Fogstar Drift App

[headlight]

Anybody having problems with the app ?
I received 2 x 105AH Fogstar Drifts today.
I down loaded the app on to my phone but no matter what I do my phone just searches and searches and doesn't connect.
I have also down loaded the app on to my tablet but that won't connect either.
I have Bluetooth and location turned on on both devices and have uninstalled and re-installed the app several times on both devices but still no joy.
I can connect to other devices via Bluetooth no problem.

 

[headlight]

Quick cancel it.

Not worth it for £40, plus I've just had confirmation it's been shipped so I don't think I can now.
I'm so far down the rabbit hole money wise now that £40 isn't worth worrying about.

 

[Just smiffy]

I’d ask them to replace them, if not then refund…

I think they are not being very customer focused…

 

[Lenny HB]

Not worth it for £40, plus I've just had confirmation it's been shipped so I don't think I can now.
I'm so far down the rabbit hole money wise now that £40 isn't worth worrying about.

Will just have been packed just grovel to them saying ordered by mistake.

 

[headlight]

Will just have been packed just grovel to them saying ordered by mistake.

TBH Lenny I want the discharge unit as if cycling the batteries doesn't sort out the BMS's I will need it to cycle the replacements.
It seems that most of the problems reported on the owners group are down to not cycling the batteries properly and once cycled properly the BMS sorts itself out.
Hence my offer to lend you the discharge unit as you're thinking of getting Fogstars for your new van aren't you ?
I think the actual batteries are OK and the cells used are good as they arrived with all cells within 0.002v of each other and after 1 charge they were all within 0.0001v of each other.
The BMS's however seem flakey.

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[Just smiffy]

Is this problem likely to occur with just one battery as opposed to two…?

Say one 200amp or one 300amp…

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't really know but I would always go for two, I like a bit of redundancy.

 

[headlight]

Is this problem likely to occur with just one battery as opposed to two…?

Say one 200amp or one 300amp…

It has been suggested that I only have a problem with 1 battery but as I have 2 in parallel that it is affecting the other one.
Until I bring them home and cycle them I won't know.

 

[RogerIvy]

Unfortunately I ordered it yesterday from the ebay link you provided.

If you could cancel/return you’re welcome to borrow one of ours. We have quite a few of them so we can test individual cells.

 

[headlight]

If you could cancel/return you’re welcome to borrow one of ours. We have quite a few of them so we can test individual cells.

Thanks very much RogerIvy for the kind offer but in the big scheme of things £40 is nothing compared to what I've already spent so I'll just use the discharger I've bought.

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[dpsuk999]

The hassle with discharging in the van is that I then have to remove the batteries take them home to charge them then take them back to the van to discharge again, 6 times, as the van is in storage.
The only advice I've had from Ben is what I've posted above which seems to contradict each other ?

But that is not Fogstar’s problem

 

[dpsuk999]

I bought 2 x 460ah Fogstar batteries, charged them individually to 100% then paralleled them together and fitted. Been working perfect for over 8 months now, albeit I do hammer them on discharge as when the sun shines I run my Alde hot water, air con and fridge on them

 

[headlight]

I bought 2 x 460ah Fogstar batteries, charged them individually to 100% then paralleled them together and fitted. Been working perfect for over 8 months now, albeit I do hammer them on discharge as when the sun shines I run my Alde hot water, air con and fridge on them

I'm glad that you are happy with yours.
I am not.
I did exactly the same as you, charged both batteries to 100% individually, then paralleled and fitted.
Mine have not worked properly since.

 

[headlight]

But that is not Fogstar’s problem

No it isn't, but who's problem is it then when after having them for 6 weeks and following all Fogstars advice mine still do not perform properly ?

 

[Ian_H]

No it isn't, but who's problem is it then when after having them for 6 weeks and following all Fogstars advice mine still do not perform properly ?

I think Fogstar are shooting themselves in the foot by not either
1. Cycling the batteries before dispatch or
2. Providing clear instructions regarding cycling BEFORE purchase and in writing on delivery. Beforehand would allow customers to plan for the time and equipment required.
I appreciate there would be a cost for these, but there must be a significant cost in customer service resources and disastrous publicity with their current set up.
Maybe they are becoming victims of their own success?

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[headlight]

Ian_H I agree wholeheartedly and have said so on this thread.
If it was stated on their site that the batteries needed to be be cycled before fitting I would have had no problem doing that and it would have saved me fitting them and now having to remove them to cycle them then fit them again.
Also some mention that the app might not work with all phones would be helpful.

 

[headlight]

"Sounds similar to my issues with the Pros. Spent a few hours at Fogstar HQ today but couldn't get them both to work at the same time. Are yours Pro or v1?"

Above is another member of the owners forum who posted an hour ago.
I am far from alone in experiencing problems.

 

[dpsuk999]

Fogstar are a battery supplier and they cannot document and provide guidance on every leisure vehicle setup or else they would no doubt be blamed for bad advice if things go wrong. Installation is the responsibility of the end user.

I do, however, have to say that BMS’s can and do fail so this could be the reason yours are not performing as they should but unfortunately as time has passed it maybe too late to return and the onus is on you to prove they are faulty so you are left with no alternative but to follow Fogstar’s advice.

 

[RogerIvy]

Fogstar are a battery supplier and they cannot document and provide guidance on every leisure vehicle setup or else they would no doubt be blamed for bad advice if things go wrong. Installation is the responsibility of the end user.

