How often do "green light" ebike chargers fail?

[amberwolf]

making sure an aftermarket charger will actually charge my battery. I was all set to buy a grin satiator but have read none of their plugs work w/ my battery

Where did you read it? A direct link would be helpful. Knowing exactly what informaiton they have (that we don't) to base this on would help us help you.


Your new link is labeled as and looks like a standard XLR connector (which is what hte Satiator comes with "built in" as the primary connector all the other adapters plug into), though it doesn't specify the wiring / pinout. If that's the same charge connector that the previously-linked poster had (they never showed or said or tested or replied, so we can't know), perhaps it is simply wired differently than the Satiator (which uses the most common wiring pattern to be most compatible with more XLR-equipped batteries without an adapter), and so that poster was inadvertently connecting the charger wrong (perhaps even backwards!).



So once you test yours, you'll know more about it, but if it is indeed an XLR, then if it is wired in the standard way, a Satiator would directly plug into the battery and work fine once the correct charge profile is chosen or created in it's menus.

If it is not wired in a standard way, then it's possible that no aftermarket charger will work with your battery without first being rewired to match, unless it is specifically wired up just to work with your model and brand of bike's battery pack. I'd recommend checking that before connecting, if you get one.

If you want to use a Satiator**** and they don't have the adapter you need, all you have to do is make your own either out of an existing adapter or out of the individual parts you can get from them or anywhere. You can even make an XLR-XLR that changes the order of wiring between them, and even one that includes electronics to spoof a signal an OEM charger may use to turn on the battery's charge port.


this is the Satiator XLR wiring, on the right half of the image (ignore the left side)


***they *are* nice, but only really useful if you need to charge mulitple types or voltages of battery (because you can make profiles for each kind you use it with), or you need to mount it on the bike/etc and need the weatherproofing and vibration resistance it offers.

I use mine directly with the XLR it has bult in to connect ot a panelmount XLR on my SB Cruiser trike to charge the lighting pack (the traction pack has a separate charger built into the trike). I didn't build the satiator into the trike becuase I also use it for other packs; I've even used it to help recharge someone's car battery enough to let them start the engine.

NOte that the satiator does get very toasty when used at full power, but as long as it's in open air that's not a problem. If it's in a heat-restricted environment it will self-derate to prevent overheating and damage (like when it's summer here and the air is already 110-120F+)

 

[aileron]

The connector LOOKS the same but may not work w/ my battery from what I have read. I think I will just buy another Rize charger, cough up the 100 bucks and not have to worry about compatibility but I really appreciate all the advice and help. The LAST thing I'd want to do is hook it up with an XLR connector and the pinout is different than what mine is. Easy enough to test though. Yes, the satiator is overkill for what I need to do.. I'm quite happy doing the math to figure out what an approximate 80% charge on the battery is and it really doesn't matter if I over or undershoot that number by 10%. I would like the abilityt to discharge though. I never know what will be my last ride before the snow falls. I don't think the satiator will discharge which is a bummer

 

[amberwolf]

The connector LOOKS the same but may not work w/ my battery from what I have read.

If it's the same connector, and the same wiring, then it will work.

If it's not the same connector, it won't fit, but hten neither will any other XLR based charger, including hte one you last linked, without an adapter from the XLR to whatever yours actually uses.

If it's not the same wiring, then an adapter is still all that's needed, not just for satiator but for any charger out there that has the rigth final charge voltage and the right current limit.


However unless we get to see what yours actually has on it, we won't know if what you have there is actually XLR or not. Best is not just a link to something that looks like yours, but an actual image of yours, preferably boht the battery side and hte charger side, with some measurement device (ruler, etc) for scale.

Then we'd also need to know the wiring of it and what the third pin signals, if anything. (my bet is it is not used at all, but if it is used it is probably just a resistor to ground or to a 5v or 12v steady DC voltage, or a voltage divider between a DC voltage and ground).

 

[aileron]

You guys have shamed me into taking some pics.. Stand by!

 

[E-HP]

Those cheap aluminum box chargers with a fan often have a small potentiometer to allow adjustment of the ending voltage. I used to use one of those set to 57.4v for most of my charging, then another one for when I wanted to fully charge the pack.

 

[amberwolf]

Those cheap aluminum box chargers with a fan often have a small potentiometer to allow adjustment of the ending voltage. I used to use one of those set to 57.4v for most of my charging, then another one for when I wanted to fully charge the pack.

Like this one (random find in google search for "Kingpan XLR Charger"); no guarantee it has the pots but...

https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Li-ion-Battery-Lithium-Motorcycle/dp/B07PN7PM4C

Or this one (which isn't the right voltage but they probably sell one, and this actually *is* kingpan according to the listing), which has mulitple connector options (all the kingpans I have seen / had have had pots inside, though it's always possible they don't all have them).

