isl8-e.htm, updated: 22 DEC 2008

The high tech multifunction device with the unsurpassed possibilities:
The chameleon, which does not need to camouflage itself inwardly and outwardly!

• Now with softwareversion 8.50 (from end of 2006)
  - Upgrade for the Ni-MH fullautomatic program!
  - Especially for the very low inner resistance Ni-MH cells of the last generation.
  - The charge rate (1 C) ist guaranteed by using the selection of the max. charge quantity.

• From version 8.41 (from the beginning of 2006):
  - innovative Ni-MH fullautomatic program!
  - different but similar to the Ni-Cd fullautomatic program.
  - Does not only charge Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Bleiakkus, Li-Io and Li-Po cells,
    but also the new Li-FePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells.

• New features in version 4.xx in comparison to V4.xx:

On principle, all three charging outputs work with the same programs and menues.
You can charge lithium-ion and lithium-polymer cells on main battery charge output ONE and TWO with high current and voltages up to 60 volts resp. 45 volts. Output THREE is limited to the car battery voltage and 1,5 A (as before) and only 2 lithium cells to avoid that the charger has to send to weiterstadt for modifications.
Also available will be fullautomatic programs for Ni-MH batteries - this means that all maintenance programs can be used with Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries on all outputs.

Though we are able to say that the isl 8 can be updated only by changing an EPROM and making some verifying measurements (also by yourself), you should send your charger to Weiterstadt. We will re-calibrate your charger because in the most seldom cases the old calibration is good enough to charge lithium cells.
Additionally we will update the hardware for more reliability (cue: product care).
Please inform yourself about the costs at "novelties".

For those of you upgrading: what’s new in Version 8

We know that it is precisely you who can’t wait to charge your Lithium batteries, and anyway you already know how to operate the charger. However, there are differences, and that’s why the last section is right here, at the start: To avoid having to carry out any conversion work on the charger at the same time as introducing Version 8 of the software, we have limited the maximum cell count of battery output 3 for Li-Io and Li-Po cells to two. Please note the following additional points:

1. INFORMATION AND WARNING:

After fitting the new EPROM check the charge voltage at Battery 3 (Akku 3): Both - 1 and 2 Li-Po cells - setting. Charge at around 250 ... 300 mA. Repeat the same test (or charge simultaneous) with packs of 1, 2, 3, 4 .. 10 Li-Po cells, connected to the Battery 1 and Battery 2 outputs. When the selected charge current is reached, please connect a digital voltmeter in parallel to the Battery sockets and check that it reads the same charge voltage (accurate to +-1%) as appears on the screen of the isl 8 (selection see below). (Remember: 1% at 8.4 volts are +-84mV, i.e. a display of 8.316 to 8.484 volts are ok; at 30 volts it is +-300 mV, i.e. display voltages of 29.700 V to 30.300 V are ok). If the readings do not agree, the charger needs to be re-calibrated. Please return it to us at Weiterstadt for the work to be carried out. If the necessary pecision can not reached by calibration, the microprocessor has to be changed at your costs (sorry). -->> To display the three charge voltages with an accuracy of one millivolt select "refresh" of the battery 2 output (Battery voltages of pack 1, pack 2 pack 3 are shown one below the other). The digital voltmeter you use for this measurement must have an error of better than 0.3%. <<--

2. INFORMATION AND WARNING:

Lead-Acid and Lithium batteries must be disconnected from the battery 3 charge output within one hour after the charger has detected that the pack is FULL or EMPTY. Reason: a resistor in the hardware continues to charge the battery at a very low current, although the charge transistor has been switched off.

The menus for Battery 1, Battery 2 and Battery 3 are arranged identically. Where a discharge facility is absent, or another option cannot be varied, the menu shows this as “—”. The associated button has no effect.

Any battery type (Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel-Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH), Lead-Acid (Pb), Lithium-Manganese-Oxide (Li-Mno), Lithium-Ion (Li-Io) and Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po)) can be charged at all three battery outputs and discharged at output 1 and 2. The only differences lie in the maximum charge voltage and maximum charge current.

Not all the available menu options can be exploited for all the various battery types; in some cases they are set to fixed values. Example: the menu for the peak charge termination sensitivity for Lead-Acid and Lithium batteries is fixed at U-Max. The charger responds to any attempt to change the value with the message “Button temporarily blocked, warning #7”.

The charger now also uses the Delta-Peak method of detecting “battery full” for nickel batteries at output 3; previously this only applied to outputs 1 and 2. However, since a minimum charge current (1C … 2C) must be maintained if the peak detect circuit is to work reliably, the charge quantity monitoring for nickel batteries at output 3 is limited, and cannot be disabled.

