BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Test & Review PP

[GPak]

Any estimate on how much of the P8's life span it can affect?

It is difficult to estimate because it depends on many factors such as:
How often sub-zero charging happens? and at how low temperature? and for how long time, per occurrence.
And most importantly at what current rate battery is charging (elephant in the room).

For LFP batteries, recommendations for sub-freezing charging could be summarized as:
“When charging LFP batteries below 0°C (32°F), the charge current must be reduced to 0.1C and below -10°C (14°F) it must be reduced to 0.05C.
Failure to reduce the current below freezing temperatures can cause irreversible damage to your battery”.

Most manufacturers simply prefer to cut charging at 0°C – it is easy to implement and better be safe than sorry.
Most Battery producer’s show on their data sheets charging temp range starting at 0°C - once again easy pass.

It seems like PC8 design intent is low temp charging with reduced current - advanced and more difficult to implement.

Per above recommendations the subfreezing charge rate for ~7.5Ah PC8 should be about 0.75A below 0°C and about 0.38A below -10°A (0.1C and 0.05C accordingly).
The fluctuating current during the low temp test by @Panzer Platform was about 0.8A-1.6A, double of recommended rate but probably still low enough to be acceptable without considerable/noticeable degradation, I guess.
Also, maybe current was rapidly fluctuating between 0.8A to 1.6A at about -10°C, because -10°C is transitional temperature from 0.8A to 1.6A?

If all the above guessing is correct then PC8 is really more advanced low temp implementation and preferred option, especially since B130X will completely cut the power to DVR below 0°C according to BBMC.

 

[runtohell121]

Any users able to factory reset the PowerCell 8? I can't access settings using the app - tried all the default passwords I can think of and even contacted BlackboxMyCar via email.

Was told they factory reset the devices that are refurbished to default settings, but doesn't seem like I'm able to access it. It's functional and all and been using it for a few months until recently wanting to mess around with settings but unable to do so.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Any users able to factory reset the PowerCell 8? I can't access settings using the app - tried all the default passwords I can think of and even contacted BlackboxMyCar via email.

Was told they factory reset the devices that are refurbished to default settings, but doesn't seem like I'm able to access it. It's functional and all and been using it for a few months until recently wanting to mess around with settings but unable to do so.

I'm not sure I understand.
Are you trying to reset the password?

 

[runtohell121]

I'm not sure I understand.
Are you trying to reset the password?

Short answer - yes. I am unable to access any of the settings through the app since it's password protected.

I do not have the password to the PowerCell 8 even though the representative from BBMC are saying it was reset and tested before sending them to new owners.

 

[echang]

Short answer - yes. I am unable to access any of the settings through the app since it's password protected.

I do not have the password to the PowerCell 8 even though the representative from BBMC are saying it was reset and tested before sending them to new owners.

From what I read the default password should be 1234. Also, credit to EV-oultions...
"Changing PasswordsIf you are planning on changing the battery password, you will need to enter the default password '1234' when prompted for the old password.Note: There is no password retrieval or reset function. Password reset is a function that can only be performed by technicians at the manufacturer. The Reset function within the Battery Manager App is for resetting the default battery settings (ie. the Dual Charger setting) only and will not reset the password back to the default "1234".Because of this, we strongly recommend that you don't change the password unless you absolutely needed to, and if you do change it, make sure to keep a record of the new password. Once you have changed the password, you will be asked to re-enter it every time you access the Settings menu within the Battery Manager App."

 

[runtohell121]

From what I read the default password should be 1234. Also, credit to EV-oultions...
"Changing PasswordsIf you are planning on changing the battery password, you will need to enter the default password '1234' when prompted for the old password.Note: There is no password retrieval or reset function. Password reset is a function that can only be performed by technicians at the manufacturer. The Reset function within the Battery Manager App is for resetting the default battery settings (ie. the Dual Charger setting) only and will not reset the password back to the default "1234".Because of this, we strongly recommend that you don't change the password unless you absolutely needed to, and if you do change it, make sure to keep a record of the new password. Once you have changed the password, you will be asked to re-enter it every time you access the Settings menu within the Battery Manager App."

Yeah... that didn't work and I contacted them, told me to pay shipping to return the unit for them to factory reset which I strongly am against paying shipping when the item defect isn't caused by the end user. Although it was a refurbished unit, they said they 'tested' all and performed the factory reset, but at least to me, that wasn't the case on my unit.

 

[Hack_man]

Yeah... that didn't work and I contacted them, told me to pay shipping to return the unit for them to factory reset which I strongly am against paying shipping when the item defect isn't caused by the end user. Although it was a refurbished unit, they said they 'tested' all and performed the factory reset, but at least to me, that wasn't the case on my unit.

