ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Mr.Neon on August 19, 2018, 04:58:30 PM
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I'm looking into getting a Zero FX at some point but one of the things I would like to do is quick charge in under an hour. Diginow's website suggests that two v2.5 superchargers would charger it in around 40 minutes.
How would I mount these to the bike? My understanding is the the FX does not have much tank space and I can't mint then underneath because I need the ground clearance.
Help and insight are appreciated.
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I have a 2016 FXS, i'm also interessted in adding a supercharger. There is no space in the tank but i have two ideas where to mount the supercharger, one would be in or under a top case and the other variant would be to replace the original charger, i'm not sure if this is possible and if there is enough space for a supercharger.
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If the stock onboard charger is the same as the S platform, then they might have already solved this with a custom belly pan.
Check this thread:
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=8049
If the X platform isn't already mentioned, ask about it.
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The layout is a different, the charger of the FX series is in front of the battery.
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Do you ride with luggage? A sturdy top or side rack should be good enough.
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There is no side rack for the FX, the top rack cannot bear that kind of load, and the stock charger is half the size of the S platform stock charger and has no pan.
The best arrangement for an FX is probably a tank pannier style side mount. Probably using bent aluminum around the frame itself and not around the plastics.
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Please also keep in mind that the power of two chargers is two much for an FX, so at least one of them needs to be throttled down in order to prevent the contactor from opening. Just use one charger together with the onboard, that will give you around 4 kW which is way more then stock already.
Even with fast charging the FX/FXS will not become models suitable for real touring. Range and charging power (which determines you travel speed ultimately) are just too low and it gets really annoying over time. I won't do it anymore, it's just too exhausting compared with a SR or DSR.
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Yeah I'm more into dual sport riding. Spend a lot of time on dirt roads or trails. Would just be nice if I could charge over lunch instead of overnight. How fast would an FX charge with one diginow and the onboard?
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Do the math yourself ;)
A MY18 FX battery has a net capacity of around 6,3 kWh. If you divide that by the charging power of around 4 kW, that's 1,575h. Multiplied by 60 min/h, that's 94,5 minutes for a full charge. Usually probably way less, because you never deplete the battery completely.
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yeah.. so the best FX solution I have seen so far is just replacing the stock charger with a diginow. This lets you max out a normal wall outlet, and lets you use a charge station to go from low to completely full in about an hour.
You can get two diginow chargers, but they will be throttled back because the bike will disconnect them if you exceed a 1C charge rate.
With it in the stock location, you get the best of both wall plug and EVSE charging, with no visible mods, loss of ground clearance, etc...
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I'd also like to jump in here with some thoughts. First let me say that I am no expert when it comes to battery technology and charging, but it seems to me that there is a very strong bias on this forum towards the Diginow charging system. I have read numerous threads on charging with the Diginow and it just seems way too expensive and much more complicated than it needs to be.
It seems that the senior members on this forum won't even discuss the viability of the Elcon and other charging systems.
Sorry if I have created a firestorm here or my post is off topic.
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I'd also like to jump in here with some thoughts. First let me say that I am no expert when it comes to battery technology and charging, but it seems to me that there is a very strong bias on this forum towards the Diginow charging system. I have read numerous threads on charging with the Diginow and it just seems way too expensive and much more complicated than it needs to be.
It seems that the senior members on this forum won't even discuss the viability of the Elcon and other charging systems.
Sorry if I have created a firestorm here or my post is off topic.
For hard mounting on the bike, theres few options.
I say the diginow because its the only one you can buy without having to know everything you're doing as an EE.
Personally I buy chargers very similar to the diginow for my other EVs as they're the only current affordable option for something that small, that puts out the same power and is waterproof, vibration resistant, and reliable. You can mod a server supply for vibration resistance but its really hard to make an open air, air cooled device into something waterproof... again, I support anyone with the proper knowledge to be safe, trying to do that themselves, but I cant suggest it to people if they dont have the ability to do that themselves safely.
If he didnt want 1C charging, for an FX, a meanwell is also an option. I think they were actually factory on the older FX bikes... but they will be wattage limited to less than he wants... If he wanted a cheap, slightly better than stock replacement for a dead charger, I would say to grab some Meanwell supplies.
