Coulomb IQ

Hello Ol Sol!
12kW of Sun Power bifacial panels at 500W each.

!

What a Beauty!

Thanks to our partners at Minsolar, we now have 19 of these 290W panels! More than enough to run our lab entirely off grid!

Comparision to a Victron 175W camping panel.
What is cool about this comparison is that both of these panels are the same weight at just 11kg!

!

News from the desk of coulomb IQ today...

www.linkedin.com

Happy Birthday to our namesake, Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
Born 14 June 1736!

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb - Wikipedia Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (/ˈkuːlɒm, -loʊm, kuːˈlɒm, -ˈloʊm/, KOO-lom, -⁠lohm, koo-LOM, -⁠LOHM;[1] French: [kulɔ̃]; 14 June 1736 – 23 August 1806) was a French officer, engineer, and physicist. He is best known as the eponymous discoverer of what is now called Coulomb's law, the d...

There is nothing more gratifying than great customer feedback!
Alan, the owner of Frameskin Bike Protection Films which is based in Canberra, attends numerous biking / mountain biking events. Alan was fitting out a Sprinter van with power to support his trips with the usual camping facilities (fridge, lights, inverter etc) but interestingly, also the charging of eBikes and eMountain Bikes whilst off grid.
Despite being 3,700km away, we were able to easily work with Alan to provide the initial design and the technical knowledge in what was quite a challenging fitout in terms of space and coordination of the devices. We also provided custom cables for the build.
The resulting quality of the build is just amazing and with 600Ah of EVE Lithium Cells under the seat, Alan now gets to enjoy the many awesome trails around Australia knowing he has all the power he needs.

Here is the link to the review.
https://g.co/kgs/P4VQppb

coulomb IQ can support all stages of your build regardless of where you are in Australia. Our design services are very cost effective and will give you a complete picture of what you need to make your next off grid adventure a reality.

Just Like You Wouldn't Drive Blind.....
Don't be blind to what your power system is doing.

We are constantly amazed by the number of people who head away on holidays with their family only to wake up one morning to find the power is off. Battery monitors simply do not provide the level of information or alerting needed for a worry free holiday. This is why we designed and built, right here in Australia our PSM-03 Power System Monitor.

The PSM-03 doesn't just tell you your battery Status of Charge, it monitors your whole power system including all your charging sources and your loads. You will know exactly what is coming in and what is going out. In an Australian first for an after market monitor, we have also added the following alerts.

Battery Over Volts
Battery Under Volts
BMS Protection Activation (when coupled to a LiFePO4 BMS as per AS/NZS 3001:2022)

You can see all the specifications at https://www.coulombiq.com.au/power-system-monitor and register your early interest in securing your own PSM-03, including some fantastic specials for the first few customers.
Hurry, as these very limited places will fill quickly!

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia🇦🇺
100% AS/NZS 3001 compliant✅
Patent Pending AU2023902074
Design Registration 202312275

www.coulombiq.com.au
The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control.
Designing your Camping Future.
PSM-03 - Monitor Your System Like Never Before!

Photo by pvproductions on Freepik

Hello Everyone,

Meredyth and I will be closing for the Christmas period between Friday 15th December and Monday the 15th January 24.
It has been an amazing year of great progress and we are very grateful for everyone's support.

As many of you know, I still work full time and my current mining client has taken up a load of time this year. As such, we are sorry to say that the PSM-03 Power System Monitor is a little behind schedule and now won't be released until early next year.

Pricing is still expected to start at $899 for the Start Up pack including 2 current sensors with additional sensors available for individual purchase allowing you to tailor your installation to your needs.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and we look forward to talking with you in the new year!

Thanks
Jason

(Graphic by freepik.com)

The time has come...
After 33 years of faithful service from my trusty, reliable 20 MHz Tektronix CRO, I've had to purchase a new Oscilloscope. I was very lucky to have won my Tektronix CRO the day I graduated from the No 7 Technologist Apprentice Course in the RAAF and it has been used very frequently since.
However, there is no substitute for a much faster, digital storage oscilloscope as can be seen from the attached video.
This is one of the digital addressing signals used in our PSM-03 Power System Monitor that switches an analog Multiplexer between the different inputs (Less Analog to Digital Converters = lower cost 👍). You can see the storage function has captured the address line changing twice while the old analog CRO just jumps up and down.

Fun facts - the Tektronix CRO was reportedly over $2000 at the time I won it. The digital oscilloscope was far cheaper at $550.
Old Techs like me will know that CRO stands for Cathode Ray Oscilloscope meaning there is a mini TV screen in the old unit, hence why it is sooooo much longer and heavier than the new one.

