Battery communication service cable

[Korbin Dallas]

Which port are you connected to on the battery? Male side or female? I am going to cut one of my cable so I can look at the brammo batteries with the software like you have

[new-brammo-guy]

I

[gyvermc]

continuation:
https://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=4354.0

[patrick]

I'm making one.

I haven't received the parts yet, so I don't have anything to show for it. I've collected what I've found in the forums plus my own searching. Thanks to people on the forum, especially nunux59, Brammofan, and frodus. Here are my notes on the cable and diagnostic tools:

Relevant links
Get these 3 while they're up!
Victory Battery Diagnostics:
http://environ-systems.de/mediapool/132/1325968/data/64956043_02_Battery_Diagnostics-1.0.11.41.exe
The Brammo-Stuff.zip archive (top toolbar > Download as ZIP): https://mega.nz/#F!V6J1nArS!siHe7eJkhPL-9cjuYVa7cQ
The Brammo technical docs collection ("Brammo.pdf"): https://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=3701.msg26113

Relevant threads:
* Another thread on the forum about this: https://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=3696
Note the Polaris Digital Wrench software is not used for this bike.
* Replacement parts thread. https://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=3502.0

For the RS-485-to-USB transceiver:
From what I've read on this forum, the official Brammo cable appears to use an FTDI chip.
See FTDI document reference FT_000117: https://mouser.com/datasheet/2/163/DS_USB_RS485_CABLES-16812.pdf
The Brammo doc dump ("Brammo.pdf") may have further reference to this but I kinda just skimmed it.
I'm substituting Amazon ASIN B010KJSCR8 for the "brains" of the cable as it uses a genuine FTDI part.

For the battery end of the cable:
The round connector is Molex 120079-0310, according to Brammo document 75165465_A.00 CABLE M12-PICOSPOX 1M.pdf. The series catalogue (page S-34) calls it an "Ultra-Lock" connector: https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1271388.pdf
Its Mouser stock number is 538-1200790310; it's not in stock (May 2021); minimum order USD $2,847.00 for a quantity of 100.
Molex has a drawing of the receptacle here (it's the 8-pole connector): https://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/1200845098_sd.pdf
I don't need the cable to be weatherproof, so I'm planning on 3D printing this connector.

Wiring things up:
The above Brammo document ("75165465...PICOSPOX 1M.pdf") shows the pinout for the adapter cable. I won't post the image but will describe it. Looking at the cable's Molex connector, there are 7 pins within a shell, and an 8th pin in the center. The shell has a notch in it. Holding the connector so the notch is at 7-o'clock position to you, pins 1-7 run clockwise.
Pin 1 - to the right of the notch. About 6-o'clock position. No connection.
Pin 2 - to the left of the notch. About 9-o'clock position. RS-485_D+_1.
Pin 3 - 10-o'clock. RS-485_D-_1.
Pin 4 - 12-o'clock. RS-485_UNUSED_1.
Pin 5 - 1-o'clock. RS485_INTERLOCK_1.
Pin 6 - 3-o'clock. RS485_INTERLOCK_2.
Pin 7 - 5-o'clock. RS485_+12V_1.
Pin 8 - center. RS485_GND_1.

MiBa from the forum mentioned:
PIN6 / Interlock_2/ brown wire / is connected to GND (or PIN8)
PIN5 / Interlock_1 / green wire / is somehow open or not connected, I can't find any connection to somewhere

Software:
There are 2 versions of Battery Diagnostics software that I've found:
* 1.0.10.40 - Brammo branded. Part of "Brammo-Stuff.zip" on mega.nz. In my tests, this program always displays the message, "No COM ports were detected. Check your serial port module connection and restart the application." Even if you install the LabVIEW driver, it does not work. I tried using an Arduino Leonardo with a custom USB VID/PID, plus Zadig to replace various USB drivers, but nothing worked.
* 10.0.11.41 - Victory branded. This one sees all COM ports! Requires LabView 32-bit runtime (2020 works fine) - you need to register on NI's site for a free account - download the offline installer to be future-proof - it's the small text in the lower right: https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/downloads/software-products/download.labview-runtime.html
* If this ever takes off, I recommend getting something like a used ASUS M80TA - VivoTab Note 8 - off eBay as your dedicated "Brammo service computer." Something cheap and portable from the era of basic Windows 8 tablets. You'll need a USB-OTG adapter. It also won't charge and use USB at the same time.

Thanks, it worked like a charm to me. But I was having some trouble with battery diagnostics due to Run time system. I had to remove the battery diagnostics, install the run time and then install the battery diagnostics again, and all is OK.
Does the SW resets the previous faults?