Classic Software options discussion

[TomW]

Yep, looks like the kinda device that should be running Ubuntu! haha

With the single chip computers available it sounds like a neat idea. Nah, wouldn't work. Folks would be buying Classics to run them as workstations and drive the prices up

However, an add on mini computer module with control, logging & SD card storage tools sure would be treat.

Just sayin..

Tom

[psyfy]

Yep, looks like the kinda device that should be running Ubuntu! haha

With the single chip computers available it sounds like a neat idea. Nah, wouldn't work. Folks would be buying Classics to run them as workstations and drive the prices up

However, an add on mini computer module with control, logging & SD card storage tools sure would be treat.

Just sayin..

Tom

For sure! Yeah, massive distributed computing using an array of paralleled Classics. What Arm based uP is it using again? 

To extend that functionality, the best mini computer would have to be a Smartphone with access to the logged data done either via LAN (Cat.5 or Wifi), Bluetooth etc.

Actually DGLux for Mango on a Smartphone would be the answer. Guess what I'm saying is, why would you need a display on the device in the first place... Just pair a Classic Lite with an ever ubiquitous Smartphone like the iPhone or Galaxy running Mango and wallah! 4.3" of real estate, full color and multiple dashboards.

So much awesomeness... and a hundred and fifty bucks cheaper too. Actually, can do that right now.

Just postulatin...

[boB]

Yep, looks like the kinda device that should be running Ubuntu! haha

With the single chip computers available it sounds like a neat idea. Nah, wouldn't work. Folks would be buying Classics to run them as workstations and drive the prices up

However, an add on mini computer module with control, logging & SD card storage tools sure would be treat.

Just sayin..

Tom

I don't think you're going to be able to run linux on a micro with less than 50K of RAM and less than 256K of flash.

Not to mention having any room left over for any kind of application.   (but I mentioned it anyway)

Also, not to mention that almost anyone trying to play with even open source software for a CC would most likely blow the CC up
at the first mistake.  That's why we let the smoke out here first !  (oops...  I mentioned it again, didn't I ?!?)

Actually, one could re-write the firmware from scratch but I kinda guess that would kind of void the warranty, huh ?
We'd probably try to hire anybody that was successful in doing that though, even if they did let the smoke out.

boB

[TomW]

Ryan;

Haha, I thought you cornered the market on piles of desmoked Classics so beware you don't lose the title!

Tom.

[niel]

if the battery bank is not in use i'm sure you would probably be able to charge it up 1/2 at a time.

as to the pvs, you aren't going to get around the rewire, but it isn't as complicated as you make it sound.

1/2 at a time? Thanks but it's a muck around with a 50kwh battery. CC's like the Midnite current sources right, so 12v@~100a=1200w, 24v@~100a=2400w & 48v@~100a=4800w.
So 48v will adequately cover the C10 recharge rate but 24v will take twice as long. At $5- a Gallon of Gas for the 10kva genset, that makes a bit of a difference.

Though does it really matter? Nah! Just being pedantic I guess.

well i did state if you weren't using the batteries as a prerequisite and yes it is going to take twice as long at your $5/gallon, but if you prefer even more money down the drain by not charging them, be my guest. watch the spanking when people try to help you as we could spank back.

[psyfy]

well i did state if you weren't using the batteries as a prerequisite and yes it is going to take twice as long at your $5/gallon, but if you prefer even more money down the drain by not charging them, be my guest. watch the spanking when people try to help you as we could spank back.

Spanking... sorry, left my monkey at home... Seriously, I didn't realize that it was like that.

All good.

[psyfy]

Yep, looks like the kinda device that should be running Ubuntu! haha

With the single chip computers available it sounds like a neat idea. Nah, wouldn't work. Folks would be buying Classics to run them as workstations and drive the prices up

However, an add on mini computer module with control, logging & SD card storage tools sure would be treat.

Just sayin..

Tom

I don't think you're going to be able to run linux on a micro with less than 50K of RAM and less than 256K of flash.