All menu points for each battery output and battery are stored permanently, and are available again unchanged each time you switch battery type. HOWEVER: please take care when switching battery type. ALWAYS set the new battery type first, never the program, the charge current, the time monitoring … If you neglect this, the settings would be changed again when you switch battery type, and would be stored in the wrong battery type. (Naturally the twice 12 set-ups for Battery 1 and Battery 2 are still available, expanded by the new battery types. Note: Selection is now in the battery type menue. When you fit the new EPROM, i.e. after updating from Version 4 to Version 8, the settings you have entered are lost, and have to be entered again.)
Please make a point of satisfying yourself that you have set a suitable current value and the correct cell count before you initiate a charge / discharge program! (Section 4 - be sure to read the notes on battery maintenance and observe them strictly - even for nickel batteries).

The expansion of the Battery 3 program has obliged us to change the battery status display to a 5-times combination program. Unfortunately lack of space means that the screen arrangement is now not quite as clear. The display for Battery 2 is in the top line, while Battery 1 and 3 share the area of the screen below it.

A new feature in the battery status screen is the display of internal resistance of the packs connected to the charger when discharging (Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries also when charging). This is located in the top line after the capacity display for Battery 2, and begins with “R” (resistance). There follow three numeric values separated by “/” for Battery 1 / 2 / 3, and after this “mO” (Milliohm). When a discharge program is used, the pack’s internal resistance is measured after about one minute; when a nickel charge program is used, it is measured during every measurement break (“!”). Zero display (0) at Lead- and Lithium-charge or the charge phase(s) of combination prgrams of Lead- and Lithium-batteries. If no measured values are present, the screen displays 0 (zero). Values in the Ohm range are displayed as 999 milliohm (such packs are of no practical use to the modeller). Note: the measurement includes the resistance of the charge cable (a typical value might be 30 mW), plus - of course - the total internal resistance of the pack.

Another new feature is automatic current calculation for Ni-MH batteries (Auto C, Auto CD, Auto DC). This produces a similar result to the automatic current calculation for Ni-Cd batteries, but uses a fundamentally different measurement strategy. For this reason please note: never use an automatic Ni-MH program for a Ni-Cd battery, and vice versa! And one more important note: in older versions of the software the sensitivity and delay settings had to be entered separately when the battery type was selected; this is now no longer the case. However, you as user must be aware that the automatic charge termination circuit only becomes active after about 7 minutes if you select Ni-MH Auto C, or one of the combination programs; i.e. the battery will be charged at a higher current during these first few minutes. This means: if you are using automatic current calculation NEVER connect a fully charged Ni-MH pack for charging, as the pack may be overcharged, overheat and explode!

As mentioned earlier, multiple cycles can now be carried out at the Battery 3 output, and in addition to this the accuracy of the voltage measurement has been improved. This is of particular importance if you wish to bring individual cells in a Lithium pack to a very accurate “full” voltage level. If this is the case, please always use output 3, and not output 1 or 2.

The temperature display for the external (battery) temperature sensor now only shows positive temperature values (no longer negative values).

Output 1 (akku 1):
Quick - and normal charge of batteries. Discharge too, re-energy transfer into car battery possible with more than 16 cells.
Accumulator formatting and reconditioning programs (combination of charge- and discharge programs).
Charges Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Lead-Acid, Lead-Gel, Li-MnO, Li-Io, Li-Po batteries.
Charge power can be limited when connecting to our AC/DC power supply.
Range: 1-36 Nickel cells, maximum 10 A charge current, approx. 310 W max power.
Range: 1-23 Lead cells, maximum 10 A charge current, approx. 310 W max power.
Range: 1-14 Lithium cells, maximum 10 A charge current, approx. 310 W max power.
High current discharge up to 10 A from 16 cells. Lower number of cells up to 2.5 A max.
For high current discharge of few cells, special low ohmic discharge resistors of 1.5 Ohm, 0.66 Ohm and 0.33 Ohm can be connect external.

Output 2 (akku 2):
Quick - and normal charge of Ni-Cd batteries. No discharge capability.
Range: 1-27 Nickel cells to a maximum of 5 A resp. 115 Watt
Range: 1-19 Lead cells to a maximum of 5 A resp. 115 Watt
Range: 1-11 Lithium cells to a maximum of 5 A resp. 115 Watt
Automatic or manual current selections.

