Why can't my charger also be an inverter?

[Cowardlyduck]

Could be a stupid question, but Why can't my charger also be an inverter?

I really have no idea about these things, but wouldn't it be cool if you could just use your charger when out to charge up smaller items like laptops phones etc from your bikes battery.

Anyway just thought I'd ask.

Cheers

[neptronix]

the iCharger series can actually do that. To run things off a lipo pack though, you need one of the higher end ones that can run off up to 28v.

It's called 'foam cut mode'.. basically acts like a constant current power supply.

[Cowardlyduck]

the iCharger series can actually do that. To run things off a lipo pack though, you need one of the higher end ones that can run off up to 28v.

It's called 'foam cut mode'.. basically acts like a constant current power supply.

Wow, way cool. Link?

[neptronix]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__10382__iCharger_206B_300W_8s_Balance_Charger.html

http://www.progressiverc.com/icharger-206b.html

Spendy, But worth every dollar IMHO.

[Cowardlyduck]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__10382__iCharger_206B_300W_8s_Balance_Charger.html

http://www.progressiverc.com/icharger-206b.html

Spendy, But worth every dollar IMHO.

Oh...Not sure if that's what I meant.

What I was meaning is, a charger typically converts 110-240V AC to whatever DC voltage required.
Why can't that process be reversed so that I could plug any normal wall socket device into my charger when it's connected to my battery pack. I.e. my battery(54.8VDC) >> charger >> normal 240V electrical device.

You can buy many car inverters that allow you to run 240V devices off the 12V car battery. So why not do the same with our ebike battery.

Cheers

[neptronix]

ah, well you can run straight, current limited DC to any device with the iCharger, powered off the battery. it basically works as a DC-DC.. it would have great efficiency as well if you are trying to power a DC device.. You'd just need the right plug at the end of the iCharger for your device.

No such thing exists for inverters, AFAIK. Looked long and hard for inverters that can handle 24-36v. I can't find such a thing. I'm thinking they don't exist.

[Cowardlyduck]

ah, well you can run straight, current limited DC to any device with the iCharger, powered off the battery. it basically works as a DC-DC.. it would have great efficiency as well if you are trying to power a DC device.. You'd just need the right plug at the end of the iCharger for your device.

No such thing exists for inverters, AFAIK. Looked long and hard for inverters that can handle 24-36v. I can't find such a thing. I'm thinking they don't exist.

They do actually.
http://www.joyfay.com/us/600w-pure-sine-wave-dc-24v-ac-110v-220v-power-inverter.html
At least in 24V and they have a +25% variance so up to 31V.

And here's one that will work for my bikes battery.
http://www.joyfay.com/us/600w-pure-sine-wave-dc-48v-ac-110v-220v-power-inverter.html


My question is/was why can't our chargers do this as well? Would be cool if they could...that's all.

Cheers

[dak664]

What you are describing is basically a UPS with a detachable battery. I used one to charge my 24 volt SLA pack on cloudy days; if solar was enough I could use it to power other chargers. One that matches your battery chemistry would work fine, but usually there is a heavy transformer involved.

[dnmun]

charger with the switch mode power supply can only change voltage from one direction.

to go from low voltage to higher DC voltage, then you need to upconvert, or also called a buck converter, and to make it AC then you need to modulate that Dc into a sine wave like form, and that is an inverter.