Not to mention having any room left over for any kind of application.   (but I mentioned it anyway)

Also, not to mention that almost anyone trying to play with even open source software for a CC would most likely blow the CC up
at the first mistake.  That's why we let the smoke out here first !  (oops...  I mentioned it again, didn't I ?!?)

Actually, one could re-write the firmware from scratch but I kinda guess that would kind of void the warranty, huh ?
We'd probably try to hire anybody that was successful in doing that though, even if they did let the smoke out.

boB

50k/256k? Definitely not an Arm in that case but maybe an 8bit uP like a PIC, HC08 or an Atmel. For the record, my crust comes from coding for the latter but not for SMPS stuff. Vending machines, steppers, big gantry servos and a few other things.

Opensource on power electronics would never be a good idea, unless via an API. Otherwise, bound to get some hack doing an &&outp(0xFF, port_a); or some such and latching both buck/boost IGBT's or MOSFETS gates high. No need to elaborate really... Just lots of smoke and an 'unenameled' choke.

Hard call. I'll have to buy one now. Actually, hang on, I just did online for $610.00. Couldn't help myself. First thing I'll do is take a phillips headand... hahaha

[stephendv]

Opensource on power electronics would never be a good idea, unless via an API.

Yeah I agree.  It would be awesome if the Classic could support the base functionality through it's closed and reliable onboard software and then exposed an API which would let you take full control of it.
Would be even better if the API could be accessed over an already established protocol, like modbus and then instead of using an old serial protocol, you could talk to it over ethernet.

Oh wait, it already does all of that   

[psyfy]

Oh wait, it already does all of that   

Cool, sounds great! So Stephen, when you've a spare minute, can you show me how to implement a 'roll your own' Boost algorithm.

Ta.

[dgd]

Yep, looks like the kinda device that should be running Ubuntu! haha

However, an add on mini computer module with control, logging & SD card storage tools sure would be treat.

having  hardware add on modules like this seems like a great idea, I would have liked to see this.
However, the concept of the  LITE Classic with all the display, setup and logging  software done externally is the future.. 
Just need the iphone app, a simple version of the local app that shows Classic activity 

dgd

[dgd]

Also, not to mention that almost anyone trying to play with even open source software for a CC would most likely blow the CC up
at the first mistake.  That's why we let the smoke out here first !  (oops...  I mentioned it again, didn't I ?!?)

Actually, one could re-write the firmware from scratch but I kinda guess that would kind of void the warranty, huh ?
We'd probably try to hire anybody that was successful in doing that though, even if they did let the smoke out.

boB

I think that the smoking should probably be left to you.
What I had in mind with open sourcing the CC firmware was simply making the code available so that other minds could review it  and maybe from that there could originate a useful suggestion or two or twenty.  But I can appreciate there may be concerns that it gives a potential competitor ideas for their own mppt controller.
The local app is a different matter, please open source it asap 

dgd

[stephendv]

Cool, sounds great! So Stephen, when you've a spare minute, can you show me how to implement a 'roll your own' Boost algorithm.

Hehe, does "it's not exposed by the current API" count as an answer?   And just to double check with the midnite guys, would it be possible to implement boost externally through modbus?

[mtdoc]

However, the concept of the  LITE Classic with all the display, setup and logging  software done externally is the future.. 
Just need the iphone app, a simple version of the local app that shows Classic activity 

dgd

Already easy to do this with VNC.  I run Remoter on my iPhone and can access the Local App anywhere, anytime.

[Westbranch]

TomW, can we split this 'programing ' topic off into its own as I think the 24-48 aspect has been concluded.  I think the CPU portion has 'legs', long ones...

tks

[TomW]

TomW, can we split this 'programing ' topic off into its own as I think the 24-48 aspect has been concluded.  I think the CPU portion has 'legs', long ones...

tks

Certainly makes sense just not exactly sure "how" to do it without losing something.

Tom