Finding the right charger for my EV - a123 batteries

[RossH]

Hi,
I'm building an EV from 14ah a123 batteries, the battery specs are here:
https://www.altertek.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/14Ah_2015.pdf

In the battery box is one battery module of 40S2P cells, making 144v 28ah. The car is a Daihatus Charade and usable range should be about ~30Km's.

Plans are to run with this DC setup for several months, then swap in an AC motor and controller with more amps and voltage(adding more cells obviously).

I was hoping to buy one charger suitable for the 144v setup which would also be capable of (up to 400v) AC setup.

Some examples I've found others using with the A123 batteries are:

http://www.zivanusa.com/NG3BatteryCharger.htm
http://manzanitamicro.com/products?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=14&vmcchk=1

Can anyone make any recommendations for something that would be suitable?

My understanding of chargers is somewhat lacking, but I'm having trouble finding answers... If I find a charger suitable for the A123 cells at 144v and at 400v, will it still charge the batteries at the same amps(I think not?), or would it charge much slower given the higher voltage?

Finally, are there other questions I'm not asking but should be?

Thanks in advance

 

[john61ct]

A charger capable of that much adjustment by the user, from 144V to 400V if it existed, would cost much more than two separate chargers.

In addition to those two brands, also check out Elcon / TCCH

https://www.elconchargers.com/contact_us.html

https://www.diyelectriccar.com/threads/tc-elcon-tcch-charger-master-link-thread.203015/


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The cells involved are not relevant, just the pack - level amp and **charge voltage** desired

not nominal voltage, nor voltage at full when resting.

So LFP at 40S is actually nominal 128-132V

should not be allowed to drop below 120V at rest

and I would not charge any higher than 138V, maybe 140V depending on the C-rate

That vendor spec 144V charge level should only be used for occasional testing / maintenance protocols, too stressful for normal cycling.

At rest Full (surface charge dissipated) is 133-135V

_______
There is no such thing as an AC battery pack, by definition batteries are DC, and rectifiers / controllers etc transform to / from AC as needed.

 

[RossH]

Thanks for the quick response, I'll look into the Elcon chargers