunt and converting it to a digital number that the Classic can process. Its the Classic/Kid's ability in firmware to use the true battery current to control battery charging (EA terminating Absorb) that puts the Classic and KID features way out in front of the competitions controllers.
I'm not aware of other controllers that do this. (ok the Bogart BM can feedback to their Pwm controller)
There are many other devices available for reading DC and AC current and voltage.
The Open Energy Monitor project is one of the best for interfacing to an ARduino and many low cost current sensors on Ebay, eg.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-design-5A-range-Current-Sensor-Module-ACS712-Module-Arduino-module-/181026550454?hash=item2a2605f2b6:g:4kMAAOSwDN1UP4CT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5A-20A-30A-Bi-Directional-AC-DC-Current-Sensor-Module-arduino-compatible-/121686377854?var=&hash=item1c5512c57e:m:mL3gbLqDWKfxk67AOPbwq3Q

dgd
Classic 250, 150,  20 140w, 6 250w PVs, 2Kw turbine, MN ac Clipper, Epanel/MNdc, Trace SW3024E (1997), Century 1050Ah 24V FLA (1999). Arduino power monitoring and web server.  Off grid since 4/2000
West Auckland, New Zealand

ClassicCrazy

I have a trimetric that I some how managed to blow  - maybe the processor ? But if one of you electronic whizzes wants it to play around with you can have it - if I can find where I put it that is !
Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

dgd

Larry,
You should email Bogart as they are pretty good with servicing their stuff.
Especially as the Trimetric is not cheap junk and its worth getting repaired.

dgd
Classic 250, 150,  20 140w, 6 250w PVs, 2Kw turbine, MN ac Clipper, Epanel/MNdc, Trace SW3024E (1997), Century 1050Ah 24V FLA (1999). Arduino power monitoring and web server.  Off grid since 4/2000
West Auckland, New Zealand

ClassicCrazy

I did email Bogart when it first messed up . Never heard a thing back from them.
I guess I should try again - maybe it got lost. It always worked great and not sure what happened. Was moving some wires and it went goofy - don't think I shorted anything out and also had it fused.
But I should contact them again like you say.
Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

dgd

Will,

In my diversion water heating system I used a 30A DC current detector ( from the Ebay link in prev post ).
Power is diverted directly from PVs, either 700w or 1400w from one or two strings of 5S 18v mpv 140w PVs
switched via an SSR, Crydom D2D40 using Float high from AUX1 on Classic.

An Arduino nano measures current flow and voltage from PVs to a 2Kw 100v water heating element and using the wire library sends data on upper and mid tank temperatures, ambient outside tank (and its lagging), current and voltage from PVs plus some timing and summary info to my Arduino DUE wed server. A web page showing this info can be accessed from the main gauges page.
It refreshes data via AJAX every 4 to 5 seconds.

So those current detectors are easy to use and C++ code for Arduino is easily available.

dgd
Classic 250, 150,  20 140w, 6 250w PVs, 2Kw turbine, MN ac Clipper, Epanel/MNdc, Trace SW3024E (1997), Century 1050Ah 24V FLA (1999). Arduino power monitoring and web server.  Off grid since 4/2000
West Auckland, New Zealand

WillEert

Hi David and Larry,

Thanks for the information and thoughts. I realize that what is needed is to use the capabilities of the Arduino to get the battery current information I would like to have. I will learn about my shunt and look at current sensors.  Initially I like the idea of pulling the information from the shunt as I have a shunt already however the voltage will have to compatible although a voltage divider can always be devised.

I am  working on my heating system. I have quite a few temperature sensors measuring my hot water tank (3) in and out (2), well water (1) and floor temps in and out (2) as well as flowmeters measuring floor and hot water flow.  I treated myself to a freetronics ethermega that I hope to use for data collection on the sd card and then use it as a server to interface with my pc. If I can get the diversion control talking to heating system then I hope to be able to determine whole house energy use. Winters in Manitoba may no longer be long enough - once we get this house done and moved into.  :)

Cheers

Will
(1)24 ET 185 mono, Classic 150,8x Surrette 6CS25p, 4x Magnum 4448, homecooked diversion system;(2)15 Heliene 330 mono,Classic 150;(3)2X6 Hansol345mono, 2 stand alone Hotspot ACDC12C Minisplit heat pumps.(4)15 Hanwha Q cell 400 1/2 cell, Classic 200: (5)1X6 HanwhaQcell 400 1 Hotspot minisplit ACDC18C

