At Delta-Q Technologies (Delta-Q), our people are our greatest asset. We are passionate about what we do, and proactively listen to our customers to create battery charging solutions that meet their needs.
A key group to our success is our software team – the people who invent the brains behind our smart industrial battery chargers.
Why does the software in the battery charger matter?
Delta-Q’s software enables the battery chargers to communicate with all the components within an application. This allows the charger to deliver a charge profile, adapt to different operating conditions, and intelligently return energy to the batteries. Users benefit from precise charge profiles – for different battery types and brands – and can diagnose battery issues. For lithium applications, the software acts as a safety net, and controls the way the charger works, by communicating with the battery management system (BMS) and the battery.
Commitment to Innovation
CAN bus technologies are becoming an asset in a range of industries such as floor care, construction, material handling, electric automobiles, specialty utility vehicles and outdoor power equipment. A CAN bus system is a communications network for controlling devices installed on vehicles. This technology reduces the amount of cabling required to create a network.
Delta-Q’s software team consists of smart and experience professionals. Together, they have a combined over 60 years of CAN programming and customization experience. As Delta-Q continues to evolve and innovate, the software team (along with the rest of the company) focuses on R&D to stay on top of the latest industry trends. They also work with our OEM customers to deliver customized CAN based charging solutions specific to their product requirements.
Software Supporting Controller Area Network (CAN Bus) Communication
Currently, Delta-Q is one of the few battery charging companies that offer the two leading CAN bus communication protocols: CANOpen and SAE J1939. These capabilities enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate the battery charger’s data into a vehicle system, including telematic applications, in a simple and functional manner.
OEMs can also use CAN communication protocols for charge control and/or charge monitoring. This gives them the flexibility to:
- Update battery algorithm and charger software through CAN program
- Provide full autonomous control of their applications
- Ensure a vehicle’s battery charge
Enhanced Safety & Security
To safely charge lithium battery packs, Delta-Q’s software team programs the chargers to communicate with the BMS to control voltage and current using CANOpen or SAE J1939. These industry recognized protocols prevent lithium-ion batteries from going outside their safe operating conditions and experiencing thermal runaway. For enhanced safety and security, Delta-Q’s software uses CAN communication protocols to create encrypted key exchanges, which authenticates the charger for its assigned machine/battery pack. This prevents unauthorized chargers from unsafely charging any lithium system. When working with lithium battery systems, we work with OEMs and battery companies to ensure their products are equipped with the safest charging methods.
The Charge Series
While this is just an overview of our charger software’s capabilities, we are excited to dive deeper into the weeds of charging software and how that helps prolong battery life in our educational series, “The Charge”.
The Charge Series will share best practices around onboard battery charging and how to leverage software and charger data to maximize machine runtime. Topics will include on how to:
- Design and validate chargers’ onboard electric floor machines,
- Mitigate battery failure and safety risks with charger software profiles, and
- Extract charger data to help reduce maintenance spending and improve overall usage.
The educational series consists of three on-demand educational videos followed by a live webinar on Day 4, which will be a Q&A with Delta-Q’s charging experts and an announcement on a new solution that will redefine charger expectations for the floor care industry.
To watch the educational series visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3BMNjsM8JA
