I've got a battery management unit that is reluctant to demonstrate functionality. The vendor's terminal com software seems non-functional (will not install).
So far the only evidence of life is a control line (one of three) hard on, and rare /XFFE /FFF signalled outputs on the rs232 port. Internal DC-DC fails to power LEM sensor. Balancing terminals seem inactive.
Can anyone recommend a tutorial on poking a serial port for status / data register contents ?
It should be reporting on the voltage of four LiFePO4 batteries, powering a LEM sensor and reporting current. Many other undocumented features for I/O via remote terminal. Has CAN port, which seems to be used only for control power and crude 'run' (input) /'stop charging' (output) LF/DC signals.
I'm in touch with the overseas vendor, but they seem reluctant to comment on their SW functionality or test criteria for the unit. Outgoing photographs and diagrams from here, mostly, so far. The manual and it's diagrams don't make much sense, refering to non-existent hardware or unavailable interface modules.
Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to chart the identity, labelling and function of I/O terminals, but these are largely ignored in subsequent diagrams or instructions.
Mostly used in SE Asia or the Indian subcontinent. English version is only recently available.
RL