So did you get the Password working?
Funny, I just got a PC8 and the manual says "You can set your own password to prevent other users from changing the product settings at will. It is recommended to change the password immediately after purchase" If you have forgotten your password, please contact our Service Center"

Seems to me the only important setting that someone could mess with is the charging current. In my case I use the CLA so it always charges at <5A.

 

[runtohell121]

So did you get the Password working?
Funny, I just got a PC8 and the manual says "You can set your own password to prevent other users from changing the product settings at will. It is recommended to change the password immediately after purchase" If you have forgotten your password, please contact our Service Center"

Seems to me the only important setting that someone could mess with is the charging current. In my case I use the CLA so it always charges at <5A.

No, I never got it working. I did not send my unit back to BlackBoxMyCar at my own cost even though the issue wasn't caused by the end user, me.

I'm just using it as is with the caution of popping a fuse or two on some of the power adapters I'm running; which definitely isn't ideal.

I personally hate saying negative things about companies, especially when they're as big as this for being in the dash cam business.

 

[Lilrayrobb]

Hey any luck on testing with a higher wattage solar panel or if you figured out anything to work for tickle charging the pc8? Thanks!

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Hey any luck on testing with a higher wattage solar panel or if you figured out anything to work for tickle charging the pc8? Thanks!

No.
But the good news is we just got a new model that is solar panel charging compatible.
See 6:20 in the video;

 

[Hack_man]

You are correct, the B130X will not charge when the fuel-gauge specifically is at 0℃. The B130X can't even output if charging is blocked at a temperature below -1℃. Furthermore, it will not supply power to the camera in those temperatures either. The PC8 (along with other EGEN batteries) will also not accept charge when in this state, even if the charging circuit still has power flowing through it.
In other words, if the B130X battery is frozen and the charging start temperature is not reached, the dash cam will also not work, which means the camera will fail to function.

I was really confused about the low temp operation of the PC8. I called Blackboxmycar (BMC) and was told it will stop charging at 32F but will power the dashcam down to 14F. The box the PC8 came in only showed Storage Temperature -10C to -30C, never mentioned operating or charging temp. The BMC response does agree with the specs I found on their website (operating and charging temps) so the dashcam should work while powered by the PC8 above -10C (14F), its just the battery wont charge below 32F.

I asked if I could get the PN of the dashcam output connector (4 pin male) used on the back of the PC8 so that I could make a cable that goes from cigarette lighter jack to the viofo A229 PRO custom power cable supplied by blackboxmycar which will be professionally installed in the car. Otherwise I would have to use the viofo cigarette lighter cable dangled over my windshield when its super cold out, which I suppose is a solution.

 

[rcg530]

I asked if I could get the PN of the dashcam output connector (4 pin male) used on the back of the PC8 so that I could make a cable that goes from cigarette lighter jack to the viofo A229 PRO custom power cable supplied by blackboxmycar which will be professionally installed in the car. Otherwise I would have to use the viofo cigarette lighter cable dangled over my windshield when its super cold out, which I suppose is a solution.

I have a video where I discuss creating dash camera hardwiring cables that connect with the various EGEN produced dash camera battery packs like the PowerCell 8.

In that video's description section, I list the part info including links to those parts on a site called mouser.com.

Battery Pack Connector Parts:
538-43640-0400 PLUG PANEL MOUNT 4P SINGLE ROW (battery pack):

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/538-43640-0400

538-43031-0001-CT MF 3.0 TERM 20-24G M Cut Strip of 100:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/538-43031-0001-CT

 

[Hack_man]

@rcg530 The HK4 dashcam power cable I purchased from Blackboxmycar for the VIOFO A229 PRO has the yellow wire on position 1 and red wire on position 2 (see attached). I have confirmed this cable works in parking mode with the Powercell 8 and A229 Pro.
According to VIOFO's website for the HK4 cable, red is BATTERY and yellow is ACCESSORY
Your video at TS 2:20 shows position 1 as CONSTANT POWER and position 2 as ACCESSORY
I have not measured the O/P of my PC8 but do you see the discrepancy?
I would have expected your diagram to show position 1 as ACCESSORY and Position 2 as CONSTANT POWER to match the cable I received.
I'm new to all of this and am just trying to understand.Thanks for the great video!

​

 

[rcg530]

Your picture of the cable that connects to the PC8 is what I would expect to see (1 = yellow, 2 = red, 3 = black). EGEN which makes the PowerCell 8, uses a yellow wire for the constant battery power wire, red for the accessory power wire and black for ground. My video correctly documents the pin positions for the PC8 (1 = constant power, 2 = accessory power, 3 = ground).

The HK4 you purchased from BlackboxMyCar with the cable already spliced together with the output power cable from the PC8 will have the yellow wire from the PC8 cable connecting to the HK4 red wire, the red wire from the PC8 will connect to the HK4 yellow wire and black always connects to black. BlackboxMyCar accounts for the color differences when then splice together the two cables.

