Updated JK-PB2A16S-20PH from v15.06 to v15.10 and lost heat function.

So I purchased two identical JK inverter type BMS's from the same vendor, both came with a heat cable and both bear the heat code on the label.


I powered one up for the first time yesterday, did not look at anything and went straight for the update. I updated from v15.06 to v15.10. Unfortunately I didn't notice until afterwards while following along in one of Andy's videos that there was NO HEATING.
I fired up the second BMS still at v15.06 and It HAS HEATING activated in the firmware.

So is it possible updating from firmware v15.06 to v15.10 that I lost the heat function? or was the the first BMS ( now v15.10) never activated? I guess one sure way to find out would be to update number two .

I suppose my next step is to contact the vendor but first I'm curious to hear of anyone else's experience updating one of the heated models.

I've no idea, but will stay here to know, bc i'm planning 3 units and the heating function is needed.

You can roll back versions if you need too using the Force Update. There is a link in the other inverter thread to get you the code needed.

Howdy, Just an idle thought....

Looks like you don't have the battery sense/thermometer cables plugged in.

The new firmware may look for the temperature inputs, before enabling the heating functions....

OffGridGuy said:

Howdy, Just an idle thought....

Looks like you don't have the battery sense/thermometer cables plugged in.

The new firmware may look for the temperature inputs, before enabling the heating functions....

Click to expand...

The older firmware certainly didn't need it but I wonder.. I'll try plugging one in this evening and we'll see.

Your first picture shows 0% remaining capacity. A factor?

OffGridGuy said:

Howdy, Just an idle thought....

Looks like you don't have the battery sense/thermometer cables plugged in.

The new firmware may look for the temperature inputs, before enabling the heating functions....

Click to expand...

No go but it was worth a try..

Texas-Mark said:

Your first picture shows 0% remaining capacity. A factor?

Click to expand...

Could be but I'm not prepared to wire balance leads in at this point.

#40Fan said:

You can roll back versions if you need too using the Force Update. There is a link in the other inverter thread to get you the code needed.

Click to expand...

I looked at this but did not see firmware other than v15.10.

I've contacted the vendor but that's moving slow.
I reached out to JK directly through WhatsApp which can be summed up to a complete waste of time.
I'll be sure to screen record the second firmware upgrade coming soon.

You could check Andy from offgrid garage, on his website he has a google drive link with all the firmware files.

linkcat said:

You could check Andy from offgrid garage, on his website he has a google drive link with all the firmware files.

Click to expand...

Can you link me to the firmware files? The only ones I see on his google drive are v15.10

NorthTown2022 said:

Can you link me to the firmware files? The only ones I see on his google drive are v15.10

Click to expand...

Nothing older that .10 with the newer 15.xx firmware.

Sorry that I didn't notice you had the 15.xx before commenting.

https://www.jkbms.net/download_pc has a version 15.11 firmware out now. Maybe it was a bug they fixed.

There's been way too much back and fourth with my vendor who's playing the middle man with JK. It's an ongoing issue.

I tried to get the JKPB2A16S-20P that lost its heating (originally V15.06) to update from V15.10 to V15.11. Bluetooth works fine but there is no PC communication? This BMS will not force update either.

Kind of fed up with this and decided to update the working BMS with heat from V15.06 to V15.11 just to see. I got it all set up and ready to go for an update and fumbled the update button before having a chance to set screen record.. fuck! The BMS seemed to update to V15.11 without any issues and confirmed it was done. I then switched to the Realtime screen and watched the heat setting disappear! LOL

JK has so far denied this is possible. Sure wishing I had that screen recorder on!

To make matters worse, I am working on another project with this BMS and when I tried to change settings in the PC software and try to save it said "sending failure". The Bluetooth app worked fine to make the changes but when I logged out of the PC software and back into it there is no longer and communication with the BMS, same as the first BMS. It will NOT force update or downgrade either.

These inverter BMS's sure are nice.. but sure leave something to be desired

PS - I used JK-BMS MONITOR 2.7.0 for the updates.
@Nami

Hi they forget the chip in a batch of V15, if you see an empty chip position on PCB just at the rear of the heating connector , the function is missing

N1c013 said:

Hi they forget the chip in a batch of V15, if you see an empty chip position on PCB just at the rear of the heating connector , the function is missing

Click to expand...

Why doesn't this surprise me?

I took the cover off, is one of these chips the one you are referring to?


After watching the function disappear on the second BMS immediately after updating I am more than absolutely 100% certain there WAS heating.

Send a unit to Off Grid Garage and have him make a video. It’ll be fixed in a few days lol

nebulight said:

Send a unit to Off Grid Garage and have him make a video. It’ll be fixed in a few days lol

Click to expand...

thats a pretty shitty company if you have to play games like that.

I was trying to lighten the mood with a bit of humor.

In all honesty, it’s pretty bad but people shouldn’t really be surprised. We shouldn’t be buying this stuff expecting great support. We are paying fractions of the price by making our own batteries and expectations should be low. It’s shitty but it’s the reality. My 2 cents anyway.