It is a hard habit to break, calling it a CRO. I've been doing it for so long now, I'm not sure I will ever change! The young man working in the shop I bought it looked at me REAL strange when I said, "Can I please have a look at your storage CRO's??" I'm sure he must of pictured bird cages out the back with Crows in them! 😂

Thanks for reading.
Jason
coulomb IQ

The core of our PSM-03 Power System Monitor is the DataHub.
This device embodies our patent pending technology and collects all the input data from your power system and computes all the values for display.
High speed data communications between the DataHub and the display sends all the collected data to the full colour touch screen display up to 4 meters away, presenting you the data in an intuitive and easy to understand format.

Pre-Release Orders - Late October 2023
Release - Late November 2023
Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia🇦🇺
100% AS/NZS 3001 compliant✅
Patent Pending AU2023902074
Design Registration 202312275

Jason
coulomb IQ
www.coulombiq.com.au
The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control.
Designing your Camping Future.
PSM-03 - Monitor Your System Like Never Before!

PSM-03 Power System Monitor DataHub. Monitor your system like never before.

This is our DataHub showing off its patented BMS connection! The main busbar connected to the -B terminal of this Heltec 330A BMS is our custom design and is routed out of a single piece of high quality aluminium. The smallest cross sectional area is over 100mm2 guaranteeing you the smallest possible volt drop up to 300A.

Please like and share as your support to help us get this product out into the market is very much appreciated!

Pre-Release Orders - Late October 2023
Release - Late November 2023
Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia🇦🇺
100% AS/NZS 3001 compliant✅
Patent Pending AU2023902074
Design Registration 202312275
Jason
coulomb IQ
www.coulombiq.com.au
The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
Designing your Camping Future
PSM-03 - Monitor Your System Like Never Before!

PSM-03 Display….
Monitor your system like never before.

We are pleased to show off our display unit for our new PSM-03 Power System Monitor!

This display is backed by 3mm polished aluminium making it both very durable and professional.

Full color touch screen and direction arrows provide simple and intuitive navigation.

Also, all settings can be entered both on screen or via the secure web site making the whole setup process as simple as 1, 2, 3.

The onboard computer stores up to 30 days of log information and the last 24 hours provides detailed information, updated every 5 minutes presented in a simple to read graphical fashion via the web page.

The PSM-03 Display is teamed up with a complete powerhouse, the coulomb IQ DataHub. The PSM-03 DataHub embodies our Patent Pending technology and a number of new features never before deployed in a monitor.

The DataHub allows you to connect and monitor all of your power devices from a single point, creating simple to understand and install total monitoring system.

If you want something simple now but plan to grow the installation later? No Problem, The PSM-03 Power System Monitor grows as you do. You can start with a basic installation on 12V Lead Acid AGM batteries with just battery and solar monitoring and later, switch it to a 24V LiFePO4 battery as a full caravan installation with all the "mod-cons" simply just by purchasing our discrete expansion modules and adding them to your existing equipment with a simple screwdriver!

The expansion modules include:
Battery temperature sensor.
3 x load current sensors, (purchased individually).
2 x additional charging current sensors (purchased individually) complete with associated voltage sensors.
4 x Water tank sensors (purchased individually).
1 x BMS Link cable to allow the electrical connection of the BMS to the monitor in a Lithium battery system.

It is important to note that to be compliant with the latest update of AS/NZS 3001:2022, the monitor must be directly and physically connected to the BMS. It must not be a separate unit connected by wires. The monitor can also connect to the BMS via Bluetooth or WiFi (radio).

This important point make the coulomb IQ PSM-03 Power System Monitor the only compliant after-market direct connect monitor available in the Australian and New Zealand market.

Pre-Release Orders - Late October 2023
Release - Late November 2023

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia🇦🇺
100% AS/NZS 3001 compliant✅

Patent Pending AU2023902074
Design Registration 202312275

Jason
coulomb IQ
www.coulombiq.com.au

The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
Designing your Camping Future
PSM-03 - Monitor Your System Like Never Before!

Today, we are prototyping what we believe will advance the way batteries are monitored.
State of the art techniques combined with state of the art components aims to bring you high performance products that are cheaper and perform better with higher accuracy than the rest.

www.coulombiq.com.au

AS/NZS 3001:2022 Electrical installations - Transportable structures and supply
arrangements, Part 2: Transportable structures and vehicles

This is the updated Australian and New Zealand Standard that will govern installations in caravans, campers and trailers.

coulomb IQ has engaged directly with Standards Australia and the committee who developed this update to be able to bring you some important information about the requirements for a battery monitor to comply with this new, important standard.

Here is a clarification that I received just today about the sections that relate to your system monitor.

Section 5.4.12.3. Battery management safety system (BMSS)
This is the main heading of this section and to quote " The whole of clause 5.4.12.3. relates to the BMSS."

