FuelGauge functions, missing documentation?

Firmware
1

Sorry if this has been documented or discussed elsewhere, but I can’t for the life of me find any documentation for the following functions in the FuelGauge library:

getAlertThreshold();
setAlertThreshold();
getAlert();
clearAlert();

I’d rather not invent the wheel by creating my own alert threshold function, but all I can find on the library functions that I mentioned is just the passing mention here:
https://docs.particle.io/reference/firmware/electron/#getalertthreshold-

I would greatly appreciate any pointers and/or hints on the proper usage of these functions.

2

Ok, I found the SparkFunMAX17043 library reference, which it appears the Particle FuelGauge library was based on.

Unfortunately, the FuelGauge library doesn’t seem to be properly initializing when I call quickStart(), and it never registers above 83%, even when fully charged (using the 2000mAH lipo from the asset tracker kit). Do I need to manually set the lipo capacity using the FuelGauge library, or should quickStart() automatically calibrate everything properly?

3

you’re talking about the Electron, I assume. And yeah, mine never shows above 83% or so (I don’t remember the exact percentage offhand). Further, are you able to properly init a global FuelGauge? It fails when I attempt to do so- I can only define it within a function.

The SparkFun gauge, used on the Photon, doesn’t have either of the above problems.

4

Yes, this is regarding the Electron. Interesting that you’re seeing the same SOC reporting issue…
FuelGauge seems to be initializing fine for me, here is a snippet from my code–

// This #include statement was automatically added by the Spark IDE.
#include "TinyGPS.h"
String LastLocation;
FuelGauge fuel;
TinyGPS gps;

void setup(){
    Particle.function("pubstatus", PubStatus);
    fuel.quickStart();
}

void loop(){
}

int PubStatus(String checkstatus) {
  String str = LastLocation + " - Battery: " + String(long(fuel.getSoC())) + "%";
	Particle.publish(CurrentState, str);
}

By chance, have you tried seeing if the SparkFun library is usable on the Electron? (not sure if it could be tweaked to work without clashing with the built-in library?)

5

@tedder @surfdaworld I find just declaring FuelGauge fuel; in the loop() seems to work:

loop() {
    FuelGauge fuel;
    sprintf(publishStr, "%02.2f %03.2f", fuel.getVCell(), fuel.getSoC());
    Particle.publish("e1", publishStr, 60, PRIVATE); 

......
   sleep.........or whatever
}

I have no idea what quickStart is supposed to do

6

messed up… VCell function ALWAYS returns 5.000 - I’m on battery only, no usb connection. It should be under 3.9 by now…