Output 3 (akku 3):
Range: 1-6 Nickel cells, charge currents of 0.1 A - 1.5 A
Range: 1-4 Lead cells, charge currents of 0.1 A - 1.5 A
Range: 1-2 Lithium cells, charge currents of 0.1 A - 1.5 A
Discharge currents 0.1 A - 0.4 A.
Charge-/discharge combination programs available.

General:

Output connector for external discharge resistor 1.5 Ohm/150 W.
Will be switched parallel to a full car battery to guarantee a high discharge current with more than 15 cells.

The discharge resistors are obtainable in two models with 1.5 Ohm, 150 W:
Can be also used to discharge directly up to 14 cells with the help of an additional cable.
1) isl 8-elast-kk: 1.5 Ohm/150 W, 200 x 60 x 60 mm, with heatsink. Nevertheless it becomes very hot.
2) isl 8-elast-vent: 1.5 Ohm/150 W, 85 x 85 x 105 mm, with fan to cool power- resistors.

Two additional types for high current discharge for a maximum of 7 cells and/or 12 cells.
With its power cables, it must be plugged into the output 1 (akku 1) banana sockets.
With ist control wires, it must be connected to the discharge load output (entladelast) on the left side of the isl 8.
Complete with high current relay.
3) isl 8-elast-0.66: 0.66 Ohm/300 W for a maximum of 12 cells, 85 x 85 x 105 mm, with fan.
4) isl 8-elast-0.33: 0.33 Ohm/300 W fora maximum of 7 cells, 85 x 85 x 105 mm, with fan.

9) specifications:

All Data given is based on a 12.5V car battery voltage.
Recommended battery size for isl 6 chargers: 12V / greater 63Ah, min. 12V/42Ah.
Tolerances at Pack 1 currents (isl 6): typ. 5%; max. ca. 15% or 250mA (larger value counts)
Tolerances at Pack 2 currents (isl 6, receiver): typ. 5%; max. ca. 10% or 100mA (larger value counts)

Pack 1 Output (Akku1) Ni-Cd / Ni-MH batteries:

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		i8-936g Akku1	i8-936g Akku2
Cell count (@ 1.65V/cell)	1 - 30	1 - 30	1 - 30	1 - 36		1 - 36	1 - 27
Capacity(NiCd) [~Ah]	0.1 - 2.8	0.1 - 2.5	0.1 - 3.0	0.1 - 4.0		0.1 - 5.0	0.1 - 2.5
Capacity(NiMH) [~Ah]	0.1 - 5.5	0.1 - 5.0	0.1 - 6.0	0.1 - 8.0		0.1 - 10.0	0.1 - 5.0
min. charge currents [~mA]	100/250	100/250	100/250	100/250		100/250	100/250
max. charge currents man./auto[~A]	5.5 / 5.5	5.0 / 5.0	6.0 / 6.0	8.0 / 8.0		8.0 / 10.0	5.0 / 5.0
Charge performance (@ 34V) [~W]	130	155	200	275		310	115
Charge performance (@ 50V) [~W]	105	125	175	245		280	95
@ 6V (~4 cells) [~A]	2.1	2.7	2.7	2.7		3.1	1.7
@ 9V (~6 cells) [~A]	4.0	5.0	5.3	5.3		5.7	3.0
@ 11 - 26V (~8-16 cells) [~A]	5.5	5.0	6.0	8.0		10.0	5.0
@ 34V (~20 cells) [~A]	3.7	4.5	6.0	8.0		9.0	5.0
@ 40V (~24 cells) [~A]	2.9	3.5	4.8	6.5		7.5	3.3
@ 45V (~27 cells) [~A]	2.4	2.9	4.0	5.6		6.4	2.4
@ 50V (~30 cells) [~A]	2.0	2.5	3.5	4.8		5.6	-.-
Safety cut-off time about	3h (Ni-Cd), 4h (Ni-MH)	3h /4h	3h/4h	3h/4h		adjustable	adjustable

Pack 1 Output (Akku1) LiPo batteries (only softwareversion V8!):

