Argus 4 e2V Battery pack, charger, remote, questions.. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BMK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:16:46 pm
content: Hi All,A couple of Argus P7130 Cameras followed me home from an auction today. The included NiMH packs are well past it, so I intend to rebuild/refurb them. New cell packs are on the way. All sources of the chargers that I can find show no pricing and am waiting for some repiles to RFQs. Likely to be cost prohibitive. Anyone got used charger to sell, or can tell me some guerrilla tactics for charging them. Currently I'm opening them up and hooking a bench supply. There appears to be nothing too clever inside, a couple of thermistors, no balancing circuitry etc..Also the remote, the manual shows a philips universal remote, so i suppose I can use any universal remote, if I know the 'code'. Anyone have this code?The LCD has a little 'Antenna' symbol which is not mentioned in the manual, I was hoping this means there is some wireless fuctionality that isnt documented on the manual I have..

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:43:23 pm
content: We have the designer of the Argus 4 electronics package as a member on this forum so he will correct anything I get wrong1. The battery packs are thankfully held together with screws and easily rebuilt with new AA 2000mAh cells. The battery pack contains a BQ2010 “Gas Guage” IC that can be configured with a vintage TI utility running on a similarly vintage PC. The GAS gauge can become confused when the new cells are connected so multiple attempts may be needed. The BQ2010 utility permits monitoring of battery charge state and setting of cell capacities etc.2. Charging of the battery pack just needs a suitable contact ‘shoe’ on which to place the battery, and a standard Delta V automatic NiMH battery charger. I bought chargers designed for radio control Ni-Mh battery packs. Just choose one that covers the number of cells found in the Argos battery pack. Set a sensible charge current, connect to the battery via the charging shoe adapter and away you go.3. The ARGUS 4 came with Philips or “One for All” universal remote controls. The communications protocol is Philips RC5/RC6. I bought universal remote controllers and they all worked with the ARGUS 4 when set to Philips RC5 or RC6.4. The ARGUS 4 had an optional Wi-Fi video streaming transmitter that fitted in place of the battery pack. The Antenna symbol just means that the camera is configured to output video to the Wi-Fi transmitter module. There were several other nice optional modules that mounted in the battery bay, including a DVR and IP Ethernet link adapter. Some Argus 4 models provided a composite video feed to the contacts in the battery bay.There is plenty of knowledge of the ARGUS 4 on this forum so you should get some answers to most questionsI own four ARGUS 4 cameras plus several of the optional modules. Sadly no spare charging shoes…. I would buy some more if I could find them at a good price ! I have considered 3D printing some as they are not that complex and contain no electronics. The battery charging electronics are in the power adapter unit that plugs into the charging shoe.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:50:40 pm
content: This site will be of use to youhttp://www.fire-tics.co.uk/A4.htmFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:54:49 pm
content: Saved images may be downloaded using a USB cable and Argus software. The Software is free and can be sourced. Sadly the Fischer connector for the USB cable is quite expensive.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:58:08 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/anyone-have-experience-with-argus-4-p7130/msg4325818/#msg4325818

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 11:00:20 pm
content: Software……https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/argus-4-320-software/msg4754315/#msg4754315

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 11:01:59 pm
content: 3D printed battery pack…https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/argus-4-battery-3d-print/msg4027045/#msg4027045

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 06:51:08 pm
content: Thanks for all the posts Fraser, saves me doing themSorry, there are no charging shoes going spare with me either, they are the limiting factor in my offering complete cameras.However I can sort people out with the latches and also the 10 way contact spring connector.Bill

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 07:01:56 pm
content: Quote from: BMK on November 06, 2024, 10:16:46 pmThis is the charger we used :https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/battery-chargers/4942009That though is 2.2A, we had it set to 1AThere were further customisations to help keep the gas gauge in 'calibration' and charge stored batteries a bit better, with an extended the 'top off' to 3 hours.It also used temperature sensing in the pack, as charging a hot battery is not a good idea.This would now be more suitable off the shelf (and a lot cheaper)https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/battery-chargers/6117299Although it will be whatever you fit with the new cells, for others reading note that the pack had a 2A PTC in it so don't go too mad with the charge rate.

author: BMK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2024, 04:42:34 pm
content: Thanks all for the help. After directly charging cells at the pack terminals, the unit still just powers up for long enough to show me an 'empty' battery gauge. I am guessing the BQ2010 is still reporting empty as it has not 'counted' the charge.. Has anyone got the pinout of the charger pads/shoe? I will try a couple of charge /discharge cycles allowing the current to be seen by the current sense resistor. Also is there any point to reset the 2010 by disconnecting it from the pack?

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 01:09:28 am
content: That sounds very like a 'recorded zero capacity' fault, which is unfortunately not recoverable by charge cycling.It happens a fair bit when fitting a new pack, as you get internittent contact so the BQ2010 goes 'reset - no charge flow - low battery'The final turn off flag (EDV0) is cleared by charge counting, but with LMD=0 it never counts up to clear it.The camera uses reading EDV0 to turn off.So yes you do need to reset by disconnectingI'll sort the pinout another day. (Guess who designed the PCB)

author: BMK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 08:58:44 am
content: Thank you. I will report the result of the reset when I get a chance to do it later. The PCB pin-out would be most useful. I read somewhere that there was a 6xAA holder that fitted the battery bay, I imagine that means that the camera can be in a mode where it doesn't expect 2010 Comms? I am thinking of the possibility to bypass the gas guage entirely, maybe add a little li-po with usb charge circuit. I'm not running a fire brigade here so the loss of accurate battery meter is of no consequence..

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 11:13:27 am
content: Yes there was an 'AA' cell pack, although almost exclusively sold to Japan. It was 8 cells not 6.The battery PCB in this case just has D1 fittedYes if there is no 'DQ' single wire comms the camera defaults to measuring voltage - and assumes it is 8 cells of LR6.Attached the final iteration of PCB, earlier ones just have some bits missing.To explain some functions:'Acc' is logic to turn on accessories like transmittersCAM+ is the camera power after the switch circuit.Put power onto CAM+ and the camera just turns straight on - but there's little protection so be careful !Charge+ is for the top contact mating to the truck charger, diode D1 to prevent it being live.Th+ also carries analogue video from the camera for the 'analogue out battery pack' or an analogue transmitter we never madeLAN is the usual 4 wire network - I'd need to dig a lot more to work out which is which. Video recording and transmission accessories used IPBill

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 01:49:23 pm
content: Thanks for this Bill,It is great to have this information for my archiveI think I have the Ethernet pinout so can add that here if I can find it quickly. From memory the port just needs some TVS protection diodes as the transformer is inside the camera.I am still buying very old (Antique!) pre 486 laptops to use with the Texas Instruments GUI utility for the BQ2010. Every one that I have bought to date requires quite extensive restoration due to age and those darned leaking RTC batteriesThe Connor hard disks used in many laptops of that era are also dead due to degraded head bump stops becoming very sticky ! I have quite a collection of Argus 4 batteries so it is worth the effort to be able to configure the BQ2010.Fraser