Best Portable Most Efficient Most Powerful Chargers

[deVries]

Please post "your find" if you can find or know of a better PORTABLE charger than these. Thanks! 8)

What are the most portable, most efficient, most powerful, best chargers for lightweight travel usage that will work in a typical 15A fused 110v standard American outlet? Voltage ranges between 24v & 100v.

Have you found a better more efficient/powerful charger than these?

Hi Doc, is this still the best portable solutions you suggest below? Nothing new or better options to consider? Anyone else find anything better for portable travel chargers?

Thanks.

The solution of the EMC and almost the Meanwell is to have COMPACT PORTABLE chrger solution.

The best over all is the Meanwell RSP1000, RSP1500 or 2000 in the 1U shape .. you can cary it with you and it have similar size as a 500W meanwell and weight around 7pounds !¸

The RSP-2000 have 21.4W per cubic inch!!!... but it will require 120V 20A outlet...

the RSP-1000 is still the best portable powerfull solution and it can deliver 1250W continuous CC-CV

It cost 323$.. BRAND NEW not bad for that power and size! and it have a Power Factor Correction

http://www.trcelectronics.com/Meanwell/rsp-1000-48.shtml

This is why they are so great!

 

[wesnewell]

That's just a 48VDC power supply. I highly doubt it will adjust below 40V or above 50 something. AFAIK, bms battery has the best selections of chargers. Although adjustable, I'm not sure of range via the pots.
http://www.bmsbattery.com/18-alloy-shell

 

[deVries]

That's just a 48VDC power supply. I highly doubt it will adjust below 40V or above 50 something.

The RSP-1000-48v does adjust from: 43 ~ 55V

I'm sure the other RSP models will adjust with similar ranges but at different voltage outputs such as 24v or 48v.

The key word for this thread is PORTABLE, meaning, most compact & lowest weight for travel yet most powerful too. The idea is to try to find a charger that's better OR equal & cheaper than these RSP models noted by Doctorbass in the first post above.

 

[cwah]

Yeah, if the charger is as heavy as the battery, you better get a spare battery rather than bringing it with you. :lol:

 

[cwah]

Found this one that doesn't seem bad at all:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36V-11A-400W-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-Aluminium-Alloy-/200748289382?pt=US_Lighting_Parts_and_Accessories&hash=item2ebd87cd66#ht_3174wt_966

400W 36V charger at only 1 kg!! That's really a portable charger you can carry with you

 

[cwah]

I'm finally thinking about getting this one for my 20s battery:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48V-7-5A-360W-DC-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-CNC-/130568048032?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1e66764da0#ht_3270wt_966

It has to be small, powerful but also reliable!! and cheap

Any good feedback from them?

 

[deVries]

I'm finally thinking about getting this one for my 20s battery:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48V-7-5A-360W-DC-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-CNC-/130568048032?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1e66764da0#ht_3270wt_966

It has to be small, powerful but also reliable!! and cheap

Any good feedback from them?

These are at the bottom end of power, so too low a power level for this thread topic. Though, the ebay ratings were good for both the sellers you posted about. I would buy from someone with those good ratings. :wink:

What I'm really asking for is Power Supplies that would be at least 800 watts & up, preferably, 1000+ watts or more with 1500 watts being the limit. Any higher would blow the 15A fuse.

 

[dogman dan]

Though I haven't tried one, one of the bms battery offerings ought to be about as good as it gets nowdays.

To use on American borrowed plugs, that likely have an ice machine or coke machine on the same circuit, you might want to limit yourself to 1000w, leaving 500w in the 15 amp circuit for the other stuff running on it.

So maybe this one? http://www.bmsbattery.com/alloy-shell/27-alloy-shell-600w-lifepo4li-ionlead-acid-battery-ebike-charger.html

700w, but the next one up at 1200 w might be pushing it for plugging into the plug at a restaraunt or gas station. There is no such critter as a 15 amp circuit with nothing else running on it out in the wild. In my garage, I installed a plug with 20 amps, and no other plugs in the circuit, but you won't find that out in the real world.


At 700w It would charge a typical cellman triangle pack in about 45 min. It's not too big and heavy looking. Carrying it might require some reinforcement of any floppy looking components inside with silicone or potting compound.

 

[deVries]

So maybe this one? http://www.bmsbattery.com/alloy-shell/27-alloy-shell-600w-lifepo4li-ionlead-acid-battery-ebike-charger.html

700w, but the next one up at 1200 w might be pushing it for plugging into the plug at a restaraunt or gas station. There is no such critter as a 15 amp circuit with nothing else running on it out in the wild. In my garage, I installed a plug with 20 amps, and no other plugs in the circuit, but you won't find that out in the real world.

That's a 600w (not 700w) you linked above. Also, they don't give good spec info. It's definitely not a PFC efficient charger, and I want us to list & suggest the high efficiency ones @ 90% or more in this thread.