Section 5.4.12.3.1 Requirements
Each Lithium-ion Battery (includes LiFePO4) shall be provided with a BMSS.

Section 5.4.12.3.2 Location
Each BMSS shall be located within or adjacent to the battery and no greater than 600mm from the battery

Section 5.4.12.3.3. Electrical Protection
The BMSS shall monitor the battery and protect against the following by automatic disconnection.
- Over and under voltage
- Over and under temperature
- Over Current

Section 5.4.12.3.4 Monitoring Device
Each battery (or bank of batteries) shall be monitored via a battery monitor designed for managing Lithium-ion batteries (includes LiFePO4)

Further information provided by the committee goes on to say "the "monitoring device" is part of the overall BMSS, and not a standalone item"

So, ask yourself -
Is your monitor a standalone item or does it completely connect to and monitor your BMSS?
Does your battery monitor report these fault conditions?
What is the point of a BMSS that doesn't report these fault conditions?

The coulomb IQ PSM-03 Power System Monitor has been specifically designed to comply with the requirements of this standard update.
It also allows you to monitor your power system from the comfort of your home.

Goodbye limited bluetooth range! 😡
Goodbye constant bluetooth repairing!🤬

An easy to understand web page is all you need for convenient tracking of your system from your laptop, tablet or phone.

Pre-sales order accepted from September.
Full release expected in November 2023 (just in time for Christmas 😉)

Thanks for reading and don't forget to like and follow our page and visit our web site.

Thanks for reading.
Jason
coulomb IQ
The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
Designing your Camping Future

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia🇦🇺
100% AS/NZS 3001 compliant✅

Coulomb IQ working to reduce cost to our customers.
Today I am building up a board with a new precision 16 bit Analog to Digital converter.
Given that our PSM-03 Power System Monitor had more than 8 of these devices on board, cost of individual components is always important.
This chip is half the cost of the previous ADC…
Measuring just 3mm x 3mm, this chip is also smaller, allowing for a higher component density and smaller boards.
This has been hand soldered by me in our Perth factory 👍

Hello Everyone!

Are you a talented and motivated electronic engineering / computer science student in their final years of Uni that is looking to get some work experience?

I am looking for a student electronic engineer and software coder with skills in microprocessors to help me with the next stage of development of our PSM-03 Power System Monitor.

You will have demonstrable experience with Platform IO and VS Code developing C++.
It would also be very advantageous if you have Java script experience as well.

Knowledge of ELV DC power systems would be a distinct advantage.

As I require someone local, if you do not live in Perth, please do not enquire.

Please message me if this is something you would like to discuss.

Thanks
Jason

I say regularly that the PSM-03 Power System Monitor allows you to "monitor your system like never before" but, what does that actually mean?

Well, as many of you know, a key part of a Lithium-ion based Battery Energy Safety System as defined by the relevant Australian Standards, is the Battery Management System, or BMS as it is called.

A BMS does a great job as the primary safety device, watching and protecting your battery from Under Volts, Over Volts and Over Current.
EXCEPT
It doesn't tell you when it has activated any of the protection mechanisms. Suddenly, all the power goes out and you are left scratching your head - WHY????

This is what makes the PSM-03 Power System Monitor different. In this design (now Patent Pending) not only does the monitor watch your battery charge, discharge and State of Charge, it also WATCHES YOUR BMS and NOTIFIES YOU IF IT ACTIVATES!
Plus, it watches your cell BALANCER as well!

Total monitoring of the entire system for the first time!

So what if you run lead acid batteries?
It watches a Lead Acid system just the same and will still notify you if any of the same parameters go out of specification!

If you want to upgrade to Lithium in the future, it won't matter, the PSM-03 is compatible with all cell and battery voltages from 2V Cells, 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells, 12V Batteries and any combination of this all the way to 48 VDC!

Any voltage and either chemistry! It won't matter.

PSM-03 Power System Monitor - Monitor Your System Like Never Before.

PATENT PENDING AU2023902074
DESIGN REGISTRATION NUMBER 202312275

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia 🇦🇺

Evening All!

Here is the new display layout for our PSM-03 Power System Monitor.

This face plate measures just 144mm W x 90mm H so it is much smaller than the PSM-02 monitor.

Behind the face plate is the housing for the display and our electronics which measures only 120mm W x 80mm H x 30mm D.

A single 4 pin pluggable connector is provided for power and high speed data communications with the main Data Hub that will be located near your battery.

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia 🇦🇺

PATENT PENDING AU2023902074
DESIGN REGISTRATION 202312275

Pricing and brochures will be released soon so stay tuned!

The PSM-03 release date is scheduled for November 23 with pre-ordering opening in September 23.