Diginow is mostly mentioned because its a bolt-in option for people that just want to ride.. If you want to build and mod electronics, I would ask on Endless-sphere or similar sites, and build it to specs, instead of "for a Zero FX". You would have more knowledgeable people watching, and no Negative Nancys.
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No bias that I've seen regarding Elcon, other than it's older tech, so not much buzz talk about it. I got my Elcon for my '15 FX, and continue to use it with my '15 SR (dead onboard charger, so it's my *only* charger), but I have also have three Diginows ordered. The Elcon has always been an offboard charger for me... never tried to attach it in any way.
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Oops..........my reply in post #10 was really meant for this thread "Keeping contactor closed for aux charging", but same idea. Moderators, please feel free to move or delete my post.
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There is no side rack for the FX, the top rack cannot bear that kind of load, and the stock charger is half the size of the S platform stock charger and has no pan.
The best arrangement for an FX is probably a tank pannier style side mount. Probably using bent aluminum around the frame itself and not around the plastics.
Crash bars are available, so wouldn't boxer-style be doable?
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There is no side rack for the FX, the top rack cannot bear that kind of load, and the stock charger is half the size of the S platform stock charger and has no pan.
The best arrangement for an FX is probably a tank pannier style side mount. Probably using bent aluminum around the frame itself and not around the plastics.
Crash bars are available, so wouldn't boxer-style be doable?
I suppose so, yes. Depends on whether there are more attachment points for a mounting plate above and behind the bars. I can look at the Cafe Primo soon to see.
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Hi there,
Couple things I want to go over. Yes, mounting SuperChargers on an FX is a potentially tricky ordeal. We want to keep them near the tank area instead of the rear/tail for obvious reasons assuming you're riding in the dirt. Therefore it would seem like a better idea if the tank plastics and stock chargers get removed and sort of A-frame is fashioned to let 2 units mount there assuming they're completely out of the way of handlebars and legs/knees.
The next is that while 2 units is over the 1C limit, it's just barely. Because there is a limiter on the packs it's not like our units will go beyond 1C and void your warranty.*
*unless you want us to do that for you. 3C charging awaits the brave...
Anyway if you have 2 units at 6.6kW and you have a 6.4 pack you'll be missing only 0.2kW and you'll be comfortably riding that 1C threshold. My brother currently has over 20,000 miles on his 2014FX and will not, under any circumstances, go back to anything less than 2 SuperChargers.
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180821/54ffe4ba8fd2b13ed915213efc72ad41.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180821/4d991444cfa282c2b845190f2c65d7ab.jpg)
These are the likely areas for mounting. There aren’t many fastener anchors, but a bent aluminum sheet that straddled over the battery compartment would probably anchor fine with a few bolts here and there against the frame.
The drop bars are helpful but insufficient without a frame side fastening.
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> The drop bars are helpful but insufficient without a frame side fastening.
Hm? I'd assume if they can take the full weight of the bike and the rider, they should be able to take the weight of a 3.3kw charger.
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> The drop bars are helpful but insufficient without a frame side fastening.
Hm? I'd assume if they can take the full weight of the bike and the rider, they should be able to take the weight of a 3.3kw charger.
They're not meant to take that kind of dynamic loading.
Let's say you go over a bump with chargers only resting on the bars. The chargers will tend to push the bars down and as a lever against the center.
It would be better to attach them to a sheet of metal against the frame so that the chargers pull on that in addition to pushing on the bars.
This is just my thinking right now. I just think the best place for the chargers is by bending aluminum plate around the top of the battery compartment and fastening chargers to that. The bars help; I just wouldn't personally feel good only using bars.
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> > > The drop bars are helpful but insufficient without a frame side fastening.
> > Hm? I'd assume if they can take the full weight of the bike and the rider, they should be able to take the weight of a 3.3kw charger.
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> It would be better to attach them to a sheet of metal against the frame so that the chargers pull on that in addition to pushing on the bars.
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An aluminum *plate*, trimmed of corners, mounted to the frame, would be good, in addition to the drop bars, yes. Would also help with heat dissipation. That would be really solid, and help with any dynamic loading concerns.