 

[Hack_man]

Thank you for the explanation, this kind of makes sense, except the cable I purchased from BlackboxMyCar is labelled "VIOFO HK4 Hardwire kit for Car Dash Camera" on the +12V/+5V converter, the same as if it were purchased directly from VIOFO. I "assumed" it was sourced from VIOFO and should follow the VIOFO color scheme. There is no splicing in this cable, it looks like BMC simply took PC8's HK4 cable shown in my photo (HK4 per VIOFO) and added the connector to mate with the PC8. I'm still a bit confused but in any case it works.

When I build a cable to "bypass" the PC8 for low temp operation, I intend to build a mating cable for the Viofo HK4 which will connect the red and yellow wires together in my new cable and apply this to the Cigarette Lighter Adapter (CLA) +12V terminal.

This way, if its too cold for the PC8, I can just switch to using the CLA (without parking mode). Does this make sense?

 

[rcg530]

Thank you for the explanation, this kind of makes sense, except the cable I purchased from BlackboxMyCar is labelled "VIOFO HK4 Hardwire kit for Car Dash Camera" on the +12V/+5V converter, the same as if it were purchased directly from VIOFO. I "assumed" it was sourced from VIOFO and should follow the VIOFO color scheme. There is no splicing in this cable, it looks like BMC simply took PC8's HK4 cable shown in my photo (HK4 per VIOFO) and added the connector to mate with the PC8. I'm still a bit confused but in any case it works.

When I build a cable to "bypass" the PC8 for low temp operation, I intend to build a mating cable for the Viofo HK4 which will connect the red and yellow wires together in my new cable and apply this to the Cigarette Lighter Adapter (CLA) +12V terminal.

This way, if its too cold for the PC8, I can just switch to using the CLA (without parking mode). Does this make sense?

The VIOFO HK4 wire insulation is thicker than the insulation on the EGEN (PC8) output power cable. What you showed in your picture is the typical EGEN output power cable insulation thickness. BBMC takes a standard HK4 from VIOFO and splices it together with the EGEN output power cable. That's how they've always done that process. There has to be a splice location in the cable between the HK4 12V/5V power adapter and the connector that plugs into the PC8.

Yes, you should connect the two wires from the Molex connector (yellow/red) to the 12V feed from the cigarette lighter power adapter and the black [ground] (position 3) to the cigarette lighter adapter black/ground.

 

[rcg530]

With the HK4 red and yellow connected to constant power, the HK4 will not turn off the 5V ACC power to the dash camera which will keep the dash camera in normal recording mode the entire time the HK4 is sourcing its power from the cigarette lighter power adapter.

 

[Hack_man]

Darn, if there is a splice in there it's impossible to see. Its not at the ferrite core. I'm wondering if BBMC sources the HK4 from VIOFO to a different spec regarding color code. Either that or its the best splice I've ever not seen!

Those Connector PN's you provided are terrific. BBMC never got back to me.

 

[rcg530]

The end of the 12V 3-wire cable that you show in your picture of your HK4 is the "DC OUT" cable supplied with the PowerCell 8.

Here's a frame grab from my initial review of the PowerCell 8 battery pack. The "DC OUT" cable is in the left/center of the picture. [click to enlarge]


Here's a frame grab from my video where I compare the PowerCell 8 against the Thinkware iVolt Xtra BAB-95 and the BlackVue B-130X. This video was released in February 2023. I show the PowerCell 8 sales page output cable selection list from February 2023. It states that they splice the selected hardwire kit with the output power cable for the PowerCell 8.



Looking at the current PowerCell 8 sales page, the output cable selection list looks similar except that it's been updated with a few more dash camera models and hardwire kits added to the list.

 

[Hack_man]

That output cable selection window you show is the same one I used to pick my cable. Yes it does say "spliced".
The "splice" we are refering to is allegedly between the PC8 4 pin Molex and the 12V/5V adapter box.
I can say after working as an electrical design engineer for 35 years I have never seen a "spliced cable" as uniform as this one and we built to military specifications. I am not seeing or feeling any change in insulation thickness or bulging along the cable in question, it appears to be extremely uniform. If there is a splice in there, its built to perfection. I have inspected under the ferrite core but don't want to mess with it. Maybe the commercial world has leap frogged us, it would not be the first time, IDK. We tended to favor reliability over pushing the edge of technology. I'm just going to assume there is the best splice in there I've never seen or they source to a different spec from VIOFO.

I have confirmed pin 1 of the PC8 is in fact CONSTANT POWER as you documented. After reviewing your top rate videos and discussions I had no doubt of your accuracy.

It's almost worth the $25 to order another "spliced" cable and perform some destructive testing!