Lacrosse looks OK if you buy it cheap enough.

These people suggest the La Crosse may have had meltdown issues
This was 2007.

        http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3D252188

Lotsa Amazon La Crosse stuff.

         http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=3Dbl_sr_kitchen?_encoding=3DUTF8&node=
=3D1055398&field-brandtextbin=3DLa%20Crosse%20Technology


If you want to pay full price

    http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/9009/bc9009.php

$42

     http://www.lacrosse-psmall.com/la-crosse-bc-9009.html


Manuals

  http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/700/manual.pdf

http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/900/manual.pdf

http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/9009/manual.pdf






              Russell




On 20 November 2010 00:37, RussellMc <apptechnz@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hey, what do you guys think of this project?
>>
>> http://www.stefanv.com/electronics/battman2.html
>>
>> I've been looking to make or buy a computer controlled battery
>> charger/discharger with voltage/temperature monitoring.
>
>
> Schematic
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 http://www.stefanv.com/rcstuff/battman2/schematic.gif
>
> Looks bearable.
> 4040 driven DAC for ADC is archaic but makes use of parallel port access =
easy.
> Current setting is also primitive and biased towards parallel port use.
> Use with a USB to parallel port converter would usually be required
> and may work OK in many cases.
>
> Saving grace is that this can (must) be software driven by the PC and
> the software can be extremely accommodating.
>
> I haven't looked at their software but it sounds as if they have at
> least some idea of that they are doing.
>
> This could be easily accomplished with a USB to PIC connection and
> parallel port emulation may allow existing software to be used oir
> they may allow access to the interface / BIOs to allow kluging/APIs
> whatever.
>
> This is only single channel and while it could be N channel the
> software and port arrangements probably make that messy or hard or
> worse.
>
> Understanding the basics of this circuit would allow you to easily
> implement a multichannel version that was at least as good with an eg
> single USB connected controller.
>
> Using even slow software PWM would allow current setting for charge
> and discharge at much higher resolution and flexibility.
> Use of processor ADC allows 4040 method to be banished.
>
> I have one of the MAHA chargers mentioned and, while it has
> limitations that it shouldn't have it is utterly marvellous and very
> useful. The Lacrosse BC9009 / BC900 looks capable and is chaper than
> I've seen the MAHA. I'd say that for serious use, if the laCrosse or
> MAHA met your needs then they would be value enough for money to buy.
> If you have specialist needs then rolling your own would gbe "not too
> hard" tm and could be very worthwhile.
>
>
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Russell McMahon
>

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