cheapest battery chargers

[lenapralos]

I'm using 5 24v Soniel Chargers to charge my 120 volt truck.  Does any one else out there do something like this that goes to SEVA?

JOHn

[Paul]

I use a 10 bank Deltran charger (ten 2 amp 12 volt chargers in one case) to charge me EV Buggy.

[ev-supply]

I sell a brand called Quickcharge, which makes chargers from 12V on up to 156V for flooded or AGM use.  The 110V versions all sell for $598.  The next cheapest is the Zivan, for $1150.

[Audin]

I'm quite happy with my QuickCharge 72v 20 amp charger.

[lenapralos]

You know, the reason I don't buy zivan or rusco is because I've read about a bagillion accounts of both of these *cheaper* brands breaking and people not knowing how to repair them or having to wait 3 months for the manufacturer to do it or another 2 months for a part to repair it to arrive.  I like buying 4 or 5 of the cheaper chargers that have good ratings, like Soneil, simply because if one of them breaks, I spend 40 dollars and in 2 days am able to charge my ev once again.  If I bought a "QuickCHarge", how long would one last, I mean it's cheaper than a Rusco or a Zivan so I'm kind of wondering.....

John

I sell a brand called Quickcharge, which makes chargers from 12V on up to 156V for flooded or AGM use.  The 110V versions all sell for $598.  The next cheapest is the Zivan, for $1150.

[ev-supply]

There is not necessarily any correlation between the price of something and how reliable it is.  I have not heard of many instances at all in which any brand of charger is failing at a high rate.  There are many factors to consider when choosing a charger.  Sure, the Manzanita Micro chargers are expensive, but they have a high amp output, and can run off of either 120 or 240.  No other charger that I am aware of can do both.  On the other hand, you can buy two of any of the others for the same price, to duplicate that function.  The lead time is also presently long.  That is a dynamic factor, however.  At any given time, that can affect any product.

The Zivan charger is pretty common, and has a convenient form factor.  This has to be one of the best selling charger worldwide for EV's of all sizes.  They have good service and access out of California for modifications and repairs. 

The Russco is a nice unit as well, but has a different finished look, and is best suited to mounting in the vehicle interior.  It is transformer based, so changing the output voltage above 120VDC requires a boost transformer kit.  The voltage and current is all manually selected by rotary pots, and it can charge around 15A.  It has an onboard GFCI, which can be problematic if you don't clean the batteries often or properly.  Like the Manzanita Micro, the volumes are smaller so the lead times can be affected. 

The Quckcharge unit is more like the Russco in design, using a transformer, but it does not require a boost transformer.  The output is fixed and can't be changed without replacing the unit.  The controls are electronic, allowing AGM or flooded profiles to be used.  This charger is designed to be simple and effective, without many bells and whistles.  It charges at 10A.

They are all good chargers.  You need to decide based on all of the criteria, not just price.

[leitmotif]

Couple points on transformers

IF the battery charger uses a transformer
AND if the transformer has an isolated secondary
THEN load side (secondary) of transformer can be ungrounded or grounded and the primary (grounded) does not care.

SO if GFCI is on secondary then it can trip with dirty batteries AND if there is a ground path, 
IF GFCI is on primary side then no matter how dirty batteries are the GFCI could not care.

NOW if the transformer is an auto transformer then there is no isolation between primary and secondary and the GFCI could trip.
I would NEVER buy a charger based on an autotransformer for use on EV.

But I am just an industrial electrician and I know how to electrocute people - I should I fix em all the time.
Have not electrocuted anyone -- yet.

Dan Bentler

[Paul]

The Russco is a nice unit as well, but has a different finished look, and is best suited to mounting in the vehicle interior.  It is transformer based, so changing the output voltage above 120VDC requires a boost transformer kit.

The Russco is not really a transformer charger. Its an inductor charger with variable saturation as near as I can tell. It is not isolated so the GFI protection is important and the vehicle frame should be grounded when charging as well.

Are the Quickcharge battery chargers isolated? Is a graph of the charge profile available? I was unable to find pictures and dimensions for the charger (fitting is an important part of the equation too.)

[Audin]

Is there a simple way to tell if it is isolated?  I have one in my comutacar i can poke at if need be.

[leitmotif]

Is there a simple way to tell if it is isolated?  I have one in my comutacar i can poke at if need be.

Dont go pokin around in there - I got enough pokers ensuring I have job security.

IF mine I would first get a schematic of how it is wired.  If that fails then I will UNPLUG and might open it up for a look see.  Now I would use an ohmeter after checking for hot stuff (especially if there are capacitors) then do resistance check from the plug prongs to each side of the DC line.

I would always have the car chassis firmly BONDED to the household grounding system when charging or connected in any way to the house.

Dan Bentler