Eltek FLATPACK2 24/48V Touchscreen Controller Kit

Description

Currently no longer viable to produce due to rising costs (especially touch screens), ordering hassles, and shipping delays.

Will consider another batch in 2023, if it is worthwhile.

 

 

This touchscreen controller can be used to control & monitor a single Eltek Flatpack2 24 V  -or-  48 V rectifier being used as a general purpose PSU. 

Skill level required: BASIC
Ability to solder connectors & wires

This product is not intended to simultaneously control multiple rectifiers, nor be an intelligent battery charger controller.

This controller is powered directly by the Flatpack2 it is supervising.

Ideal for permanent installation into your project.

Industrial grade Eltek Flatpack2 rectifiers make an ideal and robust power supply for amateur radio Solid State Power Amplifier projects.

 

This 3.5″ touchscreen-based controller allows setting and monitoring of parameters that Flatpack2 provides via it’s CAN-bus:

• AC Volts in
• DC Volts out
• Load current
• Intake temperature
• Output temperature
• Operating status
• Alarm & warning messages

 

Main screen:

 

 

  

 

Voltage can be shifted up or down in 200mV steps by touching the UP/DOWN arrows.

This does not affect the default start up voltage.

 

Log in icon indicates when controller sends a log in request.  Every 5 seconds.

 

Short press “SET” button: reset screen saver

Long press “SET” button: enter Set menu

 

Set Menu:

 

Screen Settings

• Screen backlight brightness

• Screen saver (enter 0 to disable screen saver)

• Output voltage to 1 or 2 decimal places select

• Temperature Celsius / Fahrenheit select

 

General Settings

• Current Limit in deciAmps

• Overvoltage protection offset

• Slow or Fast ‘walk-in’  (output voltage ramp up time)

 

Set Default Volts page

 

Voltage is entered as centiVolts by keypad.

ie: 45.50 V = 4 5 5 0

 

 

If an alarm or warning (or both) state is detected, the appropriate icons become red.

 

Clicking on either of these icons will take you to the Warnings/Alarms page:

 

Foreground and background colours of each parameter can be adjusted to your own preference, as well as a choice of two fonts.

Example: setting DC Volts colour & font:

 

 

 

High Voltage Power Supply

+5V regulator uses a Maxim MAX5035 DC-DC Step-down converter, and is rated to an input voltage of 76 volts.

Quality Panasonic aluminium electrolytic capacitors are used. 

Capacitor on the DC input is rated at 100V.

A diode on the DC input provides against accidental reverse polarity connection.

 

Warning – what can happen with cheap “high voltage” LM2596HVS modules on eBay:

 

Mounting Suggestion

The controller easily mounts to the Flatpack chassis, or any other flat surface, using adhesive PCB stand-offs (supplied).

 

What do I need to do?

Controller board is fully assembled and fitted with a CAN bus adapter, and programmed & tested Arduino Nano ready to connect to the programmed & tested Nextion 3.5″ Enhanced HMI touchscreen.

You are required to;

• solder your own wires to the power connector (supplied) and CAN bus connector (supplied) to suit your own installation, and connect these to the rear of the FP2

• mount the controller board to suit your own installation

• mount the touchscreen to suit your own installation

• connect the touchscreen to the controller board, as per the User Guide

 

What’s in the box?

• 1 x assembled & tested Controller board

• 1 x programmed 3.5″ HMI touchscreen

• 1 x matching 2 pin polarised connector for Controller power

• 1 x matching 3 pin polarised connector for CAN data

• 4 x adhesive PCB stand-offs

 

This is ready to connect to your own Flatpack2 and breakout board.

 

Breakout boards on eBay I have used and can recommend:

Australia: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/114670901626

UK:  https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/193562474340

 

Designed to control a single Eltek 24 V  -or-  48 V Flatpack2 rectifier being used as a general purpose PSU. 

 

Tested with:

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   24115.105   Rev 3.2  (VK4GHZ)

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   24115.105   Rev 4  (thanks Peter, VK5PW)

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   24115.105   Rev 5.4  (thanks Colin, G4ERO)

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   24115.115SC   Rev 3.2  (VK4GHZ)

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   241115.105   Rev 6  (thanks Mike, G8PFR)

• Flatpack2 48/2000 HE   241115.105   Rev 9  (thanks Colin, G4ERO)

 

• Flatpack2 24V/2000   24115.200  Rev 3.2  (VK4GHZ)

 

• Flatpack2 48/3000 HE   24119.105  Rev 3.1  (thanks Craig Whiteside)

• Flatpack2 48/3000 HE   24119.105  Rev 3.4  (thanks Tor, N4OGW)

 

• Flatpack S 48/1000 HE   241122.105   Rev 5  (thanks Matija, S53MM)

• Flatpack S 48/1800 HE   241122.125   Rev 1.7  (thanks Matija, S53MM)

 

 

   

 

 

 

(click on images to enlarge)

 

Will it work with other Flatpack2 rectifier variants not listed above?

I cannot answer that question for you. 
What you see above is what it’s known to work with.

Some older Eltek rectifiers (Revision 1.2) have been reported to be incompatible.
You would need to try other variants at your own risk.

Note: Eltek chargers use a different CAN bus protocol compared to Eltek rectifiers, and are not compatible.

 

Download: Eltek Flatpack2 24V-48V Controller User Guide 30-05-2021

 

 

Note:  Flatpack2 rectifier and Flatpack2 interface PCB seen in sample images are not supplied with this item