Texas Instruments bqEVSW for bq30z55R9 v9.0: SBS Data Access and R9 Device Files

User question

texas instruments evaluation software for bq30z55R9 v9.0 (SBS data)

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• Use Texas Instruments’ legacy bq Evaluation Software (bqEVSW), not Battery Management Studio (bqStudio), to read SBS data from a bq30z55R9 v9.x device.
• Install bqEVSW v0.9.0092 and select the bq30z55 “R9” device definition (there are R9‑specific EVSW installers/device files published via TI’s E2E forum). bqStudio does not support the bq20xxx/bq30xxx family. (ti.com)

Key points

• Latest available bqEVSW: 0.9.0092, release date August 20, 2015. (ti.com)
• bq30xxx parts are not supported by bqStudio; use bqEVSW. (ti.com)
• R9 firmware requires the matching R9 EVSW/device files; TI has provided “bq30z55v9.02R9” EVSW builds on E2E. (e2e.ti.com)
• Hardware: EV2300 (legacy) or EV2400 (preferred). EV2300 requires legacy drivers; EV2400 is directly supported. (ti.com)

Detailed problem analysis

• Software selection
  • bqEVSW is the correct tool for bq30z55/bq30z55R9 and exposes an “SBS Data” pane for real‑time register reads, logging, and basic control. bqEVSW 0.9.0092 remains the most recent public release and is still posted by TI. (ti.com)
  • bqStudio explicitly excludes bq20xxx/bq30xxx; it has no .bqz for bq30z55, so auto‑detection and register maps are unavailable. (ti.com)
• R9 device definition
  • The “R9” branch denotes an OEM firmware line with a data‑flash map that differs from R1/R2. Using a mismatched EVSW/device definition can trigger errors or incorrect DF mapping. TI E2E includes EVSW installers specifically tagged “bq30z55v9.02R9.” Use these when available to avoid map mismatches. (e2e.ti.com)
• Reading SBS data
  • Standard SBS commands are stable across firmware branches (e.g., Voltage 0x09, Current 0x0A, Temperature 0x08, RelativeStateOfCharge 0x0D, FullChargeCapacity 0x10, CycleCount 0x17, cell voltages 0x3D..0x3F). In bqEVSW, use the “Registers/SBS” page to read/graph/log these values. (ti.com)
  • If the GUI profile is missing, you can still read SBS via low‑level SMBus: default Smart Battery address is 0x16/0x17 (8‑bit write/read), i.e., 7‑bit 0x0B. (e2e.ti.com)
• Data‑flash (DF) caution
  • DF layout varies with firmware; writing DF with the wrong map can corrupt calibration or brick the pack. Read‑only SBS access is safe with generic profiles; DF writes require the exact R9 profile. E2E posts and user reports attribute runtime/DF tab errors to mismatched EVSW vs. device firmware. (e2e.ti.com)
• Interfaces and drivers
  • EV2300 works but needs legacy (often 32‑bit) drivers; 64‑bit Windows may need the unofficial driver referenced by TI. EV2400 is supported; for MKST‑3P‑ALT‑EV2300 hardware there is an “EVSW‑MKST‑UPDATE” to enable compatibility with EVSW. (ti.com)

Current information and trends

• As of December 14, 2025, bqEVSW v0.9.0092 is still TI’s latest posted bq30z55 tool; the family remains unsupported in bqStudio. (ti.com)
• TI encourages newer hardware/production flows (EV2400, MKST‑3P‑ALT‑EV2300, bqProduction/BQ‑BATTERY‑PROGRAMMER‑SW). There is an update package to allow legacy EVSW to work with MKST‑3P‑ALT‑EV2300. (ti.com)
• TI E2E continues to host version‑specific EVSW/device files for legacy gauges, including R9 builds. (e2e.ti.com)

Supporting explanations and details

• Typical SBS commands you will monitor:
  • 0x08 Temperature (0.1 K), 0x09 Voltage (mV), 0x0A Current (mA), 0x0B AverageCurrent (mA), 0x0D RelativeStateOfCharge (%), 0x10 FullChargeCapacity (mAh), 0x17 CycleCount, 0x3D..0x3F Cell3..Cell1 Voltage. (ti.com)
• Access levels
  • Reading SBS does not require unsealing. Writing DF requires “Unsealed/Full Access.” TI documents for the closely related bq30z554 outline the ManufacturerAccess() unseal/full‑access flow. (e2e.ti.com)

Ethical and legal aspects

• Some OEM R9 firmware collateral may be provided under TI’s export approval or by request on E2E; respect TI’s licensing/export gating on downloads and do not redistribute installers or .senc/.dfi images. (ti.com)

Practical guidelines

• What to install
  • Install bqEVSW 0.9.0092. If you have R9 firmware, obtain the matching R9 EVSW/device definition (e.g., the “bq30z55v9.02R9” build referenced by TI on E2E). (ti.com)
• Hardware hookup
  • PC → EV2400 (recommended) or EV2300 → SMBC/SMBD/GND on the pack. Ensure proper pull‑ups and pack is powered. (ti.com)
• Reading SBS in bqEVSW
  • Launch bqEVSW → select the correct bq30z55R9 profile → “SBS Data” tab → Refresh/Keep Scanning → use Data Log for CSV logging. If you must proceed with a nearby profile, limit actions to read‑only SBS until you acquire the exact R9 profile. (ti.com)
• If the GUI won’t load
  • Use the “Pro/Commands” window (or any SMBus tool) to read SBS words at the default Smart Battery address 0x16/0x17 (7‑bit 0x0B). (e2e.ti.com)
• Driver/adapter notes
  • On modern 64‑bit Windows, prefer EV2400. If you must use EV2300, follow TI’s driver notes; for MKST‑3P‑ALT‑EV2300, apply EVSW‑MKST‑UPDATE. (ti.com)

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• The bq30z55 family is legacy; toolchains and documentation are maintained primarily for sustaining support. Expect limited updates and occasional forum‑only distribution of device files. (ti.com)
• Data‑flash maps differ across R1/R2/R9; never write DF without a matching device definition. (e2e.ti.com)

Suggestions for further research

• TI E2E threads for bq30z55 R9 (device files, field notes, and guidance). (e2e.ti.com)
• bq30z5x Technical Reference Manual (TRM) family references (often cited as SLUU852 in TI docs and EVM guides) for SBS/extended commands background. (manuals.plus)
• If you move to newer gauges, migrate to bqStudio (supported devices only) and modern production tools (bqProduction/BQ‑BATTERY‑PROGRAMMER‑SW). (ti.com)

Brief summary

• For bq30z55R9 v9.0, use TI’s bqEVSW (v0.9.0092) with the matching R9 device files; bqStudio does not support this family. Read SBS from the “SBS Data” tab or via SMBus at address 0x16/0x17 (7‑bit 0x0B). Use EV2400 (preferred) or EV2300 with the proper drivers; avoid any DF writes unless you have the exact R9 profile. (ti.com)

If you need, I can walk you through obtaining the R9 EVSW build from the TI E2E thread and outline a minimal SBS logging setup for your hardware.

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