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[RodChile]

Hi guys this is my first time in this forum, I live in Santiago from Chile and i will like to buy a bigger harger for my bike.
Can i use these charger on my Zero S 2014 11.4kw? and mount it on a topcase.

ELCON PFC5000 Charger 5kW, 36-312VDC

link: http://www.electricmotorsport.com/ev-parts/chargers/elcon-pfc5000-charger-5kw-36-312vdc-1.html


Thanks for all, i've learned a lot from this forum!
regards from Chile!

[ultrarnr]

Yes this charger will work. But it is heavy. At 13.8 kg/30 pounds is a lot for a Zero top case mount.

[nevetsyad]

Will it need re-programmed? Or a different connector? Or can it just be plugged in, straight from the manufacture?

[benswing]

It will need to be programmed and you will need to make connectors for it.  Most of us use 2 of the 2.5kW chargers available from Hollywood Electrics which are programmed by them. 

http://hollywoodelectrics.com/product/elcon-quick-charger/


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[Justin Andrews]

Speaking of the Elcon 2.5 (and 5) chargers.
A quick question to those people who own external chargers
Does the internal 1.2kw bike charger need to be plugged in as well, or can you *just* charge off the external Elcon?

[benswing]

The onboard charger also balances the cells so you need to use it often but not all of the time. This becomes particularly
important if you have a power tank. 

Video description here: 

Article on my experience with this here including detailed description in the comments: 

http://insideevs.com/three-country-tour-electric-motorcycle-south-carolina


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[Justin Andrews]

Gotcha, you can do an offboard only charge, but really only as a last resort. That is good to know. Thanks.

[pluto]

Can you use the 2.5kW Elcon from a standard 110v 15amp outlet, and will it automatically switch to pull 1300W instead of 2.5kW? The Hollywood Electrics site shows it connected to a standard 110v plug so I assume the answer is yes but want to double check before purchasing one.



Just wondering if I am in a location where only 110V is available can I use it in conjunction with the onboard charger to double my charging rate. Assuming the 2 outlets are on a separate circuit of course.

Ben I'm also wondering about your NEMA 14-50 adapter you show in one of your videos. It looks like a NEMA 14-50 on one end and J1772 on the other, no EVSE needed - is that correct? Is this adapter also from Hollywood Electrics, I can't see it on their site.

Wouldn't it be possible to connect NEMA 14-50 directly to the Elcon + onboard charger without the need for J1772?

[Doug S]

The onboard charger also balances the cells so you need to use it often but not all of the time.

Ben, do you know if that's not true for external chargers? I would have thought that balancing the cells was a function of the BMS, not the charger, so an external charger would do it too.

Now, in BMS circuits that I've seen, the balancing function is done at a very low current level, far lower than the bulk charging current, so you'd have to stay plugged in for hours, which is pretty much contrary to the purpose of using a quick charger, but it seems to me that if you did, the BMS would balance the cells with an external charger just as it does with the onboard charger.

[ultrarnr]

pluto,

Yes you can use the Elcon 2500 chargers from a 110 outlet. It charges a lot slower than from a 220 though. Yes you can connect a 14-50 directly into the Elcons, no EVSE needed. I have a NEMA 6-50 outlet in my garage for faster charging and a 14-50 adapter for charging at campgrounds.

[benswing]

I got my NEMA to J1772 cord from QuickChargePower.com but Harlan can probably make one for you.  They are pricey.

Doug S, the external chargers connect to the battery via the auxiliary port, so I think it goes directly to the battery.


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[Justin Andrews]

I paid about £115 for my Mennekies Type 2 socket and cable, so they are not super cheap.

[pluto]

ultrarnr, where did you get your NEMA 14-50 adapter from? Cost?

I assume it connects the onboard charger +dual elcons?

[ultrarnr]

pluto,

I bought my NEMA 14-50 plug from Amazon.com for $16.48. I also bought three 15ft 14 AWG power cords IEC320 C13 to NEMA 5-15P for $14.95 each. Basically what I did was cut the 110V plug off the power cords and wire them into the NEMA 14-50 plug. When you look at the NEMA 14-50 plug the top connector is ground. The middle two are positive and carry 110V each. The bottom is neutral and not used. When you get it set up you plug one into the Zero's internal charger and plug the other two into your Elcons. NEMA 14-50 outlets are standard for campgrounds with 50 amp service and you can find these plugs on web sites that cater to the camping folks. The power cords can be found at computer supply places.

[pluto]

Thanks ultrarnr. This seems like a very cost effective alternative to buying a J1772 adapter, as NEMA 14-50 outlets are available in every provincial park here in Ontario. Any advice on how to make this connector weatherproof?

I was thinking I might buy one of these, lop the 14-30 connectors off and replace them with NEMA 5-15Rs wired to provide hot on both blades.

I assume that since you do not need the neutral you could cut the pin off of the plug and use it in NEMA 14-30 outlets as well (with a single Elcon + onboard). As long as you aren't pulling more than 30 amps it should be fine, and with this setup you'd only be at 15-17 amps continuous.

Seems crazy that you had to buy the C13 power cords, I have boxes and boxes of them from years of working in IT

I'm thinking of purchasing a single Elcon from Hollywood Electrics for now.