Watchmon 4 contactor output

H

HughF

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Jan 1, 2018
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I see the watchmon has 2x outputs built in, can anyone advise if these are simple logic level outputs or whether they are supply-voltage outputs?

I need to know as I'm planning how to wire up my main pack contactor which has a 12v coil. I will use a 120w dc-dc converter to supply 12v for the contactor and the 12v pc supply.
 
HughF said:
I see the watchmon has 2x outputs built in, can anyone advise if these are simple logic level outputs or whether they are supply-voltage outputs?

I need to know as I'm planning how to wire up my main pack contactor which has a 12v coil. I will use a 120w dc-dc converter to supply 12v for the contactor and the 12v pc supply.
Click to expand...

The outputs are switched by mosfet devices so they are "supply level" not logic level outputs.
It's not clear if they are pull up (ie connect to +12V when on)or pull down (ie connect to 0V when on).
You should put a reverseddiode (eg 1A)across the contactorcoil to control the turn off spike.
 
I think they are just pass through. I think one person using them to control a relay, and Peter used them to control the turning on/off his mining computer at one point. So, they would be a "making contact" type of connection. Just have to make sure voltage is flowing in the correct direction.

I'm sure daromer will reply with the correct answer shortly
 
I just tried them and they do not seem to work at all

I have one set to manual on and the other set to critical fault

I cannot seem to get them to trigger.. I have output A connected to my shunt trip breaker and B connected to nothing.. I am not getting any voltage on either when I connect my volt meter to battery negative and one of the outputs

Am I just doing something wrong? I cannot find any documentation on Batrium's website
 
You probably didn't change your trigger time. Take a look at Peters videos about the BatteryHasher where he had to do several adjustments. I don't remember which settings he changed to get them to trigger.
I do recall there was a trigger timer that keeps the event from firing until the elapsed time, and I think the default value is like 600 seconds or so.

Now if you want to drive something larger, you need to use a relay. Use the watchmon to trigger the relay, then the relay powers what ever device.
 
In addition to Korishans suggestions, try
a) connecting your meter between +12V & the output pin & measure for volts, or
b) connecting your meter between 0V & the output pin & measure for continuity (or ohms)
 
I changed my trigger time to 1 second in the control logic page

Then I triggered a critical error by changing the "Hi cell volt" setting to 4V (my current voltage is 4.03)

It went into critical state and the "Hi cell volt" setting highlighted yellow

Then I went into expansion and changed output A to "Critical fault"

I saved and waited for a few mins and it does not seem to trigger.

I tested with the volt meter and it is not on nor does the little checkbox beside it on the expansion page light up

I don't think it works!! I seem to be doing everything correctly

This is frustrating

I followed the steps in this video exactly - the only difference is I am using the Watchmon4's native expansion ports
 
Ok, now we start the dumb questions :p

Did you connect power from the main board to the expansion board? Daromer did this by piggy backing off the power to the main board. He notes that the FETs need the power, but not the relays.
 
Korishan said:
Ok, now we start the dumb questions :p

Did you connect power from the main board to the expansion board? Daromer did this by piggy backing off the power to the main board. He notes that the FETs need the power, but not the relays.
Click to expand...

I do not have an expansion board

I'm trying to use the Watchmon4's onboard output A & B


Ah - i'm an idiot.. I was checking for voltage when I should of been checking for continuity! It's a switch after all..

I triggered it again and this time it works! Just no indication on the expansion page weather or not it is triggered - perhaps a software glitch

It switches between ground ( battery negative) and open
 
farmerjohn said:
I am curious about this too

There is a lack of documentation
Click to expand...

Serious lack of documentation, the website is a mess too... Should have gone for a wm1 + expansion board in hindsight...

I will test the outputs with a meter, I expect they will be supply voltage outputs at 100ma or something. Enough to fire a relay coil to drive my contactor I expect.

From the blog last year, looks like they are good for 4a, I expect as they are fet outputs, they'll be at supply voltage.


image_tlnroq.jpg
 
farmerjohn said:
Korishan said:
Ok, now we start the dumb questions :p

Did you connect power from the main board to the expansion board? Daromer did this by piggy backing off the power to the main board. He notes that the FETs need the power, but not the relays.
Click to expand...

I do not have an expansion board

I'm trying to use the Watchmon4's onboard output A & B


Ah - i'm an idiot.. I was checking for voltage when I should of been checking for continuity! It's a switch after all..

I triggered it again and this time it works! Just no indication on the expansion page weather or not it is triggered - perhaps a software glitch

It switches between ground ( battery negative) and open
Click to expand...


I can confirm, having just run tests at the office, these outputs are connected to supply GND when they are active. The 'status' indicators in the Toolkit do not work (so don't rely on those to tell you what's happening) but confirmation with a continuity tester shows that when active, they are tied to supply GND.

As they can switch 4a, I suggest using these in the switched GND of a contactor (when set to Critical OK) or pulsed GND for a shunt release (when set to Critical Fault).

Hope that helps, and apologies for missing everyone's posts when I replied earlier this morning.
 
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