Jason
coulomb IQ
www.coulombiq.com.au

The first of our production face plates for the PSM-02 Power System Monitor has just landed in our factory!
3mm Aluminium plate will keep your monitor safe and secure over those bumpy Australian tracks and the polished aluminium edge makes the whole plate look fantastic 👍

As this monitor is all in one, the plate measures 180 x 90 mm. The housing behind the plate is 150 x 80mm.

The PSM-03 will be slightly smaller as there isn’t as many electronics in the display due to the split nature of the more advanced monitor.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thanks
Jason.
coulomb IQ

The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
AND
Designing Your Camping Future

www.coulombiq.com.au

From design to reality....
PSM-02 Power System Monitor populated circuit board
- Hand made by yours truly.

coulomb IQ
The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
AND Designing Your Camping Future.

Designed in Australia 🇦🇺
Made in Australia 🇦🇺

Hello Everyone,

I would like to tell you about some exciting news from the office of coulomb IQ.

We would like to advise that the concept for the PSM-03 Power System Monitor has just been submitted today to the Australian Patent Office!

I now get you use the words:
"Patent Pending AU2023902074" any time I refer to our product!

This has taken 2 years of very hard work whilst working full time to reach this point.

So what is this new device? Glad you asked....

coulomb IQ has invented, not just a Battery Monitor but a Power System Monitor that will be the first Australian designed an manufactured monitor that complies with the requirements of the new AS/NZS 3001:2022.
Specifically, this standard which is quickly becoming law in Australia in each state and territory requires that a Battery Monitor CONNECTS to a battery BMS to become part of the Battery Energy Safety System and reports to the user, battery parameters like Status of Charge.

Sure, there are other monitors that do that BUT they don't do what this Power System Monitor does. This monitor watches your entire system from top to bottom, regardless of voltage, regardless of chemistry and regardless of configuration.

This allows you to monitor your system like never before!

Here is a small portion of the feature list.
- Suitable for any voltage between 12 VDC and 48 VDC
-Suitable for both LiFePO4 and Lead Acid batteries
-Battery current to +/- 300A
-Individual charge current and voltage monitoring for Solar, Alternator (DCDC) and Mains (if you want it)
-Individual load current monitoring for an Inverter and 2 x load circuits such as a fridge and then everything else
-Battery cell or battery module monitoring for over volts, under volts and over current. (It watches your BMS if you have one)
-Battery cell or battery module balance
-Colour LCD Touch Screen plus keypad for navigation
-WiFi (not short range Bluetooth) allows you to connect the monitor to your home internet and monitor your system from inside your home.
-If you're away from home, the monitor becomes its own WiFi access point so you can still cont to and monitor it
-Local on-screen and Remote (via WiFi and the Web page) setup screens
-Two water tank level monitors
-Data Logging - individual graphs for battery volts and current as well as solar volts and current. Battery statistics up to 30 days. Want to download the data into excel? - Yes you can!
-and I can't forget the coulomb counting Status of Charge battery capacity function

Do you still run Lead Acid batteries? No problem, this PSM still gives you all the same warnings and alerts it does for a Lithium Battery when it is connected to a BMS such as over volts, under volts, over current and battery balance (if applicable).

Current Shunts? Who needs current shunts? Not us. We use an extremely high quality, stable and VERY EASY TO INSTALL current sensor. You won't even need to break into the cable. It fits directly over the cable and it can be fitted to either the positive lead OR the negative lead. It doesn't matter one bit. The hardest part of installing the current sensor is making sure the arrow is pointing the correct way!

The dashboard (shown below) displays all critical information on one page AND you can select any of the 6 individual areas for an aviation style analogue type gauge with more detailed information.

There is so much more to tell you but I'll save that for later.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

Jason and Meredyth Gillies
coulomb IQ

The Intelligence of Charge Monitoring and Control
AND Designing Your Camping Future

Designed in Australia.
Made in Australia.

175W Victron panel and a 200W Hardkor folding panel. 7:45 AM and I’ve got over 11A going back into the battery 👍

ANOTHER MILESTONE AND FIRST FOR COULOMB IQ!

We are very excited and proud to announce that we have just submitted our application to register and certify the design of our Power System Monitor to IP Australia....

It won't be long now and we will be able to start showing off all of our hard work 😀😁😆!

Just to confirm, we plan to make available 3 products in our Power System Monitor family, the:

PSM-01
PSM-02 and
PSM-03

Each will have a different form factor. PSM-01 & 02 have the same feature set. PSM-03 has an expanded feature set. For those who have heard us refer to "SBM-01", we have changed to PSM to maintain the uniqueness of the model as well as referencing the true functionality of this product.

More than a Battery Monitor, it is a fully integrated monitor for your whole Power System!

Thank you very much to our supporters and followers and we wish you a great Easter!

Jason & Meredyth
coulomb IQ
The Intelligence of Charge monitoring and Control
Designing Your Camping Future