Fast Charger for 60V Battery. 67.2V 6.5A Top Quality Lithium Battery Charger for Electric Scooter - ebikescooter

KINGPAN made a best charging way for your battery Overcharge protection. Shut off automatically when battery is full charging. Prevent the explosion of battery from overcharging. Greatly improve the safety of charging process No risk of fire Most reliable treatment for your battery as it will...

ebikescooter.com

 

[aileron]

Here you go

 

[aileron]

First pic is where I charge with TWO fans, then the charger plug, the battery receptacle and some measurements.

 

[E-HP]

Good thing you posted that. That’s way different, but not uncommon.

 

[aileron]

At least the pos and neg are embossed on the plug receptacle

 

[E-HP]

Grin refers to it as “another small 3 pin” lol.
Im checking my faq. I know I saved a link when there was another post regarding that connector a while ago.

 

[aileron]

So grin does indeed have the connector.. That's good news, especially if the pin out is the same

 

[99t4]

Photos show it is much smaller than a canon/XLR connector.

So not XLR, not even close.

XLR connector - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Grin refers to it as “another small 3 pin” lol.

LOL but that one looks different still...

So grin does indeed have the connector..

Are you sure? How do you know?

 

[aileron]

Well, I don't know.. LOL but the "another small 3 pin" looks identical.Might have helped if I could focus better w/ the camera

 

[E-HP]

Might be the z312A

Battery connector 3, Battery connector 3 Products, Battery connector 3 Manufacturers, Battery connector 3 Suppliers and Exporters - Mutual-E-bike cable solutions, waterproof connectors.

Battery connector 3, find quality Battery connector 3 products,Battery connector 3 Manufacturers, Battery connector 3 Suppliers and Exporters at Mutual-E-bike cable solutions, waterproof connectors..

www.mutuallc.com

 

[aileron]

The indentation on my plug is inside the barrel. The indentation on the z312A is on the outside

 

[E-HP]

Better angle.

 

[aileron]

Well that looks correct.

 

[amberwolf]

Might have helped if I could focus better w/ the camera

Cameras with autofocus do a much better job in direct sunlight.

Short of that, the brighter the light on the object being imaged, the more likely it will correctly focus on it, as long as that light isn't directly reflected into the camera as glare.

How easy that is to prevent depends on the shape and surface finish of hte object, but using the camera flash is almost always the worst way to light an object because any glare will always be directed right back at the camera since it came from there.

 

[amberwolf]

Based on the pics you've taken so far, I'd guess it's a variation of this one, as E-HP has shown

Z312 Battery charging connectors 3pin waterproof connectors for e-bike system

Z312 Battery charging connectors 3pin waterproof connectors for e-bike system

3 pin battery connectors.this battery connectors is designed with waterproof capacity,with 3-pin main power wires specifical for battery charging. Keywords:3 pin charger connector 3 pin power connector ebike battery connector ebike battery connector types ebike power connector ebike charger...

motowoks.com

Their images leave a fair bit to be desired, since they are only slight variations on a single view rather than profile, plan, orthogonal, front, rear, etc.


The mutuallc site shows a version that's slightly different

and while they actually have a drawing for it it doesn't bother to specify the most important part--the pin size, barrel size, and the spacing of each relative to each other and the shell. Any variation on those and two connectors may mate but not electrically connect, or may have insufficient connection, or break pins, etc.


There were other very very similar but not identical hits in image searches. Most vary in shell key (more square, more rounded, deeper, shallower, etc) but may vary in dimensions, etc, as none of them ohter than the last one above have any useful dimension info.

Anyway, the upshot is that there are multiple variants of this connnector that appear close enough that they may be interoperable...or they may not; you'd have to test fit them to see.

But at least you can try them and if you find one that fits and makes good electrical connection, you can then use it to replace the connector on any charger you find that works with your battery.


I still suspect that there's no communication on this charger, and that at most there's a resistor to ground on the third pin for "charger ID" to ensure the right one is connected to the battery...but you'll have to test for that.

 

[E-HP]

That one with the cap might be a nice replacement for the one the pack is currently using. I have a little door that swings over the connector. Not waterproof, but some protection from being splashed or in the rain.

Anyway, since you know the pinouts, you can just buy any old charger if yours dies, and graft the old cable onto it.

Here's a video on adjusting the charge voltage on one of those silver box chargers with a fan:

Here's one for the brick style charger you have. This one doesn't have pots so he adds resistors:

 

[99t4]

Anyway, since you know the pinouts, you can just buy any old charger if yours dies, and graft the old cable onto it.

BEST idea, IMHO.

 

[aileron]

Thanks!

 

[aileron]

I never expected so much help here. You guys are great, either that or it was a really slow day.