Golf buggy charges

[ericmark]

I had the same problem with fork lift chargers, the charger was rated at 100A output at 48 volt, however it would trip the supply at 32A at 230 volt with a C32 MCB.

It was down to in rush of the charger transformer and how low the batteries were, so a day when batteries were only down to 70% charge, the MCB would hold, but if down to 40% which in real teams meant some one forgot to charge them day before, then it would trip.

It seems the chargers and fork lifts were hired so likely original were OK, but they had been swapped by hire company, and plug in and switch on they would trip. Leave them switched on and just plug in and they would hold.

A 13A fuse will stand a huge in rush, we have all seen B32 MCBs trip before a 13A fuse ruptures, not sure if the user puts these golfing trollies on charge, or some employee? It could be all OK if user plugs it in, but if an employee plugs them all in together at end of working day then may cause a problem.

We found with two chargers it depended which was plugged in first.

As to cure, that's not easy, could be just getting the user to plug them in, so all not starting cycle together, but assuming standard three stage charger you have maximum output until voltage hits a pre-set step, at which the voltage is held rather than amps, this time will vary as batteries get older, so it may be when new it only took 1 hour before charge rate dropped now it may be taking 3 hours.

With a simple mobility scooter I found for first 10 years the battery charger took less than 150 watt once charged, but as the batteries got old, then one hears the cooling fan never stops, and they need 250 watt all the time.

 

[studentspark]

This is the info on the battery charger.
As I am trying to find out the amps drawn on the primary side
With the ratio of 5-1, I would make that 3.6amps on the primary side however it states 12-6A

 

[JohnW2]

With the ratio of 5-1, I would make that 3.6amps on the primary side however it states 12-6A

Ah - maybe I now understand "12-6A"! Since the input voltage is stated as "100-240V" and the input current as "12-6A", I presume they mean that (presumably at maximum output current - 18A), it draws 12A at 100V or 6A at 240V. That's pretty inefficient but, I suppose, credible.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

http://www.fullriverbattery.com/product/chargers/912-4800

 

[ericmark]

EFLImepudence has it seems answered many questions, seems they are switch mode, so forget inrush, and clearly current draw is dependent on voltage, so the only thing which will vary the current is state of the batteries.

So next is can you measure cell voltage? If there is a shorted cell then current draw can be silly, so be it groups of 6 cells or single cells you need to see if they are simular. Should there be a cell down, then the charge current can fail to drop.

 

[JohnW2]

EFLImepudence has it seems answered many questions, seems they are switch mode, so forget inrush, and clearly current draw is dependent on voltage, so the only thing which will vary the current is state of the batteries. So next is can you measure cell voltage? If there is a shorted cell then current draw can be silly, so be it groups of 6 cells or single cells you need to see if they are simular. Should there be a cell down, then the charge current can fail to drop.

This appears to be a pretty intelligent charger. For a start it has electronic current limitation, so presumably would not supply a 'silly' current to a battery with shorted cell(s). The manual ( click here ) indicates that it detects (and presumably responds to) all sorts of error conditions, including low and high battery voltage.

On the face of it, it would seem that, if working per spec and not faulty, this charger could never trip a 20A breaker, no matter what was connected to its output.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ericmark]

I would agree, it would seem impossible for it to draw over 12 amp. About the only thing one could get wrong is to install the wrong program when matching it to battery pack.

 

[EFLImpudence]

This appears to be a pretty intelligent charger.

It is necessary today for sealed batteries.

 

[studentspark]

Thanks for all the replies

On the face of it, it would seem that, if working per spec and not faulty, this charger could never trip a 20A breaker, no matter what was connected to its output.


It seems I cant do quotes either
They are 6 charges on this 20 A circuit

 

[EFLImpudence]

You don't mean six chargers on ONE 20A circuit, do you?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well...

There are charging points for 12 carts, (Outdoor 13amp sockets, flex on a 13amp plug to blue commando type socket. Protected by a 100ma RCD!) but physically you can only fit 6 carts in.
They charge overnight, but quite often the 20 A MCB trips.

He didn't say either "all of the MCBs trip" or "some of the MCBs trip", or even "one of the MCBs trips"

 

[JohnW2]

I would agree, it would seem impossible for it to draw over 12 amp. About the only thing one could get wrong is to install the wrong program when matching it to battery pack.

Even then, the output current limitation and/or the over/under battery voltage detection ought to keep it under control, shouldn't it?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ericmark]

They are 6 charges on this 20 A circuit

OK assuming no losses 1.2 kW (18A x 62V) per charger so at 230 volt that is 5.25 amp so 6 chargers will need a 32A supply, not a 20A supply.

 

[studentspark]

You don't mean six chargers on ONE 20A circuit, do you?

Six buggies, so six chargers. The circuit has sockets for more buggies.
Yes its on a 20 amp circuit. This circuit also has a large compressor which pulls about 9A, and the inrush is quite high.
Iv'e switch this off for now.
Its been in use for a few years though, so these chargers seem like they can't be pulling that much!

But, it needs improving, thats why I was wondering what theses charges can pull.

The trolly room, a large metal shed type building has 32 double sockets, all charging 24 hours a day.
Thats off 6, 16A circuits.
Plus lighting, and buggy charging, on a 6mm2 feed, about 20 meters from the switch room.
Earthing is off the 6mm cpc of the SWA.

No 30ma RCD for any sockets indoor or out, just a 100ma RCD protecting the board


I believe its a TN-S, but can't see the primary distribution board / intake at the moment because the switch room/ basement is under 6 inches of water, and Im not walking in there.

 

[JohnW2]

Six buggies, so six chargers. The circuit has sockets for more buggies.
Yes its on a 20 amp circuit. This circuit also has a large compressor which pulls about 9A, and the inrush is quite high.

Ah! The goalposts (at least, of our understanding) seem to have moved a fair bit

Kind Regards, John