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		i8-936g Akku1	i8-936g Akku2
Cell count (@ 4.2V/cell)	1 - 11	1 - 11	1 - 11	1 - 13		1 - 14	1 - 11
min. Capacity [~Ah]	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25		0.25	0.25
min. charge currents [~mA]	250	250	250	250		250	250
max. charge currents [~A]	5.5	5.0	6.0	8.0		10	5.0
Charge performance (@ 34V) [~W]	130	155	200	275		310	115
Charge performance (@ 50V) [~W]	105	125	175	245		280	95
@ 4V (~1 cells) [~A]	1.6	2.1	2.1	2.1		2.3	1.3
@ 8V (~2 cells) [~A]	3.1	4.1	4.1	4.1		4.4	2.3
@ 11 - 26V (~3-6 cells) [~A]	5.5	5.0	6.0	8.0		10.0	5.0
@ 34V (~8 cells) [~A]	3.7	4.5	6.0	8.0		9.0	5.0
@ 42V (~10 cells) [~A]	2.7	3.3	4.5	6.1		7.0	3.1
@ 46V (~11 cells) [~A]	2.3	2.8	3.9	5.4		6.2	2.3

Pack 1 Output (Akku1) lead-acid and lead-gel batteries:

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		isl 8-936g Akku1	isl 8-936g Akku2
Nominal Voltage	2...38 V	2...38 V	2...38 V	2...46 V		2..46 V	2..38 V
Cell count	1 - 19	1 - 19	1 - 19	1 - 23		1 - 23	1 - 19
Capacity from	1 Ah	1 Ah	1 Ah	1 Ah		1 Ah	1 Ah
Charge currents from-to [A]	0.25-5.5	0.25-5.0	0.25-6.0	0.25-8.0		0.25-10.0	0.25-5.0
Trickle charge pulsed (Ni-Cd only)	few mA	few mA	few mA	few mA		few mA	few mA

(Linear) Discharge stage: Lead- and Ni-Cd batteries (isl8-936g below 18V):

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		isl 8-936g
Discharge currents from-to [~mA]	50-1000	25-2000	25-2000	50-2000		50-2500
max. loss performance [~W]	10	16	16	16		20

Pack 2 Output (Akku2) isl 6 / Pack 3 Output (Akku 3) isl8-936g):
[*]to charge the maximum rated cell count 13.8 V supply voltage is necessary!

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		isl 8-936g
Ni-Cd / Ni-MH cells	1 - 6	1 - 6	1 - 6	1 - 6		1 - 6
Lead acid cells	1 - 4	1 - 4	1 - 4	1 - 4		1 - 4
Lithium-cells	1 - 3*	1 - 3*	1 - 3*	1 - 3*		1 - 2
Capacity from [~mAh]	50	50	50	50		100
Charge currents [~mA]	100-330	100-500	100-500	100-500		100 - 1.5A
Safety cut-off time [~h]	-.-	-.-	-.-	-.-		adjustable

General:

Device Type	isl 6-330d	isl 6-430d	isl 6-530d	isl 6-636(+,e)		isl 8-936g
Weight [~g]	710	1100	1100	1300		1350
Dimensions [~mm]	142*146*33	207x151x68	207x151x68	207x151x68		207x151x68
Supply voltage	11 - 15.2 V	11 - 15.2 V	11 - 15.2 V	11 - 15.2 V		11 - 15.2 V
Low voltage warning	11.25 (10.5)V	11.25 (10.5)V	11.25 (10.5)V	11.25 (10.5)V		11.25 (10.5)V
Low voltage cut-off	10.75 (9.75)V	10.75 (9.75)V	10.75 (9.75)V	10.75 (9.75)V		10.75 (9.75)V
Max. supply current [~A]	15	17	22	30		45
Idle current [~mA]	200mA	200mA	200mA	200mA		200mA
Fuse (pack 1 output)	M 8 A	M 8 A	M 10 A	M 16 A		none

What´s additional in the isl 8 chargers in comparison with the isl 6 chargers

Output 1 (akku 1) energy-re-transfer stage:
Cell number [@ 1.22V / cell]	15-34
Capacity from [~Ah]	1
Discharge currents [~A]	350 / 10
Discharge performance [~W]	200
@ 23V (~19 cells) [~A]	10
@ 30V (~24 cells) [~A]	6.7
@ 36V (~30 cells) [~A]	5.7
Output 2 (akku 2) Ni-Cd accumulator:
Cell number [@ 1.65V / cell]	4 - 27
Capacity from - to [~Ah]	0,1 - 4
Charge performance (@ 29V) [~W]	115
Charge performance (@ 40V) [~W]	95
Min. charge currents [mA]	100/250
@ 6V (~4 cells) [~A]	1.7
@ 9V (~6 Zellen) ca. A	3.0
10.5 - 25V (~7-15 cells) [~A]	5.0
@ 33V (~20 cells) [~A]	3.3
@ 40V (~24 cells) [~A]	2.4
Safety switching off after timeout	selectable
Safety switching off after max. charge capacity:	selectable

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