Linear Technology DC2100A Demo Manual page 9

Quick start proceDure
values from Table 1. It is not recommended to change
these, however, from the factory measured settings. The
capacity of each cell can also be stored in the DC2100A.
The capacity and balance currents will be used in a later
release of firmware for the DC2100A-C, which will employ
an autonomous balancing algorithm.
The DC2100A GUI installed with the QuikEval software, will
always contain the most up to date version of Firmware
for the DC2100A. In order to update the firmware, press
the Update Firmware button in the Control Panel.
Figure 13. Update Firmware Button
After confirming that the Firmware should be updated, a
command line window will be launched in which the PIC18
on the DC2100A is first erased, and then reprogrammed.Do
not remove power from the DC2100A while the Firmware
is being updated.
Figure 14. Firmware Update Window
Cell Balancer Efficiency Measurements
Figure 32 shows the proper connections for measuring
the efficiency of a cell balancer. The secondary of the cell
balancer connects to the top of stack. This connection
needs to be to an isolated power source through a cur-
rent sensing resistor (0.10Ω). Cells 1 through 6 are
DEMO MANUAL DC2100A
connected to the BOT6_TS turret with its return path the
V- turret while Cells 7 through 12 are connected to the
TOP6_TS turret with its return path the C6 turret. These
isolated power sources simulate a stack of cells from 3
to 12 cells. The primary side connection of the cell bal-
ancers are connected to a string of power sources that
simulate the battery stack. Cell 1 power source is a two
wire connection that connects the positive node, through
a current sensing resistor (0.01Ω), to the C1 turret, and
the negative node to the V- turret. Remote sense connec-
tions for power sources with remote sensing capabilities
should be connected to the C1 and V- respectively. All other
connections of the simulated string of cells connect their
positive node, through a current sensing resistor (0.01Ω),
to respective turrets. Cell voltage measurements should be
made across the C(x) and C(x-1) turrets of the respective
cells. Stack voltage measurements should be made at the
BOT6_TS and TOP6_TS turrets and their return path turret.
To calculate cell balancer efficiency use the expressions
below:
Cells 1-6
Charge Mode
Vm • Vm
1
Efficiency =
1
Vm • Vm
3
Discharge Mode
Vm • Vm
3
Efficiency =
1
Vm • Vm
1
Cells 7-12
Charge Mode
Vm • Vm
5
=
Efficiency
11
Vm
7
Discharge Mode
Vm
7
Efficiency =
11
Vm • Vm
5
•10
2
•100%
4
4
•100%
•10
2
•10
6
•100%
• Vm
8
• Vm
8
•100%
•10
6
dc2100afa
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