Recharging my vectrix causes my circuit breaker to shut off

I could have sworn I read this in the Owner's Manual, but perhaps I picked it up somewhere else.

Your new Vectrix requires a DEDICATED 20 amp circuit for charging. That means nothing else is running on that circuit. One or two lights on the circuit won't make much difference, but if your circuit also serves any appliances, fans, entertainment systems or multiple rooms that are being used, it will overload the breaker. Also, if you are using an extension cord, it should be no longer than 25 feet and be 12 guage or heavier and rated 20 amps. (Vectrix does not support the use of extension cords, but we live in a real world where they are just sometimes necessary).

Glad to hear you had a good first day on the bike!

I don't believe this - certainly for European voltage (which is 230V AC) the maximum draw is 10amps, although the plug has its own 13amp internal fuse (in UK models). It might be worthwhile to state your territory as voltages are different around the world!

O.K. now that I know you are in the U.S.A. this one is easy. During the initial (CP) constant power charge cycle the vectrix draws 1700 watts. Divide your line voltage into 1700 to get the current requirement. In my case the line voltage is 115.7 (under load) the amperage draw is 14.72. Pretty much all you can get from a 15 amp circuit so if you can find a 20 amp circuit, you will be better off. The charger must be power factor corrected as I am reading 99% PF--almost a resistive load--which is about as good as it gets. If you are interested in monitoring what you Vectrix is costing you to charge, Northern tool (www.northerntool.com) sells a thing called a "Kill A Watt" electricity usage monitor that plugs into a wall outlet. You can put in your utility company rate and it will show you costs for the power that goes through the outlet. They are only $39.99 (sale price of course) and the item # is 457007. If you don't want to buy from them it is a model P4460 marketed by P3 International. This model is for US only, they may have one for European usage.

I have found that a dedicated 15A circuit is fine, but I went ahead and put in a 20A GFCI in my garage, as the added headroom and protection can't hurt.

There is considerable danger of fire if you continue to reset the breaker while charging without allowing the house wiring to cool, as the wiring to the outlet could heat up to the point of starting a fire. Most circuit breakers recommend replacement if they trip a few times, they simply wear out and then cannot provide the same level of protection.

Be careful!!

Arlo

Yeah, I use one in the UK, a cheap and cheerful model that only cost £10, but it gives all the info you need. It will only handle 10 amps at 230v but on full charge it's only peaking out at 7.5 amps peak draw.

Simon.

does the kill A Watt correct for harmonic distortion?
alot of the cheap meters don't.
switch mode power supplies (of which the majority of good quality chargers are) have alot of harmonic distortion, meaning the cheap meters dont give an accurate reading (i once had a ms6115 meter tell me i was drawing 90w from the mains when i was getting 450w DC out of the charger).

Check the accuracy against a good quality meter (a true RMS meter) before trusting what it says.

Matt

does the kill A Watt correct for harmonic distortion?
alot of the cheap meters don't.
switch mode power supplies (of which the majority of good quality chargers are) have alot of harmonic distortion, meaning the cheap meters dont give an accurate reading (i once had a ms6115 meter tell me i was drawing 90w from the mains when i was getting 450w DC out of the charger).

Check the accuracy against a good quality meter (a true RMS meter) before trusting what it says.

Matt

I don't know much about the Kill A Watt, which doesn't sound like a cheap unit. My cheapo bargin basement one seems to register more or less what the info plate on the appliance states, so I'm pleased with that.

We can get the Kill A watt in a UK version:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Buy-UK-Power-Meter.htm

It seems much better than mine and it measures up to 15amps. 5 more than my unit, so easily will cover the 13 amp maximum in the UK household standard socket.

Simon.

Cripes! That UK link shows the 'Plug-in Power Energy Monitor' device Maplin sell at £14.99 and regularly have it on sale at £9.99! There is a better one than this - it looks identical and is also sold by Maplin (currently at £7.99). In addition to the calculation of current drawn, you can enter a currency amount per KwH and it will actually read out the COST of your consumption until it is reset - a MUCH better and more useful device.

the vectrix was design to pull a max of 15 amps. most houses have 15 amp circuits but nothing else can be on that same circuit.typical current i have found is about 13 amps max. or cource the speedo will tell you the exact current you are pulling during charge cycle. overseas 230v devide the current by 2.

The speedo is showing the charging current going into the battery pack, not what the charger is drawing from the AC line. The difference between the two numbers is the charger efficiency.