Cniemand

DGD : Do you have a video of your diversion setup with the relays and arduino and how you went about it?
OFF-GRID @ 8500FT : 2000w Array : 8 - CS6P-250P ; VFX 3648 ; WBjr ; MN CL200 #6738 ; FW #2079  
48v LiFePo4 : 16 - CALB CA 100 aH in Series - 5 kWh ; No Active BMS - Bottom Balanced
Charging Parameters : Bulk - 55v, Absorb - 5 EndAmps @ 55v, Float - 54v or 3.375v per Cell : ZERO EQUALIZE

dgd

#9
Quote from: Cniemand on January 28, 2016, 12:22:34 AM
DGD : Do you have a video of your diversion setup with the relays and arduino and how you went about it?

I never thought about a video but I do have a few photos of the main parts of the system
Below is an MNDC alu box which has the Crydom SSR, a 3 phase bridge rectifier just used as a blocking diode and a decent size 15000uF 200v cap. This was just as I was installing it and the breakers on rhs of MNDC are not installed yet.  PV power in at top lhs and power out to water element at top lhs. PV power out to Classic and red control cable from SSR to Classic Aux1 go out bottom.

dgd
Classic 250, 150,  20 140w, 6 250w PVs, 2Kw turbine, MN ac Clipper, Epanel/MNdc, Trace SW3024E (1997), Century 1050Ah 24V FLA (1999). Arduino power monitoring and web server.  Off grid since 4/2000
West Auckland, New Zealand

Westbranch

Below is an MNDC alu box    ??  no attachment?
KID FW1811 560W >C&D 24V 900Ah AGM
CL150 29032 FW V.2126-NW2097-GP2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3Px4s 140W > 24V 900Ah AGM,
2 Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr, NetGr DS104Hub
Cotek ST1500 Inv  want a 24V  ROSIE Inverter
OmniCharge3024  Eu1/2/3000iGens
West Chilcotin 1680+W to come

dgd

#11
Quote from: Westbranch on January 29, 2016, 11:26:45 AM
Below is an MNDC alu box    ??  no attachment?

Seems the 325k jpeg image does not want to post, I keep getting...

Quote
Internal Server Error

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator and inform them of the time the error occurred, and the actions you performed just before this error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.
Apache Server at kb1uas.com Port 80
Classic 250, 150,  20 140w, 6 250w PVs, 2Kw turbine, MN ac Clipper, Epanel/MNdc, Trace SW3024E (1997), Century 1050Ah 24V FLA (1999). Arduino power monitoring and web server.  Off grid since 4/2000
West Auckland, New Zealand

Westbranch

I seem to remember that ~ 200kB seems to work,    :)
larger ones sort of choke the forum software IIRC...
KID FW1811 560W >C&D 24V 900Ah AGM
CL150 29032 FW V.2126-NW2097-GP2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3Px4s 140W > 24V 900Ah AGM,
2 Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr, NetGr DS104Hub
Cotek ST1500 Inv  want a 24V  ROSIE Inverter
OmniCharge3024  Eu1/2/3000iGens
West Chilcotin 1680+W to come

Cniemand

Pretty Bird! Or is that "free bird" hmm :)
OFF-GRID @ 8500FT : 2000w Array : 8 - CS6P-250P ; VFX 3648 ; WBjr ; MN CL200 #6738 ; FW #2079  
48v LiFePo4 : 16 - CALB CA 100 aH in Series - 5 kWh ; No Active BMS - Bottom Balanced
Charging Parameters : Bulk - 55v, Absorb - 5 EndAmps @ 55v, Float - 54v or 3.375v per Cell : ZERO EQUALIZE

WillEert

I have ordered an ads1115 16 bit adc from ebay. I always have a hard time believing how inexpensive these electronic boards are to buy. When it gets sunny and I have some time I will test it out to see if I can get  a reasonable +/- battery current measurement. Thanks to Larry and David for the information.

Cheers

Will
(1)24 ET 185 mono, Classic 150,8x Surrette 6CS25p, 4x Magnum 4448, homecooked diversion system;(2)15 Heliene 330 mono,Classic 150;(3)2X6 Hansol345mono, 2 stand alone Hotspot ACDC12C Minisplit heat pumps.(4)15 Hanwha Q cell 400 1/2 cell, Classic 200: (5)1X6 HanwhaQcell 400 1 Hotspot minisplit ACDC18C