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[DonTom]

I don't think there is a real problem here, but I am curious what is happening when I charge my 2017 Zero DS  ZF 6.5.

Bike 60% SOC, unbalance is now reading  9mv. Using ~120 VAC input to all chargers.

With on-board charger only:  8 to 13 amps  (840 to 1365 watts output), very jumpy.  With 25' ten gauge AC extension cord.

With 1 Zero Quick Charger  With OB Charger=1802 to 2332 watts, very jumpy (jumpy because of onboard charger still connected).

2QC plus OB Charger=~3348 watts, still jumpy.


WithOUT on-board charger:

1 QC only= 8 amps, 848 watts rock steady (on 50' AC extension AC cord).
2 QC only= 17 amps, 1838 watts rock steady (on 25' AC extension cord). All  are ten gauge cords.

Why is the on-board so jumpy, and not the external chargers?

My battery unbalance fell to 5mv  after fully charged. What percentage is normal?

-Don-  Reno, NV

[NEW2elec]

Don I just got my 17 DSR and the new app up and running and I saw the same thing.
The amps are all over the place on the app.  I have one Quick charger as well and it was jumping to 21 amps to 16 to 18 up and down very quickly.
I wish this bike had the same Meanwells as my 13.

[DonTom]

Don I just got my 17 DSR and the new app up and running and I saw the same thing.
The amps are all over the place on the app.  I have one Quick charger as well and it was jumping to 21 amps to 16 to 18 up and down very quickly.
I wish this bike had the same Meanwells as my 13.

But if you run the Zero external  quick-charger without using the on-board charger, doesn't it show as rock steady?

-Don-  Reno, NV

[NEW2elec]

Yeah Don I tried it and the same thing happened to mine.  Rock steady 8 amps.
My cell balance is all over the place too.
I guess a Kill A Watt wall meter could show if it's really jumping that much or just the app's reading.

[Richard230]

Yeah Don I tried it and the same thing happened to mine.  Rock steady 8 amps.
My cell balance is all over the place too.
I guess a Kill A Watt wall meter could show if it's really jumping that much or just the app's reading.

When charging my 2018 S using the on-board charger, I notice that the Kill-A-Watt meter shows a steady 11-12 amp draw (+/-), however the Zero app bounces all over the place, from 4 to 12 amps. Upon seeing that, I just shrugged, closed my eyes, and assumed that the app was just being goofy.  If is isn't, then I have no explanation for what is going on.   

[NEW2elec]

Once again Richard your the man!
My old Kill a Watt died a while back and I never did get a new one.  But based on that reading I agree with you just a goofy app reading.

[Shadow]

Once again Richard your the man!
My old Kill a Watt died a while back and I never did get a new one.  But based on that reading I agree with you just a goofy app reading.

Apples to Oranges, or in this case Inputs to Outputs are not the same thing.

[Richard230]

Once again Richard your the man!
My old Kill a Watt died a while back and I never did get a new one.  But based on that reading I agree with you just a goofy app reading.

Apples to Oranges, or in this case Inputs to Outputs are not the same thing.

Well, there is that.  Still it does seem a little strange to the average layman. 

[NEW2elec]

Mmmm ok I don't see how it wouldn't pull more or less amps from the wall if it was jumping around on the output side but lets go with that.
So we all three have this issue so what could the cause be?
Onboard charges going bad or dying?  Seems unlikely on three different bikes with two different model years.
Bad charger signal to the bike then to the app?
Bike needs a firmware update?  Could be on mine since I have no idea when the last time it had one, but Richard is up to date for sure.

[DonTom]

When charging my 2018 S using the on-board charger, I notice that the Kill-A-Watt meter shows a steady 11-12 amp draw (+/-), however the Zero app bounces all over the place, from 4 to 12 amps. Upon seeing that, I just shrugged, closed my eyes, and assumed that the app was just being goofy.  If is isn't, then I have no explanation for what is going on.   

But if it's an app issue, can somebody explain why the app is rock steady on a quick charger, but jumps all over with the onboard charger? How does the app know what charger it's reading to make it jumpy only on the on-board charger and not on the Zero quick-chargers?

Could it be more ripple on the DC output of the on-board supply?

FWIW, I also noticed the AC input was rock steady on the on-board charger as the app shows the DC output wattage jumping all over the place.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Richard230]

When charging my 2018 S using the on-board charger, I notice that the Kill-A-Watt meter shows a steady 11-12 amp draw (+/-), however the Zero app bounces all over the place, from 4 to 12 amps. Upon seeing that, I just shrugged, closed my eyes, and assumed that the app was just being goofy.  If is isn't, then I have no explanation for what is going on.   

But if it's an app issue, can somebody explain why the app is rock steady on a quick charger, but jumps all over with the onboard charger? How does the app know what charger it's reading to make it jumpy only on the on-board charger and not on the Zero quick-chargers?

Could it be more ripple on the DC output of the on-board supply?

FWIW, I also noticed the AC input was rock steady on the on-board charger as the app shows the DC output wattage jumping all over the place.

-Don-  Reno, NV

Keeping in mind that I really don't know what I am talking about, I think I might have read a post or two that mentioned that the on-board charger consists of three units linked together. Perhaps they operate independently, by turning off and on, to accommodate the voltage requirements of the Zero BMS?

[NEW2elec]

Well I know my 2013 DS has 4 Meanwell chargers and the old app would show some amp movement as well.  But it would be a 1-2 amp difference every 3-4 seconds.

The bottom line is I have a few more months of warranty and if this is a sign the charger is failing it would be nice to know.

[DonTom]

Well I know my 2013 DS has 4 Meanwell chargers and the old app would show some amp movement as well.  But it would be a 1-2 amp difference every 3-4 seconds.

The bottom line is I have a few more months of warranty and if this is a sign the charger is failing it would be nice to know.

I am sure it is NOT a sign of a failure, because AFAIK, every Zero motorcycle on-board charger shows the same jumpiness. The only mystery is why it happens. More of a curiosity thing thing than anything else.

I have wondered if the output really varies or not as shown, even though the AC input side stays steady. And if the output is really jumpy in reality, I have wondered if it's a deliberate thing that helps balance the batteries or something like that. If the rock steady Zero supplies are added, the jumpiness is still present. The only way it's rock steady is if the on-board is not used at all and are running only the Zero Quick chargers.

-Don-  Reno, NV