What is the difference between cycles and loops?
Loop counters are reset to zero whenever the limit condition describing the loop counter is met. If a limit condition is in one step of a loop of steps that reads as such: "If Loop Counter #1 = 3 then go to Step 99" (where step 99 is outside the loop), each time the program passed through the step that contained the above limit condition, loop counter 1 would be incremented by 1. When loop counter 1 reached a value of 3 the loop would exit. If the same loop was then re-entered later in the program, the loop counter would be reset and the loop would run another 3 times before exiting.
The cycle counter, on the other hand, never resets during the course of the program. Using the above example with cycle counters: "If Cycles = 3 then go to Step 99", would perform similar to the loop counter above for the first three cycles through the loop. However, if the loop was then re-entered later in the program, the cycle counter would not be reset and in fact will increment to 4, which will have the effect of immediately exiting to step 99. This means that Loop #1 will be executed 20 X 40 X 3 times, Loop #2 will be executed 40 X 3 times and Cycles will be executed 3 times.

The following screen shot shows a basic example in Program Editor It demonstrates a 4 step program that loops back from the second step to the first step 20 times, then loops from the third step to the first step 40 times within each cycle.


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How does temperature compensation work?
Temperature compensation requires an entry of a number of millvolts and a number of degrees of temperature. This option allows the user to define a reference temperature and a voltage setback increment in milli-volts to achieve temperature control. The feature works by taking the reference temperature, comparing it to the running temperature of the circuit, and reducing the control voltage value for the constant voltage charge step. The amount of setback is determined by the number of milli-volts entered for the temperature compensation value and the difference in degrees between the temperature reference value and the actual temperature of the running circuit.

The following screenshot shows Temperature Compensation with a value of 50.0mV and Temperature compensation of 25 degrees.

Based upon the above example program, if the temperature is 30ºC and your voltage is at 25.00v, the voltage will be adjusted down by 250mv to 24.75 volts.

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Circuit indicator icons in the Client window are sometimes replaced by varying fault indicator icons. What do these different icons mean and what action is required for each one?

NOTE: The following icons and explanations apply only to Bitrode VisuaLCN Formation Client Software.

Continuity Failure - The continuity test has failed for this circuit. See manual for more information on the continuity test. Check: battery cables, connections, fuse, module hardware then restart test.

Continuity Failure: Module Not Enabled - The remote enable circuit switch has not been closed. Close remote enable switch then restart test.

Hardware Over-temperature - The hardware module has experienced a failure that is causing an over-temperature condition, and therefore has stopped running. Check: fans, heatsink fans, then continue test.