1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Enginer PHEV automatic over/under voltage protection

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by Daox, Jan 6, 2010.

  1. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Daox

    do u have a schematic ? or just a sketch ? i was thinking of using 3 relays, 2 to detect the alarm from the two cellog; as each is at a different voltage reference. The 3rd is rigged to disconnect the charger upon alarm, indefinitely until AC is unplugged.
     
  2. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, thats pretty much how my setup is working. The opto-isolators are really just mini relays for logic controls (and are cheap).

    I don't have any schematics and all my sketches thus far are incomplete. I will definitely be drawing some up, but I'm still going back and forth on how to take care of the two power source issue. I've been told that simply adding diodes may not be enough due to induction from the AC lines through the chassis.
     
  3. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    what's the opto isolator part number ? you're right, i just checked jameco.com; it's less than $1 each. but the one i've found has 1.5v input max.

    what are the two power source issue ?
     
  4. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The opto-isolator I'm using is the LTV-816. There are many out there that will work though.

    The two power source issue is only kind of an issue I guess. When plugged in, the arduino gets power from the 5v dc power supply that runs off the 110V AC. When the car is on and kit is on, the arduino gets power from the 12v ready wire. With that setup, you can't have the car on when you plug in or bad things will happen. I may just stick some diodes in there and leave it at that since the chance that it would actually happen are fairly rare. However, it would be nice to have a full solution for the problem.
     
  5. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, pbui had a very good suggestion, get a diagram up. So, I did this over lunch. Please poke holes in it so I can improve it. :)

    The main problem I've been talking about is the 5v and 12v possible power supplies going to the arduino. I drew in the current fix which is to put diodes on each input supply. But, there is still concern about using them and possible induction problems through the chassis with the 110V.

    CL = celllog
    816 = opto isolator
    SSR = solid state relay

    [​IMG]
     
  6. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Daox - you can't connect the cellog (-) alarm pin together, one is at 0v from cell 1 and the other is at 24v from cell 9. You will fry your cellog
     
  7. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Whoops, yes you are totally right. Those need to be split up and run to their corresponding pack negative terminals.

    Updated the diagram.
     
  8. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Daox - your diagram still shows cellogs' CL1- & CL2- pins grounded. I think these are float with respect to the car chassis ground. Their outputs are ok referencing to ground. Since the LTV816 input is rated max of 6v; i guess you're connecting to just the first cell, 3v, of their respective pack ?

    I was going to use relays; but I think I'll try these opto to drive my latching relay, a simple DPDT relay.
     
  9. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yup, that is the plan. No need to worry about unbalancing as they'll only be on momentarily as the system shuts down. This should take less than a second.
     
  10. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I guess you'll update your diagram later to remove grounding of the two alarm low pins.

    This diagram shows auto disabling of the charger, what is your plan to shut down with low cell voltage while driving ? if the arduino is not used during driving, then you don't really need to power it with the 12v ready and can eliminate the two diodes.
     
  11. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, sorry, I'm not real knowledgeable when it comes to electronic schematics. :) I believe its now updated correctly.

    I have also expanded it to show the low voltage disconnect. It simply cuts the 12v power to the converter just like you'd turn the switch off.

    I have yet to select a relay here. I'm not sure how much amperage the converter requires. Hopefully not too much.

    reposting the image since we're on a new page (for me at least).

    [​IMG]
     
  12. dan2l

    dan2l 2014 Prius v wagon

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    654
    263
    5
    Location:
    Vancouver Wasington
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Where is the dash switch? This shows running off the ready 12v so it implys being on all the time that the car is on. I know that is not what you intend.

    Thanks,
    Dan
     
  13. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have updated the schematic again. I got some input from mrbigh to put in a 5v regulator with some capacitors to protect the arduino. It certainly can't hurt.

    Dan, the phev switch would actually be where I'm drawing the arduino 12v power from. I named this the ready wire in my schematic, but now have renamed it.
     
  14. pbui

    pbui Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    190
    13
    1
    Location:
    Los Gatos, northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Daox - I got word from Jack that he thinks he'll ship the auto charge cut-off upgrade in two weeks, may be you don't need to complete this, unless you want to of course.
     
  15. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Haha, that figures.

    I will finish it though. My setup will have also have a low voltage cutoff.
     
  16. Daox

    Daox Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    196
    58
    0
    Location:
    US, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I went to install my automatic disconnect circuit into the Prius today. I quickly found that it was going to be a big pain to do with the kit in the car and at least some batteries would need to come out. I'm glad I came to this realization, because I found a few things I wouldn't otherwise.

    This is the first thing I saw. It appears as thought the hold down was starting to wear away the casing on this battery. Over time, I don't know if it would have gone through, but its something to look out for.

    [​IMG]




    The next thing I found was much worse. It appears one of my batteries failed on me. I'm not sure how. The bolt was quite snug yet. But, you can see that the heat from the first battery got to the second one too. So, I'll need to get those both replaced.
    [​IMG]



    So, I finished up removing the kit. It is sitting inside again, waiting on parts...
     
  17. dan2l

    dan2l 2014 Prius v wagon

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    654
    263
    5
    Location:
    Vancouver Wasington
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Hi Doax,
    This wearing on the case is no big deal. The plastic case is not the case for the cells. There are 3 round blue sealed cells inside each gray plastic housing. You have a full 1/8 of an inch of gray plastic. So what you are seeing here is trivial. Enginer does install a clear flexible matt on the contact points for the cells, but it looks like they did not do this on the hold-downs. You could add a little bit of rubber sheet material here.

    This heating is caused by having some resistance in the connection at the contact point. This is not caused by the cells themselves. The cell contact points are an inch or so away from this contact point and your heating is clearly not coming from the area where the cell is inside the gray plastic housing. This contact resistance can either be from a loose bolt or from a poor weld inside the gray plastic between the stainless molded in nut and the internal leadframe.

    Get an infrared heat gun. After you reassemble the pack, run it in the car for a long drive. Stop but leave it on then use the infrared gun to check the temperature of all the connections. A warm connection would need to be tightened. I had a connection point that felt snug but was warm. A little tightening solved the issue. Remember that snug at ambient temperature can become loose when it gets warm and really loose after it gets hot.

    You initially had only one hot spot. The second cell started to melt because the heat from the first hotspot traveled down the copper strap. Copper is a really good conductor of heat.

    When you put the pack back together put the Copper bar with 4 connections close to the bottom of the box. Put them in in groups of 4. Then after a row of cells is in, put the flexible straps on the top to tie the groups of 4 together. That way the flexible straps will not loosen from handling during installation.

    Hope this is helpful.
    Dan
     
  18. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle


    There it goes for the Mottcell quality.
    I would ask for the replacement of the full pack with the newer type.
     
  19. dan2l

    dan2l 2014 Prius v wagon

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    654
    263
    5
    Location:
    Vancouver Wasington
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Don't be so fast to blame Mottcell.

    There is more chance that this is not Mottcells fault than that it is. The gray case needs to be opened by an experienced person to make the determination.

    Enginer has been very good about giving warranty replacements. I am sure that Jack will take care of Doax's needs on this.

    But also we all need to be sure that our connections are tight so that things like this do not happen because of contact resistance.


    Thanks,
    Dan
     
  20. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    3,461
    537
    0
    Location:
    Wheelersburg, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    In that last picture it kind of looks like the bolt on the left was not tight all the way. Was the bolt loosened up before taking the picture?