General Question about charger

[orlbuzz]

I'll cut to the chase: Can a charger port be connected directly to the battery, or is there electronics in a controller that is necessary for the charging process?
If you need this: Razor ecosmart Metro 36V upgraded to 1000W controller and 800W motor. New controller does not have one small wire for charging that original controller has.

Thanks in advance,
orlbuzz

 

[calab]

Depends, batteries dont need anything other then the proper charger.
Does your battery have a bms?

 

[larsb]

it depends on if you have a generic charger then it's no issue. If it's a custom charger made specifically for the razor ecosmart then question cannot be answered generally about how the charge logic is done.

 

[orlbuzz]

Calab,
the batteries don't have a BMS. They are SLA. Do you have any idea why controllers have charger connections? Why would they both have them, but only the Razor has the small wire direct from battery+ all the way into the controller, but the "1000W 36V YALU 30A Variable Speed Control f Scooter GoKart Brush Electric motor" not have the single thin + wire to have that direct connection?
Curious minds want to know!

Thank you again,
calab

 

[orlbuzz]

larsb,
the charger came with the scooter, but I'm sure it's nothing special, just a 1.6 ma 36 v charger.
Do you have any idea why controllers have charger connections? Why would they both have them, but only the Razor has the small wire direct from battery+ all the way into the controller, but the "1000W 36V YALU 30A Variable Speed Control f Scooter GoKart Brush Electric motor " not have the single thin + wire to have that direct connection?
Curious minds want to know!

Thanks again,
orlbuzz

 

[GalFisk]

For SLA, you can do without a BMS, and connect the charger directly to the batteries. They're less explody and can handle overcharging.

Those and up-front costs are pretty much the only advantages of SLA. Converting to Li-ion would give you more range AND less weight. I've done several conversions, and even old laptop cells are a good step up.

 

[orlbuzz]

GalFisk,
thanks for the info, but:
I bought this scooter about a month ago and it needed batteries. I considered Lithium, but having just bought it, I didn't know what else it might need. Didn't want to spend the money on lithium until I knew. I am familiar with LIPO batteries as I fly ERC model airplanes and helicopters. I am familiar with battery fires.
I am 77 years old and don't need speed as I will just ride this scooter in the neighborhood. I had my speed on motorcycles and hot rods when I was young.
I live in east Tennessee on a ridge (steep hills), I just need torque.
I have geared it down to 9T x 80T with 15ah batteries, but it still struggles a bit.
I have put a 800W motor and a 1000W controller to increase the power. Those are the bugs I am trying to work out now.
orlbuzz

 

[orlbuzz]

I found a couple of wiring diagrams that confirm what has been said and what I was thinking, to be honest. I'll see if I can get them uploaded. One of them is generally how to connect the charger connector. The other one is another question I had about using the stock throttle and having the battery indicator work. That's the way I had tried, but I think the lights quit as I was working on everything. The throttle still makes it go!
Thanks to a very responsive membership on this forum!
orlbuzz (Gary)