Quick Meanwell SP-series question, CC or Hiccup? Datasheet says CC, but posts seem to suggest otherwise

[Kin]

I've found a few posts on ES saying the SP-series operates in hiccup mode, and only the S-series operates in CC fold back mode.

The datasheet
(http://www.meanwellusa.com/productPdf.aspx?i=436#1)

Says "Overload: 105 ~ 150% rated output power
Protection type : Constant current limiting, recovers automatically after fault condition is removed"


My guess is the 150% rated output power is the issue, is it basically overheating and then hiccuping? Or does it not at all do CC current limiting? If it's the former then perhaps I could get away with cutting down the shunt so that it protects within a suitable actual-current range. It seems like I may have done that a while ago (shunt is dremeled a little), but I last used this equipment 6 years ago....


I'm in a pickle, because I put together a charger for a friend who is leaving to far off land for a couple weeks, and I haven't had time to test it fully. Luckily it's the backup charger, but personally I am not comfortable with sending them off without a backup charger. I don't have any suitable batteries to test the current control at the moment, since they're off being borrowed by a friend or the wrong voltage.

:S.

 

[eee291]

You need to lower the Charge current below or at 100% of it's Watt rating.



This article might help:http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/e-bent/meanwell/default.htm

or this one: https://www.instructables.com/id/Electric-Bike-Charger-From-Mean-Well-Power-Supply/
scroll down to step 4

 

[amberwolf]

Protection type : Constant current limiting, recovers automatically after fault condition is removed"

The last part could mean it uses hiccup mode, but it could also mean it does not use that mode until it's overloaded past it's specs, like too high a total wattage.

You'd have to test it to know for sure. :/

 

[Kin]

Thanks folks!

Last second I found another 24v charger and threw a harness together for that one, hoping that it was in good condition (also wasnt used in many years.)

I will try testing the sp charger again, though it appears to be hiccuping instead of going into CC mode, though it wasnt steady and I couldnt tell if that was a product of the power supply or the digital load tester at work (I dont know how "constant resistance" mode works for that device)

It seems from interpreting the datasheet that it should work if I cut down the max current to within the actual thermal limits of the board. But I may test it with an analog load before I go further on mods.

 

[JoeG]

I use a SP-200-3.3 which is rated at 40A output to balance charge my 100AH Calb LiFePo4 cells in my Geo Metro EV which has a 45S pack. It is a constant current power supply which I use as a battery charger. I have a monitor system that shuts it off when the desired cell termination voltage(3.5) is achieved.