Why did we take this path? Over time, we have received many requests from customers about specific features they would like to see in our chargers. Sometimes we can add these features. Sometimes we do not have enough memory left in the microcontroller to make it happen. Sometimes making a change that one customer wants to see is something other customers do not want changed. But no matter what, the changes require countless hours of meticulous firmware updates and debugging before new firmware updates can be made available.
So, a more powerful microcontroller in combination with the new Open Architecture presets philosophy enables us to make everybody happy, in an efficient and superior way. Adding a new feature, tweaking parameters, fixing problems is as simple as correcting or creating new presets.
Let’s look at a couple of examples. Customer John wants his charger to balance A123 batteries at 100 mA as opposed to 200mA. This is a major decision for any charger manufacturer. Do we update our firmware to change the balance current? Will others like the change? Do we add a capability within the user interface so that John can set it the way he likes it without affecting other users? Do we have enough memory to affect the change? If you read about how FMA or any other manufacturer handles these things, it is usually a pretty inefficient process. The results often please some customers while others complain.
Enter Open Architecture presets. Changing the balance current, or the type of balancing, or how far along in the charge process the balancing begins is all adjustable now. Just go to the preset you wish to alter in the CCS, find the parameter you want to adjust, and you’re done. Now you have a completely customized preset for your specific battery type, situation, or application. Even if you are not the type of customer who wants to dabble in technical matters such as these, you will still benefit from Open Architecture presets. Why? Because first and foremost, FMA is introducing this concept to make it faster and more efficient for us to support the vast myriad of unique requests that we receive on a daily basis. Even if you do not wish to alter charge parameters yourself, you will benefit by gaining access to presets created by experienced technicians. Restoring presets in the CCS is as simple as opening a word processing document on your P.C.
How about some more examples? You want to turn off cold weather mode, set it to a different temperature, or alter the charge voltage reduction level? Simply alter preset parameters. You want an A123 only charger? Easy; copy a single A123 preset to all 25 banks of your charger. Alter the settings of presets individually. Save them out one at a time to your PC or just backup all 25. Got a buddy who wants your settings? Email him the presets backup file. Once he opens the file and uploads them to the charger, he’s got what you got.
Here’s possibly the most important part of all. Don’t spend countless hours trying to interpret cryptic information presented to you on a 2 line LCD. Yes, of course you can make basic settings at the charger. But the most efficient way to make detailed and complex changes to charge parameters is on the PC where you have a gigantic screen, a keyboard, and a mouse. Make the changes to your presets at home. Call them up and use them at the field. Fly at the field, don’t worry about setting up your charger there. You’re likely to make mistakes.
To unleash the full potential of the Multi4, FMA recommends the FUIM2, 2 way P.C. interface and the Multi4 Charge Control Software which will be a free download from the FMA site shortly after the charger's estimated release date.
Everything you asked for:
1. Backlit Liquid Crystal Display
2. High Impact ABS Plastic protective enclosure
3. Multi-Chemistry, supports LiPoly, LiIon, LiFePO4, A123, LiMn, NiCd, NiMH, Pb
4. Supports 2-way P.C. Interface (FUIM2)
5. Enhanced Internet Upgradable (IU) Charge Control Software (free download)
6. IU Firmware support (free for the life of the product)
7. 25 User-Programmable Presets
8. Also includes 50 library presets built into the charger and virtually unlimited potential for presets within the CCS.
9. Presets may be edited at the charger, -or-
10. Advanced editing of presets may be accomplished using the Charge Control Software
11. 200 mA discharging and/or cycling available for all chemistries FEATURE REMOVED
and then some
1. Edit, save, and recall presets one at a time to your PC using the CCS
2. Backup all 25 user programmable presets in the charger to your PC
3. Share custom presets with your friends
4. Edit, save, and recall custom fuel tables to improve the accuracy of AUTO charge modes. Custom fuel tables may be generated from 1C manual charge graphs of Li batteries, included with software upgrades over time, and/or shared with friends over the internet.
5. Alter the individual charger displays to meet your needs. Change the order of any screen or hide screens from displaying. Set each preset to present the information you want the way you want it using the CCS.
6. Open Architecture Presets provide access to over 70 different preset parameters. You don’t have to be an expert to create the perfect charger for yourself. The CCS will ensure that any charger parameters you wish to alter do not violate safety protocols. This feature is for advanced users only, but if you are the type of person who wants to tweak settings to meet your exact requirements, this is the ultimate tool for you.
7. Support for non-balanced charge of A123 packs (up to full output voltage of the charger)
8. Support for non-balanced charge of 2s LiPo for small park flyer batteries.
9. Charge optimizations programmable by preset – select between various options such as “Optimize for faster charging”, “Optimize for accurate balancing”, “Optimize for small LiPo’s”, and more to come.
