Overkill Solar BMS bluetooth won't connect to Android phone when charging

[sausalitomike]

My Overkill Solar BMS bluetooth connection has started acting weird. If the battery is being charged, I can't connect the Android app at all. If I disconnect the solar panels (or it's dark out) the app connects extremely fast.

If I disconnect the panels and launch the app, I can then reconnect the panels and the app stays working. However, it's very sluggish and takes a long time to read a change in the load or charge current.

I've disconnected the balance leads and the bluetooth module to try to reboot it, but I still get the same problem.

Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas how to solve it? I sent an email to Steve, but didn't get a response.

Thanks!

 

[HRTKD]

I have not experienced that issue with the app and my two Overkill Solar BMS. What version of the app are you using?

 

[sausalitomike]

Android version 3.1.1026, and I didn't have this problem when I first installed the app. I was wondering if it's a problem with the bluetooth card.

 

[HRTKD]

Is the bluetooth module lighting up blue when you try to connect to it?

I'm using the same version of the app on Android.

It almost sounds like there is interference with the bluetooth signal.

 

[sausalitomike]

When charging, the bluetooth module lights up blue and the app asks for a password. I enter "123456", but there's no connection.

If the battery isn't being charged, I don't have to enter a password and I get an immediate connection.

The phone is less than a foot from the battery when I do this, so not much chance for interference. It's also happened in locations from the middle of the desert to the middle of a city.

 

[HRTKD]

When charging, the bluetooth module lights up blue and the app asks for a password. I enter "123456", but there's no connection.

If the battery isn't being charged, I don't have to enter a password and I get an immediate connection.

The phone is less than a foot from the battery when I do this, so not much chance for interference. It's also happened in locations from the middle of the desert to the middle of a city.

Something is wrong. I haven't been prompted for a password for 8 months since the initial install/configuration. It may just be the bluetooth module.

Contact Steve at Overkill Solar. He'll get you working again. Send him a link to this thread so you don't have to repeat yourself.

 

[sausalitomike]

I'll send another email to Steve. Thanks Jim!

 

[Koontzy]

mine is doing the same thing. I guessed it have to do with interference while charging. Mine is a aliexpress version

 

[HRTKD]

How close is your bluetooth module located to the BMS and battery? Could you move the module away and retest?

 

[sausalitomike]

On mine, the bluetooth module is attached to the battery right next to the BMS. I'll try moving it.

Still no response from Steve at Overkill Solar.

 

[Leocorno]

Same thing here. Emails to Steve and Will.

 

[NwO2kMouse]

I am having the same problem, except the app is not and has never asked for a password when I try to connect to the BMS. I wish it did though because I changed my password hoping for better security, but that is a separate issue.

When I first installed the app for the first time, it worked fine even while charging. After a few hours it started to bog down and refresh data once every 10 to 15 seconds(only while charging.) Parameters menus became hard to access, sometimes causing app to crash.

I was able to get into the "protection of information" page under the "battery state" side menu option. After 30 seconds it slowly loaded the data and I noticed all the numbers were 0 except for "charging low temperature times." This number was rising rapidly with each refresh as seen below.

The first screenshot was taken about 10 seconds after turning charging back on and after having reinstalled the app. Each screenshot after that was taken when it would finally refresh the data (about 15 seconds apart.)

I'm a newbie at this but I think something is causing this "event" to be logged rapidly and repeatedly and I'm guessing it has something to do with the app getting bogged down. And I don't think it is my two temp sensors because on the dashboard they both read about 27°c.

 

[nate_syd]

Issues here as well...
I set this up yesterday & charging my first pack & its "buggy as heck" from what i can see.

I cant load the parameters, its just 0/52...
I keep getting "get device info fail, please retry :-2 also

super concerning that something buggy is protecting my $1k battery pack!

 

[HRTKD]

Don't confuse the app/bluetooth with the BMS. Your BMS is likely working just fine, doing it's thing.

Is the bluetooth module lit up?

 

[nate_syd]

Don't confuse the app/bluetooth with the BMS. Your BMS is likely working just fine, doing it's thing.

Is the bluetooth module lit up?

yes, eventually it lights up - and i connect after the fail message, but then nothing in terms of params access

 

[nate_syd]

hmmm ok - so re-installed latest version - no joy, installed old version - no joy.
Disconnected the BMS - by removing the balance lead connector & that seems to have done the trick.

It did give the fail to connect message twice, but once in i could access params.

 

[HRTKD]

hmmm ok - so re-installed latest version - no joy, installed old version - no joy.
Disconnected the BMS - by removing the balance lead connector & that seems to have done the trick.

It did give the fail to connect message twice, but once in i could access params.

When I switch from one BMS to the other, it fails on the first attempt. Before it can timeout, I cancel it and then it works right away the second time. Strange software.

 

[Topper]

The only android hiccup I have experienced, is when the BMS is actively or aggressively balancing multiple cells. Makes sense. Protecting the cells is 1st priority.. The only other time is when the units are in sleep mode with no charge or discharge overnight.. I have yet to see any password prompt.

 

[NwO2kMouse]

I am having the same problem, except the app is not and has never asked for a password when I try to connect to the BMS. I wish it did though because I changed my password hoping for better security, but that is a separate issue.

When I first installed the app for the first time, it worked fine even while charging. After a few hours it started to bog down and refresh data once every 10 to 15 seconds(only while charging.) Parameters menus became hard to access, sometimes causing app to crash.

I was able to get into the "protection of information" page under the "battery state" side menu option. After 30 seconds it slowly loaded the data and I noticed all the numbers were 0 except for "charging low temperature times." This number was rising rapidly with each refresh as seen below.

The first screenshot was taken about 10 seconds after turning charging back on and after having reinstalled the app. Each screenshot after that was taken when it would finally refresh the data (about 15 seconds apart.)

I'm a newbie at this but I think something is causing this "event" to be logged rapidly and repeatedly and I'm guessing it has something to do with the app getting bogged down. And I don't think it is my two temp sensors because on the dashboard they both read about 27°c.

Ok I think I fixed my situation. Turns out I had accidentally tapped something while scrolling through the parameters and I guess I changed my "charging under temperature release delay" from 2s to 0s. The app did not like this and there was a warning red flag next to the value in the parameters setting menu. Changed it back to 2s and it stopped logging all of those low temp events. Just did a charge cycle and the app ran smoothly even while balancing.

 

[idontknowwhatimdoing]

Ok I think I fixed my situation. Turns out I had accidentally tapped something while scrolling through the parameters and I guess I changed my "charging under temperature release delay" from 2s to 0s. The app did not like this and there was a warning red flag next to the value in the parameters setting menu. Changed it back to 2s and it stopped logging all of those low temp events. Just did a charge cycle and the app ran smoothly even while balancing.

OHHHHHH I COULD KISS YOU!
Been trying to fix this for 2 weeks! Bingo!