I do, however, have to say that BMS’s can and do fail so this could be the reason yours are not performing as they should but unfortunately as time has passed it maybe too late to return and the onus is on you to prove they are faulty so you are left with no alternative but to follow Fogstar’s advice.

Agree.
In this situation we’d put the batteries on the bench (individually) and test them.
If time permitted we’d then combine on the bench and test again.
Then we’d put in the vehicle and see if they do the same thing.

 

[Raul]

So far I spent well over 9k in just over a year with Fogstar, very very happy, but, I never bought a ready made battery.

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[Raul]

Ian_H I agree wholeheartedly and have said so on this thread.
If it was stated on their site that the batteries needed to be be cycled before fitting I would have had no problem doing that and it would have saved me fitting them and now having to remove them to cycle them then fit them again.
Also some mention that the app might not work with all phones would be helpful.

You just need to use them, what’s the point on cycling them without benefit? Upon use if they turn to be faulty, then you can call Fogstar.
In the very early days of fitting them, you should put them trough their paces and test if they work as they should. That’s what I did all the time. Fingers crossed, I never had to return anything.

 

[headlight]

Fogstar are a battery supplier and they cannot document and provide guidance on every leisure vehicle setup or else they would no doubt be blamed for bad advice if things go wrong. Installation is the responsibility of the end user.

I do, however, have to say that BMS’s can and do fail so this could be the reason yours are not performing as they should but unfortunately as time has passed it maybe too late to return and the onus is on you to prove they are faulty so you are left with no alternative but to follow Fogstar’s advice.

I can assure you that my set up is fine.
I have just replaced my 2 lead acids with lithiums and altered the charge profiles of my B2B and MPPT to the lithium charge profiles that Fogstar said.

 

[headlight]

You just need to use them, what’s the point on cycling them without benefit? Upon use if they turn to be faulty, then you can call Fogstar.
In the very early days of fitting them, you should put them trough their paces and test if they work as they should. That’s what I did all the time. Fingers crossed, I never had to return anything.

Because when I tried to use them in the MH they had both turned charge/discharge off and wouldn't let me turn them back on for days so I had no power.
I don't want to be stuck in that position again.

 

[Raul]

Because when I tried to use them in the MH they had both turned charge/discharge off and wouldn't let me turn them back on for days so I had no power.
I don't want to be stuck in that position again.

I understand your frustration, but, have you put a clamp meter on the cable and turn on a load to confirm? Maybe the bms is not giving the right info, but the battery may be ok?

 

[headlight]

I understand your frustration, but, have you put a clamp meter on the cable and turn on a load to confirm? Maybe the bms is not giving the right info, but the battery may be ok?

Yes I believe the batteries are fine. I think that it is a BMS issue and possibly only on one battery but affecting the other battery as they are in parallel.

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[Ian_H]

You just need to use them, what’s the point on cycling them without benefit? Upon use if they turn to be faulty, then you can call Fogstar.
In the very early days of fitting them, you should put them trough their paces and test if they work as they should. That’s what I did all the time. Fingers crossed, I never had to return anything.

The point of bench testing is that it's a hell of a lot easier than fitting under the seat etc and checking for any battery issues without having the whole system connected. If there is a problem on the bench it's the battery not the rest of the system. As I had. Fogstar talked me through changing some settings to reset the bms and cycling again appears to have fixed it.

 

[Raul]

The point of bench testing is that it's a hell of a lot easier than fitting under the seat etc and checking for any battery issues without having the whole system connected. If there is a problem on the bench it's the battery not the rest of the system. As I had. Fogstar talked me through changing some settings to reset the bms and cycling again appears to have fixed it.

Yes I agree, but, all the bench testing I do before fitting, unless I'm 100% sure it will work and have use of it to exercise it.
I can't see how fogstar would piss about with every battery they sell. They shift hundreds if not thousands per shipment. There is no time for that, it will have to be relied on manufacturer quality control. They give a good warranty so must trust their supplier. You do get one very now and then, but majority of bulk its good stuff.

 

[headlight]

I don't expect Fogstar to bench test/cycle all their batteries, that would be excessive and expensive adding cost to the price of their batteries.
However considering the number of people experiencing what appear to be BMS problems, and seems to be due to a lack of proper cycling, especially when using the batteries in parallel, at least a mention of possible cycling being needed before use on their website would be a plus.
I accept that there are a lot more customers who experience no problems than those that do.
However there are enough with issues to show that my problems are not an isolated issue.

 

[Pausim]

When I buy a battery I expect it to work when I receive it, I do not expect to be mucking about recycling it to make it work properly. If I buy a new vehicle I do not expect to have to service it myself before using it.

 

[Peavy]

Edited. Pausim expressed what I was thinking about this matter.

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[Ian_H]

Yes I agree, but, all the bench testing I do before fitting, unless I'm 100% sure it will work and have use of it to exercise it.
I can't see how fogstar would piss about with every battery they sell. They shift hundreds if not thousands per shipment. There is no time for that, it will have to be relied on manufacturer quality control. They give a good warranty so must trust their supplier. You do get one very now and then, but majority of bulk its good stuff.

The bench testing I was referring to there was before getting the battery installed. I bought it in November and Rhino Installs will fit it later this month.