Set-up

Setting up a Lithiumind™ BMS

• Adjustment tool: small screwdriver, flat blade or Philips
• Temperature controller soldering iron and solder
• Solder wick
• Either a digital voltmeter (DVM), or a computer (laptop) with a serial port (such as through an RS232 - USB dongle)

The Lithiumind must be set up to work with a particular number of cells in series, between 8 and 24 cells.

This involves making solder jumpers on the board.

1. Turn off the power to the BMS
2. Remove the plug(s) in the cell connector, to expose the programming pads
3. Note the sets of pads to program the number of cells: for every cell number, there are 2 pairs of square pads
4. Find the set of pads that corresponds to the desired number of cells
5. Use the soldering iron to place a solder bridge on each of those pairs of pads (2 separate bridges in total)
6. If the BMS had been previously programmed for a different number of cells, use solder wick to remove the other bridges
7. You may want to clip off any unused pins of the PCB connector, for 2 reasons:
   • Decrease the chances of short circuits and shock against the unused pins
   • Making it easier to align the terminal block correctly
8. Reconnect the plug(s) in the cell connector, to cover and protect the programming pads

The Lithiumind can be used with a variety of Lithium cells, in various applications, by adjusting 4 parameters.

In order of voltage, these parameters are:

Name	Function	Suggested voltage
		LiFePO4	Thundersky	LiPo / Standard (Cobalt) Li-Ion
Charger Off	If any cell voltage goes up to this setting, the BMS turns off the charger (by activating the CHGR OFF line)	3.6	4.2	4.2
Balance	While charging, if any cell voltage goes above this setting, the BMS turns on a dummy load across it, to remove its excess charge, so the other cells get a chance to fill up	3.4	4.0	4.0
Reserve	If any cell voltage goes below to this setting, the BMS reduces the available power (by activating the RESERVE line)	2.9	2.9	3.3
Motor Off	If any cell voltage goes down to this setting, the BMS turns off the motor driver(by activating the MTR OFF line)	2.5	2.5	2.9

The voltages above are just suggestions; it is up to you to decide the threshold values that work best in your application.

Make sure that the "Charger Off" voltage is set higher than the "Balance" voltage, and the "Reserve" voltage is set higher than the "Motor Off" voltage.

There are 2 ways of setting these voltages

• With a voltmeter
• With a laptop

1. Power up the BMS
2. Set up the voltmeter in the 20 Vdc range (for auto-ranging voltmeters, the "Vdc" setting)
3. Connect the black lead of the voltmeter to the test point labeled GND
4. Connect the red lead of the voltmeter to the test point labeled "CHG OFF"
5. Adjust the trimmer labeled "CHG OFF" until the voltmeter shows the desired voltage
6. Repeat with the 3 other adjustments
7. Disconnect the voltmeter

1. Power up the BMS
2. Connect the laptop to the BMS to view the monitor display
3. Note the 4 lines in the screen that report the adjustments' settings
4. Adjust the trimmer labeled "CHG OFF" until the reading in the monitor display shows the desired voltage
5. Repeat with the 3 other adjustments
6. Disconnect the laptop

Certain options of the Lithiumind can be selected by making solder jumpers on the board.

Name	Jumper	Function if open (default)	Function with solder bridge
Display	A	Laptop	LCD
Charger Off polarity	B	Normally closed, opened to turn off the charger	Normally open, closed to turn off the charger
Reserve polarity	C	Normally open, closed to reduce power	Normally closed, opened to reduce power
Motor Off polarity	D	Normally closed, opened to turn off the motor	Normally open, closed to turn off the motor

1. Turn off the power to the BMS
2. For safety, remove the plug(s) in the cell connector
3. Note the pads to program the options: there are 4 pairs of square pads, labeled 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D'
4. Find the set of pads marked with the letter that corresponds to an option
5. To select the option, use the soldering iron to place a solder bridge on that pair of pads
6. To deselect the option, use the solder wick to remove a solder bridge on that pair of pads
7. Reconnect the plug(s) in the cell connector