Editing Smart Battery Charger with Graphical Data Logger

=== Summary  ===

*Name: Smart Battery Charger with Graphical Data Logger
*Status: still developing, java is close to working.
*Technology: Java -- should run on many platforms, Windows 98 through Vista, Mac, Linux  PIC, could be BitWacker or even other microcontroller with serial port.
*Author: russ_hensel ( where you can find an email address to reach me )
*License: not fully determined, but open source and object code.

Purpose:

*A smart [[battery]] charger ( one component of which is a PC ) for charging, discharging... NiCad, Nickel Metal, and perhaps other battery types.
*Graphical record of the charge current and voltag.
*A complete log of activity is provided both to the screen and to a log file.

This is one of a series of articles on Microcontroller Serial Communications, rooted at this site here: [[Microcontroller Serial Communications Articles]]

==Collaborator Anyone? ==
Anyone want to help with this project?  I have plans for the hardware, but software could support a lot of variants, and you may prefer a different hardware configuration.  The Java software I will work on untill it works well enough, but I could use testers, and once it works well enough the code will be open and available for others to enhance.

''Some people at the [http://forum.sparkfun.com/viewtopic.php?t=13801 Sparkfun forum] seem interested.''

=== Ways of Collaborating ===

Anything you want to do is fine, it could include:

* Just building ( and testing ) the charger
* Improving and/or extending the board, a more compact board, adding a PIC and power supply..... are possible ideas.
* Writing alternative PC interfaces for the hardware, some might prefer .Net or....
* Enhancing the Java program ( you need to let me finish what I am doing first )
* Testing the Java -- some can be done using any device with a serial port, I have a simulator that substitutes for some of the hardware.
* You can just lurk, that is participate in a stealth mode.
* Add to the list anything that occurs to you, I will let you know if it works for me.

== OverView ==
=== Screen ===

[[Image:SBC_SS.png | Comming Soon ]]

Notes:


* Comming soon

=== Some Features ===

*Has most of the general features of [[RS232/USB Probe]] but specialized to the BitWacker, there are special fields for input and output which are treated as the most appropriate data type: for example the io configuration of a port is entered in binary for easier understanding of the input.  The buttons remember the command string and formats up the command string ( after validating the inputs ).

*Does not support the bulk commands, support is for the commands with a single response.

*Checks for and reports BitWacker errors.


== Hardware ==

Hardware will come in 3 parts, the powersupply, the microcontroller and the analog charger section.

=== PIC Hardware ===

BitWacker will be fine, will also have some alternatives.
We will need 2 analog inputs, 2 digital outputs, and a third digital or analog output.

=== Analog Charger Hardware ===

Circuit overview.  An operational amplifier and darlington transistor will be used as a constant current source.  A second operational amplifier will amplify the current signal for input to the PIC.  A third operational amplifier will amplify and condition the voltage signal for the PIC.  The operational amplifiers will be powered by a single 5 volt power supply. Input voltage will be between 12 and 25 volts so that many cell batteries can be charged.  To reverse the current for discharge 2, 2 pole relays will be used.  The relays could be replaced by a double pole double throw switch ( the user, not the software would have to be used to throw the switch ). 

Board design will be in Eagle, single sided for Toner Transfer.


Schematic (preliminary)

[[Image:SC_C.png]]

Board (preliminary)

[[Image:SC_B.png]]

== Software ==

=== PIC Software ===

*Off the shelf BitWacker Software should be fine if used with BitWacker.
*Will have a BoostC implementation for the PIC16F877A and similar
*Roll your own, will need 2 AD inputs, 1 output, and serial link.

=== PC Software ===

Java Based have almost working version.

==== Menu Choices ====

* File -> Exit      
** Closes the comm port and exits the application.

* File -> About the Application  
** About Box for the Application

* More comming as work proceeds.

=== Download and Install ===

See the page [[BitWacker PIC and Other Microcontroller to Java Communications]] for the Java Components.  For the microcontroller and other hardware email me.

=== Command Details ===

comming.....

=== Bugs and Enhancements ===

See the list at [[RS232Probe Enhancements and Bugs]] a list for all the related applications.