Low Battery Warning most of the time?

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Posted by Thomas A. Frank.

Engineer on team #121, The Islanders/Rhode Warrior, from Middletown (RI) High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 2/21/2000 11:58 AM MST



Hello All;

Is anyone else finding that the low battery warning is overly sensitive? It seems to come on under heavy acceleration even with a fully charged battery, yet we can run well over an hour without difficulty.

We've tried altering the limit, with only moderate success.

It's a pity we can't put in a filter routine to require low voltage for say 10 cycle counts before reporting it as a problem...especially when it isn't.

Tom Frank

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 2/21/2000 7:05 PM MST


In Reply to: Low Battery Warning most of the time? posted by Thomas A. Frank on 2/21/2000 11:58 AM MST:



We had a similar problem when first trying out our drive train, but after altering the code in the program, seemed to correct this error. It is definately way too sensitive, though I wonder at your voltage level. What is the reading of power when your light kicks on?

Lora

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Posted by Thomas A. Frank.

Engineer on team #121, The Islanders/Rhode Warrior, from Middletown (RI) High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 2/21/2000 7:09 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Low Battery Warning most of the time? posted by Lora Knepper on 2/21/2000 7:05 PM MST:



: We had a similar problem when first trying out our drive train, but after altering the code in the program, seemed to correct this error. It is definately way too sensitive, though I wonder at your voltage level. What is the reading of power when your light kicks on?


We have reduced the trigger voltage to 8 volts, and it still comes on (blinks, not solid) most of the time. We know it's a false, as it occurs even with a fresh battery, and we have run well over an hour with the light one.

We've got a Hobbes meter on the machine (running hour meter), and have over 24 hours of run time, and the light just doesn't mean anything.

Tom Frank

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Posted by Nate Smith.

Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 2/21/2000 9:33 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Low Battery Warning most of the time? posted by Thomas A. Frank on 2/21/2000 7:09 PM MST:



: : We had a similar problem when first trying out our drive train, but after altering the code in the program, seemed to correct this error. It is definately way too sensitive, though I wonder at your voltage level. What is the reading of power when your light kicks on?

:
: We have reduced the trigger voltage to 8 volts, and it still comes on (blinks, not solid) most of the time. We know it's a false, as it occurs even with a fresh battery, and we have run well over an hour with the light one.

: We've got a Hobbes meter on the machine (running hour meter), and have over 24 hours of run time, and the light just doesn't mean anything.

: Tom Frank


The Low Battery light seems to trigger if a temporary current draw pulls the voltage under the trigger value, and won't reset until you reset the RC using the button on the RC. As for customizing the Low Battery light, unfortunately, you can't control it directly, but if you really wanted to, you could retrieve the battery voltage in your SERIN command and do the necessary number crunching for a time delay, using one of the robot feedback lights as your actual Low Battery Indicator. Just a thought...

Nate

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Posted by Ken Patton.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 2/22/2000 3:10 PM MST


In Reply to: Low Battery Warning most of the time? posted by Thomas A. Frank on 2/21/2000 11:58 AM MST:



Ours comes on in the transient high load conditions also. We're learning to ignore it, have not made any code changes to make it go away.

Ken