Display shows the temperature of all 4 probes, the programmed temperature cut-off is displayed in the middle of the display
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Display shows the safety delta used should the user forget to place pack on the temperature module |
Display shows the temperature of all 4 probes, the programmed temperature cut-off is displayed in the middle of the display |
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Temperature Detection
Pro-Trak has peak detect cut-off and temperature detect cut-off programmed into it. When used with the optional temperature module, charge can be terminated when the cells reach a programmed temperature.
Temperature cut-off can be dangerous, if the temperature probe fails or falls out during charge there is nothing to stop charge. This would result in the pack exploding because of overcharging.
Pro-Trak monitors 4 temperature probes and will terminate charge when any of them reach the programmed temperature. When selecting temperature charge you will also be asked for a safety delta, should all the probes fail then charge is terminated at this delta.
The temperature cut-off is set in the set-up menu, step down to set-up press "0" then press "0" again to set temperature cut-off. Use the scroll keys to step the value up or down, press 0 to enter the value. The display also shows the temperature of all 4 probes (A)
A |
B |
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Probe 1 |
Probe 2 |
Probe 1 |
Probe 2 |
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25`C |
Cut-Off |
23`C |
37`C |
F/B |
37`C |
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24`C |
40`C |
24`C |
40`C |
0.23v |
37`C |
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Probe 3 |
Probe 4 |
Probe 3 |
Probe 4 |
During charge pressing key 9 will display the temperature of all 4 probes and the cut-off level that is set. The cut-off can be changed here if required by pressing the scroll keys and pressing key "0" If you do not change the value Pro-Trak returns to the charge display after 10 seconds.
After charge is complete Pro-Trak will display the temperature of the probes when charge was terminated. It also displays the fallback volts of the pack. (B)
If there were a big difference in the cell temperatures it would suggest that the pack is not balanced and should be equalised.
If the temperature of the cells has not reached the temperature cut-off level, the safety delta you set is not high enough and charge has been terminated when the fallback reached the safety delta.
Setting the safety delta
If you set a safety delta of 0.40 for the first charge you will be able to see what value should be set when charge is terminated.
If the temperature cut-off was set at 40`C the following ( C ) would indicate that a realistic safety delta would be 0.26v
C |
D |
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Probe 1 |
Probe 2 |
Probe 1 |
Probe 2 |
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37`C |
F/B |
37`C |
34`C |
Cutoff |
36`C |
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40`C |
0.23v |
38`C |
35`C |
40`C |
34`C |
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Probe 3 |
Probe 4 |
Probe 3 |
Probe 4 |
Every 6 seconds during charge the display will show the temperature of all 4 probes and the temperature cut-off ( D )
Ignoring safety delta.
If packs have stood for a long time they could reach a delta of more than 0.50 volts before the temperature reaches the cut-off level If a value of 0.50 is programmed into the safety delta no safety delta is used and charging continues until the cut-off temperature is reached.
We have seen cells having a delta of 1.03 volts before they reach the cut-off temperature.
The temperature of the probes is also displayed in the view menu. From the main menu press key 4 to enter the view menu, scroll down to Pro1 RT. This is the temperature of probe 1 in Real Time, press key "0" to view the temperature of all 4 probes. Press "0" again to return to the view menu. Scroll down to Pro1 Chrg, this is the temperature of probe 1 when charging was stopped. Press key "0" to see the value of all 4 probes, press "0" again to return to the view menu.
The Pro# Chrg figure is logged when charging is stopped so even if the cells have cooled down you can see what temperature they were at when charging stopped.