[ausev] my charger died

[Brian Lasseter]

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 5:50 AM, Joby Wieser<sleeper02_14_06 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I'm researching new chargers,  this one looks interesting, does anyone know anything about it?
>
> http://www.r-charge.com/E-Car.htm

I have never seen or heard of that charger.  It appears to be 240VAC
only charger, limited to 20A.  It claims to be able to recondition
batteries... but I'm not sure how one could test that claim.  With the
120VAC outlet on the charger, that would indicate to me that beyond
requiring 240VAC, it also requires a neutral.  That limits your
ability to create a plug that is compatible with different NEMA plugs.

For instance, I have a NEMA 5-15 (regular 120VAC) adapter, a NEMA
14-30/50/60 adapter (it works in all three, since it has no neutral),
a NEMA 10-30/50 adapter (again, it works in all three since it has no
neutral).  So between my 3 adapters, I can charge from 7 different
electrical outlets (the above plus the NEMA L6-30 outlet on the car).

The other interesting thing about the E-Car RC-20AU-240 charger is
that beyond requiring a neutral and a ground wire... the manual states
that it requires a 50A breaker and plug for the 20A charger:
http://r-charge.com/E-CarManual.pdf  Since it is a 240V 50A ONLY
charger, that will vastly limit opportunity charging.  It also means
you will need a new 50A breaker, 50A rated plug, and 6AWG wire running
from your breaker box to the charge plug in your garage.  That will
cost $$$.

I know a lot of people with PFC chargers... the PFC-20 is $700 more
expensive than the E-Car RC-20AU-240 charger, however it is 2 lbs
lighter, and you gain the important ability to charge from a regular
120VAC outlet when the situation requires it.  However I suppose you
lose the ability to pulse charge (and desulfanate) your batteries.

Maybe for the $700 cost difference... you would do better to just
carry around a low current separate 120VAC charger.  (Like Rob does.)
This 120VAC charger for 144VDC would only set you back $450
http://www.chargingchargers.com/quick-charge/obsc144-10.html


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

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