The criteria is 800w minimum with PFC to get 90% or higher efficiency.

The 1200w you found is definitely too heavy. Also, not a high efficiency charger either.

 

[jonescg]

Define portable

I find the TC / Elcon charger to be pretty good. They are certainly >90% efficient, reliable and powerful. They come in a range of outputs, including 84 V which is good for 20S LiPo, or 23S LiFePO4. But it's not the kind of charger you would carry around on an e-bike. Maybe in your backpack... if it was the only thing you were carrying.

As stated before, BMS Battery stocks a good range of powerful chargers, and very competitively priced.

 

[Holocene]

Hi, have you seen this thread from Doc Bass?
"Meanwell less than 2kg 1200W charger"
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24926

 

[Holocene]

Here is an interesting project modding an existing LiFePO4 charger:
"Portable lightweight 360W LiFePO4 ebike battery charger 800g"

http://www.avdweb.nl/solar-bike/electronics/portable-lightweight-lifepo4-ebike-battery-charger-800g.html

Charge current is adjustable from 1 to 10 amps. This charger could recharge a 10Ahr 36v Ping pack in 1 hour at a 1C rate. So at less than 1.75 lbs, this is could be a nice portable charger for smaller LiFePO4 packs.

 

[dogman dan]

Well, whatever. I typo'd the wattage. I agree, the 1200w one is not my idea of portable.

The problem imo though, is not popping the breaker on the circuit. After you pop that breaker, the guy inside is going to tell you to frock off with your charger. Out here in the west, that plug you just got kicked off of could be the only one for 50 miles! Efficiency is not the problem, the problem is finding a good 1500w circuit when you are out on some crosscountry tour.

So I humbly suggest, that 600w is not so frocking stupid if you don't have your plugs scouted.

 

[deVries]

Efficiency is not the problem, the problem is finding a good 1500w circuit when you are out on some crosscountry tour.

So I humbly suggest, that 600w is not so frocking stupid if you don't have your plugs scouted.

I think 800w (or possibly 1000w) should not trip the breaker with a Coke Machine, which is about the only likely item plugged-in outside a quick stop or gas station. No way to go inside to charge either, so it has to be an outside plug. It would be easy to find out what wattage a typical Coke Machine requires too. Also, just unplug the charger if the Coke Machine kicks on & you have a 1,000w or 1,200w charger plugged in too. You've got about 30 seconds to 2 minutes before it trips, if it even trips, IMO. Refrigerators are efficient & don't require a lot of wattage. :wink:

But, this thread is not just about long-distance travel in the middle of nowhere. It's also about commuting or traveling local to recharge too. This is where the higher power charger is most important, because who wants to delay waiting using a lower power charger going local or long-distance?

Sure, using a 1,200w charger would require scouting for set routes or commuting. It's obviously not practicle "to scout" for long-distance opportunity charging, but it would work fine for overnight charging. I would *not* want to travel long-distance and be *dependent* on opportunity charging anyway, as that takes too much time away from traveling to get to a destination on time. Plus, just the risk of being stuck is not worth it, imo. Opportunity charging is just that, an opportunity, but not a dependency in the middle of nowhere for long-range travel. :wink:

I think 800w to 1000w will meet this criteria optimally as a minimum, so I don't see any advantage going to 600w vs 800w causing a breaker to trip. Not going to happen, IMO.

 

[deVries]

Define portable

eBike or (possibly) Moped or small Scooter class type charger. Motorcycles can carry heavier & larger sized chargers, so this thread is for what will work best for an eBike. Some motorcycle chargers are targeted for higher voltages & may be small too, so that is a possibility to include this at higher voltages up to 100v that would carry well on an eBike too.

800w-1200w lightest weight possible for 110-120v 15A.

 

[cwah]

This one is at 1200W and 2.3kg:
http://www.chargery.com/S1200.asp

 

[deVries]

This one is at 1200W and 2.3kg:
http://www.chargery.com/S1200.asp

Yes, this would be a high-end charger that would be good quality.

I wonder what the price is?

 

[cwah]

I've read $229 here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1625069

 

[dogman dan]

Yes, I agree. If you have a known plug that you have no problems running your 1200w charger on, then that fast a charge would be wonderful.

You ever built a quikie mart, or a house, or fast food place? I have, and I can assure you that not one circuit in the building is powering just one plug. That coke machine or ice cooler on the outside plug is the tip of the iceberg. Likely the same circuit is running 5-8 other plugs or lights in the building. So just because the coke machine uses 300w does not mean there is 1200w left on that circuit. The same circuit may have 500w of lighting running on it. Maybe everything is fine for awhile, then somebody buys a burrito, turns on the 1500w microwave and bingo.

Other places you might find a plug with less running on it at once, like a place for RV camping that allows you to buy a charge using the plug at an empty space. but the only way to scout the plug is to try it, pop the breaker, piss off the owner, and there you go. You'll never get permission to plug in there again.

