F.A.Q. for SBWorkshop.


1. Q. Do I have to unsolder EEPROM chip when I want to reset it or I can leave it on board and connect the wires?
   A. Yes. It is not necessary to unsolder the chip but in some cases you need to unsolder write protection pin of the chip.
      For example pin 7 on 24C02 EEPROM.

2. Q. How can I read the battery data?
   A. You need to connect SCL, SDA and GND pins of adapter to SCL, SDA and GND pins of the battery whith any suitable wires. 
      Then press "Read" button. Cells must be connected and battery must be initialized if you just assemble it
      (in some cases). To initialize the battery you need just to apply power to "+" and "-" battery terminals from any
      DC power source (about 9V) or connect cells pack "+" to battery "+" terminal for a second..

3. Q. Where are the SCL, SDA and GND pins on my battery?
   A. Different batteries have different terminal pinouts so the only way is to try different combinations.
      Connect GND pin of adapter to GND terminal of your battery then try different combinations of connecting SCL
      and SDA pins. SCL and SDA pins a always next to each other. It will take no more then 5 minutes. You need just
      not to connect battery "+" terminal to adapter. All other combinations are safe. But you have to remember that
      not all the batteries are SMBus batteries.

4. Q. When I try to reset battery with M37515/SL220 chipset some time I receive "Unsupported M3751x firmware" message. What
      does it mean?
   A. This chipset has a lot of releases. SBWorkshop supports many of them but not all of them at the moment.

5. Q. When I try to reset a chip a receive "Veryfication failed. Try again" message. 
   A. Try to do this several times. If the problem resists it means the memory chip is probably damaged.

6. Q. When I reset BQ2060/BQ2063/24C01/24C02 chipset the program shows "Process completed successfuly" message but when I
      read the battery data I see that all the fields have the same values as before the reset.
   A. You have to connect pin 4 of BQ2060/BQ2063 to GND at least for 15 seconds before you assemble the battery.
      This will shortcut the rgisters backup capacitor and drain it. The registers content of BQ2060/BQ2063 will be cleared.
      You have to do the same operation with BQ2050 (pin 12) when you reset COMPAQ PIC16C63A/24C01 chipset.

7. Q. What is chipset?
   A. Chipset is a combination of microcontroller chip and EEPROM chip. E.g. M37515 and SL220. 


8. Q. Some time COMPAQ batteries with PIC16C63A/24C01 chipset dose not start but I know that battery electronic 
      is OK.
   A. You need ALWAYS to unplug AC adapter from mains before you insert this battery into notebook. Then plug AC dapter
      and check if the battery LED on notebook is ON. Then switch on the notebook and load OS. If this method fails then
      unplug AC adapter and reinsert the battery.  If nothing helps then open the battery pack, take apart PCB halves 
      (if M700) (no need to disconnect cells) and wait 30 seconds. Then assemble the battery and try again. Try to connect
      cells in reverse order (from "+" to GND).

9. Q. When I reset the battery Full Charge Capacity value becom 3600 but real capacity of my cells is 4000 (2x2000).
   A. It's not important. You need just to calibrate the battery (full charge/full discharge 3 times) and controller
      will learn actual capacity of your cells. You need to perfom calibrating procedure each time you replace cells
      and at least once a month when using the battery.