BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
How about multiple units on one one Solar Assistant? I am ready for a 16S unit 

Silence is deafening when things aren't going smoothly.Last update on Overkill web site for the new Pathfinder was Sept. 18th.
Takes 5 minutes to give a new update on how it's coming & estimate time of release.
We need 3 right now!!!!!
Not going to wait much longer.
They told me they are still working on it.They've been quiet. Probably very busy trying to get the new BMS rolled out.
Same here, been waiting a long time.I have been wanting to build two more 12v, 4S batteries but have been holding off, for quite a while, waiting for the new Overkill BMS. Sure hope it is ready soon … and that it actually works without bugs.
I have been running the Overkill 12v, 4S 120A BMS for over two years now and am not looking forward to switching brands.
I may have to start searching for another JBD BMS, as an alternative to the Overkill BMS, but hate to do so.
I'm glad I read this, I was probably going to plug a JBD BMS into a nice server's USB port, but that sounds like a terrible idea and I should just use an RPi or ESP32 instead and not connect them to anything but power (ie use wifi and not ethernet). Would it also be a bad idea to have the JBD BMS grounded to my server rack? I currently have it screwed to the rack (not connected yet). The rack itself is basically grounded via the case of everything else mounted in it that plugs into the wall.High side switching will be nice, makes using direct wire connections to UART's on the BMS much safer. On JK and JBD BMS's with low side switching, when there is a fault the BMS cuts the connection from the battery to the load through the negative wire from load to battery. A miniscule current drawn from the load will cause the load's negative connection to rise up till it meets the battery's positive connection. The load in my case is the 120/240 VAC inverter that powers my house, so the house wiring safety ground is now at the same voltage as my 48 Volt battery's positive lead. My UART connection into the BMS is still referenced to the battery's ground side, so my computer plugged into the house wiring will see around -48 Volts DC on the GND, RX and TX pins at the "GPS" or Bluetooth connector where I get my UART connection into the BMS. This will at least blow my UART-to-USB adapter, and perhaps my computer.
I'm a retired electrical engineer and I find this all a bit confusing, especially given the poor documentation. If your BMS has a metal case it's probably ok to bolt it to a grounded server rack. I'd first disconnect the BMS completely, then check to verify that the battery minus lead from your BMS is not connected to the BMS case, using an ohmmeter. It would be ok if the negative lead going from the BMS to the load (perhaps an inverter) is connected to case ground, but my particular BMS seems to have no connection at all to its metal case.I'm glad I read this, I was probably going to plug a JBD BMS into a nice server's USB port, but that sounds like a terrible idea and I should just use an RPi or ESP32 instead and not connect them to anything but power (ie use wifi and not ethernet). Would it also be a bad idea to have the JBD BMS grounded to my server rack? I currently have it screwed to the rack (not connected yet). The rack itself is basically grounded via the case of everything else mounted in it that plugs into the wall.
I'm a retired electrical engineer and I find this all a bit confusing, especially given the poor documentation. If your BMS has a metal case it's probably ok to bolt it to a grounded server rack. I'd first disconnect the BMS completely, then check to verify that the battery minus lead from your BMS is not connected to the BMS case, using an ohmmeter. It would be ok if the negative lead going from the BMS to the load (perhaps an inverter) is connected to case ground, but my particular BMS seems to have no connection at all to its metal case.
Makes sense there's no connection to the case. If the case is to be grounded it is best to tie to your system safety ground, same as the outlets in your house wiring. By "battery terminal leads" you mean the skinny sense leads out to all the cells? Yes, those will be high impedance to the heavy battery ground and load ground cables, as the sense leads are easily tied to the wrong cells and that would fry those sense wires and traces rather quickly it were a low impedance path. (The sense leads probably have series resistors of thousands of ohms.)I checked and there is no conductivity between the BMS input/output cables and the case. There is conductivity between the input/output cables and the battery terminal leads. I also verified that there's conductivity between the BMS case and the rack and other items mounted in the rack.
Why they don't update what's going on is beyond me.I just happened upon this thread and the pathfinder has grabbed my attention, but on there page there has been no updates since September. is there anyone in the know, who knows what's going on?
Why they don't update what's going on is beyond me.
I sent a private email to them & they did reply back.
They hope to have it ready in the 1st quarter of next year.
May be end of March or they could miss their expectations & be later, who knows.
We decide not to wait any longer & ordered a JK BMS, hope it works out.
We have invested a lot in our new system & need to get it producing ASAP.ya for me its not a question of "can wait" . I have 4 setups now with older JBD (3 years old I guess) and I like the setup on the pathfinder so I would consider upgrading when they are ready.
Get a JK now, and a Pathfinder once it's available and people say it works. You'll want a backup anyway.We have invested a lot in our new system & need to get it producing ASAP.
Our electric bill has gone through the roof, so we just can't wait any longer.