 

[deVries]

Yes, I agree. If you have a known plug that you have no problems running your 1200w charger on, then that fast a charge would be wonderful.

You ever built a quikie mart, or a house, or fast food place? I have, and I can assure you that not one circuit in the building is powering just one plug. That coke machine or ice cooler on the outside plug is the tip of the iceberg. Likely the same circuit is running 5-8 other plugs or lights in the building. So just because the coke machine uses 300w does not mean there is 1200w left on that circuit. The same circuit may have 500w of lighting running on it. Maybe everything is fine for awhile, then somebody buys a burrito, turns on the 1500w microwave and bingo.

Other places you might find a plug with less running on it at once, like a place for RV camping that allows you to buy a charge using the plug at an empty space. but the only way to scout the plug is to try it, pop the breaker, piss off the owner, and there you go. You'll never get permission to plug in there again.

This is why is said in my previous post:

Sure, using a 1,200w charger would require scouting for set routes or commuting.

And, that's why I am suggesting using either an 800w (ideal) or 1000w (max) for those situations. :wink: Dogman also suggested this too: "you might want to limit yourself to 1000w, leaving 500w in the 15 amp circuit for the other stuff running on it. "

And, btw, most outdoor plugs do not run on the same circuit along with many indoor plugs or very few in my experience. YMMV. The microwave, coffee makers, and other high wattage devices will be certainly running off there own separate circuit & not also on an outdoor plug, IMO. That would be a very stupid design spec. But sheeit happens. :lol:

 

[deVries]

I've read $229 here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1625069

Excellent find & research cwah! There's a good chance they may make 800w & 1000w too. 8)

That's a good price for 1,200w too

That price is for the 24v version, but it's usually close to the same $ for 48v too. Can you find the price for the 48v?

 

[cwah]

No idea where to find it. But maybe you can ask a question directly to the supplier at : admin@chargery.com.cn

 

[deVries]

Cheaper Lightweight Charge to 100v

Here's a very cool idea from, none other, who else, but Doctorbass.

Convert your 48V charger into 100V for 24s for CHEAP !

I am tired of parallel charging 2 x 12s .. that make alot of aditional connections and contact resistance.

A great cheap and easy solution i was thinking about for long time and finally decided to test is teh use of a 1:1 ratio DC-DC converter.

Teh idea is to connect the output of a 48V dc-dc in serie with his input to double the voltage. Tmost of the dc-dc have an isolated output vs input.. SO YOU CAN connect the output with the input!

Few dc-dc that take 48V input have variety of output from 3.3V to 48V. by connecting a dc-dc with a 48V in and 48V out you can get 96V out.. and play with teh trim pot to rise the total output to teh desired voltage around 100.8V is you need for 24s lipo... 8)

For sure the total power output will decrease a bit and you might loose aroud 7-8% total power due to the efficiency of the dc-dc that is around 90%.. but it's just for half the voltage ( the 50% that represent 48V out of 96 of the dc-dc output)..

Let say you bought a 48V 10A ( 500W) meanwell psu. by connecting the 48-48v dc dc with it you will get around 100V at 4.5 to 5A out... for around 450W..

but.. you will be able to keep your pack connected in 24s!.. no more need additional serie parallel connection for 2 x 12s !!

I will test that and comeback with review once i'll get the dc-dc arrived from ebay.

DC-DC are great cause you can accehive the dedired voltage from any lower psu by connecting their output in serie to the input!


I already did that to convert my 1500W meanwell 48V to a 66Vout for my friend bruno for chargin his battery with two BXB150 48vin 5v out in serie to acheive +10V to the output. ( the 48V meanwell can do up to 56V out.. so 56+10=66V

If you search on ebay you wil lfind CHEAP dc-dc.. not the one you see at 75-100$ but most around 25-30$ each.

That is a good solution for compact size charger. and for those who dont want to have to buy another psu connected in serie with the first!

I found some that output 250W out for 20$ !

Doc

 

[cwah]

That seems nice. But also quite difficult. The other member who tried to do it melted few things.

 

[deVries]

That seems nice. But also quite difficult. The other member who tried to do it melted few things.

Do you know the member and/or thread where he posted about it?

Thanks.

Unless I'm mistaken, I think Doctorbass found the solution how to prevent what happened to that member's experiment:

My suggestion is more for people that want a compact portable solution. It work well for me with the psu and the DC-Dc

Most important is to put a parallel protection diode with each source i serie.

The way my psu+ dc-dc work is that when the battery are empty or are under 100% soc.. Their voltage is lower than the psu and DC-Dc are regulated for ( CC-CV) . the psu take the voltage drop and the dc-dc stay regulated to their preseted output.

AND...

What i recommand is to put some blocking diodes in parallel to teh DC-DC output!.. that will avoid reverse current in case where they switch on and off while the psu is still giving current...