Welcome to cheali-charger!

This project is an alternative firmware for the G.T. POWER A6-10 200W or IMAX B6 Lipo charger.

Don't use it if You don't need to
(not everything is implemented yet).

Any feedback is very welcome!
https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger

• Li-ion, LiPo and LiFe:
  • charging
  • fast charging
  • charging + balancing at the same time
  • discharging
  • balancing
  • storage
  • storage + balancing
• NiCd and NiMH:
  • charging, method: -dV/dT
  • discharging
  • cycling (not implemented yet)
• NiZn: - not well tested!
  • charging
  • fast charging
  • charging + balancing at the same time
  • discharging
  • balancing
• Pb: - not well tested!
  • charging
  • discharging
• Internal resistance display
  • single cell resistance
  • whole battery resistance
  • battery leads resistance
• Internal and external temperature monitoring
• Overcharge and overdischarge monitoring
• Input voltage monitoring
• Memory for 32 batteries
• LogView support
• CALIBATION!

Please CALIBRATE the charger before use!
Use an external temperature probe.
(if You like your house ;) )

• G.T. POWER A6-10 200W (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__7386__GT_A_6_10_200W_Balance_charger_discharger.html)
• IMAX B6 Charger/Discharger 1-6 Cells:
  • original:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__5548__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_.html
  • clone:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15379__IMAX_B6_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_COPY_.html
• .... - any suggestions are very welcome

dependencies: cmake, avrdude, avr-libc, gcc-avr

user@~$ sudo apt-get install cmake avrdude avr-libc gcc-avr git

user@~$ git clone https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger.git
user@~$ cd cheali-charger

user@~/cheali-charger$ ./bootstrap
user@~/cheali-charger$ make

flashing GTPowerA6-10 with USBasp:

user@~/cheali-charger$ cd src/hardware/GTPowerA6-10-original/
user@~/cheali-charger/src/hardware/GTPowerA6-10-original$ ./progUSBasp.sh

flashing imaxB6-original with USBasp:

user@~/cheali-charger$ cd src/hardware/imaxB6-original/
user@~/cheali-charger/src/hardware/imaxB6-original$ ./progUSBasp.sh

flashing imaxB6-clone with USBasp:

user@~/cheali-charger$ cd src/hardware/imaxB6-clone/
user@~/cheali-charger/src/hardware/imaxB6-clone$ ./progUSBasp.sh

Now You should see a "ChealiCharger welcome" screen.

Done.

• Connect a standard AVR ISP 10-pin cable to the board: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/GTPowerA6-10/front.jpg
• set "Device" to: atmega32
• use the cheali-charger/hex/cheali-charger-GTPowerA6-10-0.32.hex file as "Flash"

• Connect a AVR ISP to the board, make sure that you have the appropriate connector!
  • IMAX B6 - original: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/imaxB6/imaxB6-original-front.jpg
  • IMAX B6 - clone: https://github.com/stawel/cheali-charger/blob/master/docs/imaxB6/imaxB6-clone-front.jpg
• set "Device" to: atmega32
• use the cheali-charger/hex/cheali-charger-imaxB6-original-0.32.hex (or cheali-charger-imaxB6-clone-0.32.hex) file as "Flash"

Connect a NOT fully charged LiPo battery to the main leads and the balance port.

go to: "options"->"calibrate":

• voltage calibration: go to "voltage"
  • use a voltmeter to measure the voltage of all cells and the power supply voltage (Vin)
    and set the values in the appropriate fields.
• charge current calibration: go to "I charge"
  connect your ampere meter in series with the battery on the red wire! (+)
  • go to: "50mA"
    press "Inc", "Dec" buttons until the amperemeter shows 50mA
    press "start" button for a few seconds
  • go to: "1000mA"
    press "Inc", "Dec" buttons until the amperemeter shows 1000mA
    press "start" button for a few seconds
    WARNING: the battery will be charged with high current!
• discharge current calibration: go to "I discharge"
  Repeat the same steps as before
  WARNING: the battery will be discharged with high current!
• when needed: external (internal) temperature probe calibration: go to "temp extern" ("temp intern") You have to set two calibration points

Done.

If you think that the accuracy on the first two cells is not satisfying,
you can try to calibrate the voltage on the first three pins on the balance port.
(be aware that on some chargers this can be dangerous)

• disconnect everything from the charger
• measure the resistance between the BLACK battery plug and the first pin on the balance port
  • if the resistance is very low (<1k Ohm), stop this procedure!
• connect the power supply, and go to "options"->"calibrate"->"expert DANGER!"
• connect a 1.5V battery through a 1k-10k Ohm resistor to the BLACK battery plug (-) and the first pin on the balance port (+).
• measure the voltage between the BLACK battery plug and the first pin on the balance port and set the appropriate value on: "Vb0pin"
• disconnect the battery.
• connect a 2-cell (or more) LiPo battery.
• measure the voltage between the BLACK battery plug and the second and third pin on the balance port and set the appropriate value on: "Vb1pin" and "Vb2pin"
• Done - after that You should proceed with the normal calibration.

• After flashing charger doesn't work:
  • set the atmega fuses to: lfuse=0xde, hfuse=0xd7 and reflash the device.

If you have any questions or suggestions please write to us at: cheali-chargerATgooglegroups.com
or visit: http://groups.google.com/group/cheali-charger
The mailing list is open for all.

Have fun!