CalSol Cell Characterization

Tools for characterizing li-ion cells

Overview

This repository contains tools for battery cell testing and characterization:

• RC3563 Reader: Interface for Hioki RC3563 resistance meter, collecting resistance and voltage measurements
• Battery Analyzer: Arduino-based tool to measure battery capacity, resistance, and performance characteristics

Dependencies

Common Dependencies

pip install matplotlib numpy scipy pandas

RC3563 Reader Dependencies

pip install kivy pyserial pandas

Battery Analyzer Dependencies

pip install pyserial matplotlib numpy scipy

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/CalSol/cell-characterization-dashboard.git
   cd cell-characterization-dashboard

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

Usage

RC3563 Reader (rc3563reader.py)

Tool for interfacing with Hioki RC3563 resistance meter:

python rc3563reader.py

1. Enter the serial port (e.g., /dev/ttyUSB0 on Linux or COM3 on Windows)
2. Click "Connect" to establish connection with the meter
3. Readings will be displayed and automatically recorded
4. Click "Export to CSV" to save the collected data

Battery Analyzer (capacity.py)

Tool for measuring battery capacity and internal resistance:

python capacity.py [--port PORT] [--baud BAUD] [--duration SECONDS] [--output PREFIX] [--no-plot] [--report]

Options:

• --port: Specify serial port (auto-detects if not specified)
• --baud: Set baud rate (default: 9600)
• --duration: Set data collection duration in seconds
• --output: Set output file prefix
• --no-plot: Skip generating plots
• --report: Generate a comprehensive text report

Example:

python capacity.py --port /dev/ttyACM0 --duration 3600 --report

Output Files

The tools generate several output files:

• CSV data files: Raw measurement data
• PNG plot files: Visualizations of battery characteristics
• TXT report files: Comprehensive analysis results

Arduino Setup

For the Battery Analyzer, an Arduino running the battery tester code is required. Ensure:

1. The Arduino is properly connected to your computer
2. The battery tester firmware is uploaded to the Arduino
3. The test battery is connected according to the circuit diagram (see documentation)

Troubleshooting

If you encounter connection issues:

1. Check that the device is properly connected
2. Verify you have the correct port specified
3. Ensure you have proper permissions for the serial port
4. On Linux, you may need to add your user to the dialout group:

   sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER