ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Tech => Parts, Mods And Hacks => Topic started by: DonTom on July 11, 2020, 01:06:38 PM
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This is for SR/F, SR/S, Energica and Livewire owners and other bikes that come with a heavy long granny cable for L1 and L2 charging.
Or for when charge tanks are added to other models. But then perhaps only for 240 VAC (I am not sure about 120 VAC on these models that have an added charge tank). But it's for all J-1772 inputs, including the mickey-mouse J-1772 adapter Zero sells (Tucson EV (https://tucsonev.com/)makes a MUCH better adapter).
You will probably find outlets listed on Plugshare that you want to use but don't want to bring the large granny cable with you.
So what I did was to make my granny cable smaller and lighter to bring on all trips. I have done two so far, I just did one tonight. I made the output cable MUCH shorter, and then make small adapter cables so I can use 120 VAC or a 240 VAC outlet (such as in Genoa, NV). And I can add a regular 120 VAC standard extension cord (not shown below) for either 120 or 240 VAC any length of choice. All of it easily fits in a side bag, I also bring a Tesla-Tap so I can use destination chargers with my Energica. So I can charge on the road just about anywhere I can find 120 or 240 AC voltage.
This should work with any granny cable that comes with any bike. Some are a bit more difficult to take apart than others, but I assume they can all be modified with a shorter cable. You can also buy granny cables on Amazon if you don't want to modify the one the bike comes with.
Of course, you will have to unsolder the cable from the PC board inside the granny unit. And then re-solder the much shorter cable after it's cut to whatever length you prefer. Four wires total.
Disclaimer: Modify yours and use at your own risk!
Below are photos of the two I now have:
-Don- Reno, NV
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That indeed looks much better.
There is a man from The Netherlands who has put the complete "granny" internals in the charging plug and that is even better ( smaller ), he went to commercialize this, but I have
still nothing heard about it.
(https://www.mupload.nl/img/0qmf0w.jpg)
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Here is the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3468LmIiQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3468LmIiQ)
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There is a man from The Netherlands who has put the complete "granny" internals in the charging plug and that is even better ( smaller ), he went to commercialize this, but I have
still nothing heard about it.
I think the reason for that is that the maximum cable length between control box and wall plug is limited (didn't find the specification though). This is why you won't find anything like Don made or the cable you referenced for purchase.
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I would like to have that for emergency solution to take with me. The cable should not be long, 2 meters / 7 ft should suffice to reach an outlet.
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I think the reason for that is that the maximum cable length between control box and wall plug is limited (didn't find the specification though). This is why you won't find anything like Don made or the cable you referenced for purchase.
And the length and thickness of the input cable on mine can be changed to what is needed and be made lighter for a 3 KW motorcycle AC charger than for a 6 KW charger and such. Adjustments to what is needed is done by the standard 120 VAC extension cord (which could have either 120 VAC or 240 VAC on it, with my setup, using small adapters).
The entire thing fits in one sidebag, unless using something like an extra long ten gauge extension cord. But my set up has the choice to be no thicker than necessary, unlike a standard granny cable which always has a very thick, heavy and long output cable from the granny box.
-Don- Reno, NV
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That indeed looks much better.
There is a man from The Netherlands who has put the complete "granny" internals in the charging plug and that is even better ( smaller ), he went to commercialize this, but I have
still nothing heard about it.
Yep, getting rid of the granny box all together would also be some help, but the cable there has to be much shorter and have a choice of what size to use as with mine. The big issue is not the granny box, but the output cable. You want that to be as short as possible and have the choice of standard extension cords on the input side of the box, or better yet, have the granny box built into the J-1772 plug and start the choice of cords to use right there.
-Don- Reno, NV
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..., or better yet, have the granny box built into the J-1772 plug and start the choice of cords to use right there.
-Don- Reno, NV
Yes, my thoughts exactly , that is what he did and then a normal 2,5mm² wire to go to the shuko wallsocket wich is 230V overhere. That should be enough as we take
no more then 2 meters / 7 ft of that cable.
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Hi DonTom,
There is a lot of good granny charger information, instructions, etc on this forum post:
PP and CP control on a type 2 charger cable
Hope it helps.
Regards
Gary
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That's a great idea. I don't need this but if I did I could definitely make one.