Powercheq competitor

` Skarrin,
Thanks, the link seems to go to a blank page, and is it possible to translate the specs for us?

Stleride
Moderator Team Captain

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` :?
Skarrin, still not working, get to Products, but there is no Battery Optimizer listed just 4 pictures.

Peace Out,
Gman

What is your vision for the future our growing community?

Here is a translation of the data given at this Page(http://www.solar-mobil.de/neu/batteryoptimizer.shtml) (only in German language):

Powercharge Battery Optimizer

Powercharge Battery Optimizer is a real progress regarding battery balancing since it's
actively balancing and maintaining batteries which are connected in series.
The optimizer which is both effectively and easy to use, is balancing batteries while they
are charging, discharging and while they are in resting state.
The optimizer itself is working as a active construction which is transferring energy from
the best to the worst battery in order to balance the whole system.
(This process is taking energy and some limited engery losses are accepted for balancing the system)
The optimizer works with all serial connected battery systems, regardless of how many batteries are connected in series,
also is easy to handle and install.
The achieved results for such a balancer are recorded by independent tests, it is
proven that characteristics like lifetime and capacity of batteries are enhanced noticeably.
Enhancement of capacity:
For serial connections the capacity of each single cell is highly depending on the capacity of the weakest cell.
The Powercharge Battery Optimizer therefore is compensating the batteries.
Improving the battery lifetime:
The lifetime is improved when things like overcharging and undercharging are avoided.
While the optimizer is compensating the risk of incorrect charging processes is minimized, hence
the lifetime is improved.
Constantly balancing:
In contrast to regular shunt regluators the Powercharge Battery Optimizer is working
in all three conditions, charging, discharging and while the batteries are not in use.
Reduction of engery loss:
Powercharge Battery Optimizer is an active balancer, the energy between batteries is transferred
with minimum wastage. Ordinary shunt controllers do simply transfer energy to heat.
Modular designed:
Powercharge Battery Optimizer is constructed in a way to work with all serial systems, regardless
of hwo many batteries a system is using.

Technical data:
Battery voltage: 24V
Maximum working Voltage: 36V
Maximum balancing current: 5A
Current in idle status: < 0,003 A
Accuracy: < 0,01V
Efficiency: >90%
Working temperature: -20 to +65 degree Celsius
Functions: Voltage regulation while charging, discharging and in passive state
Security functions: Protection of voltage reversal, turning off below 10V,
housing is hardly flamable, ?automate securing?
Dimensions: 70mm x 70mm x 27mm
Weight: 0,14kg

Hope this is something helpful, for any further translations please do not hesitate to ask!

`

Trillian

`Trillian,
Thank you, see you at the next Moderator Team meeting. :)

Stleride
Moderator Team Captain

Moderators are dedicated volunteer V Team members who help keep your V Forums running smoothly and provide Forum Support.

`:?
Thanks, the link still went to a blank page, but fellow Moderator Team Captain Trillian had already translated it for us. Only the word Battery shows on my Firefox, but we finally located it at http://www.powercharge.dk/default.asp?lang=en

Powercharge Battery Optimizer

Powercharge Battery Optimizer is a new innovation within battery balancers, which efficiently equalizes and maintains batteries in series-connected strings.
The Optimizer, which is both efficient and easy to use, equalizes the batteries during charge, discharge and idle mode.
It is an efficient design, which allows equalization to be accomplished by transferring energy from the strongest battery to the weakest, with minimal energy loss.
The Optimizer can be used on all serial battery systems, irrespective of the configuration, and is easy to install.
The efficiency of the equalization technique has been documented. Independent tests show significant improvements to both the life of the battery and its capacity.

Improved battery capacity
The capacity of the batteries depends largely on the capacity of the weakest battery in the string. Powercharge Battery Optimizer ensures that all batteries in the string are equalized.

Extended battery life
The life of the battery is extended as both over and undercharging are prevented. Equalization with Powercharge Battery Optimizer reduces the risk of the incorrect charging of batteries, thus extending the life of the battery.

Continuous equalization of batteries
Unlike standard shunt equalizers, Powercharge Battery Optimizer operates during charge, discharge and idle mode.

Energy wasted minimised
Powercharge Battery Optimizer is an efficient equalizer which transfers energy between batteries with minimal energy loss, unlike standard shunt equalizers which dissipate excess energy by converting it to heat.

Modular design
The Powercharge Battery Optimizer is designed to be used regardless of the number of batteries in the string.

Technical data

Nominel battery voltage: 24 Volt
Max. battery voltage: 36 Volt
Optimizing current: Max. 5 A peak
Quiescent current: < 0,003 Ampere
Optimizing accuracy: < 0,01 Volt
Typical efficiency: > 90 %
Operating temperature range: - 20 to + 65 degrees centigrade
Dimensions:

70 mm x 70 mm x 27 mm
Weight: 0,14 Kg

Operating modes

Optimizing during Charge,
Discharge and idle modes

Safety features

Reverse Polarity Protection
Under voltage Lock Out (10 V)
Flame Retardent Packaging
Self reset able fuse

Stleride
Moderator Team Captain

Moderators are dedicated volunteer V Team members who help keep your V Forums running smoothly and provide Forum Support.

Powercharge Battery Optimizer is constructed in a way to work with all serial systems, regardless
of hwo many batteries a system is using.

It looks like these function in a similar manner to powerCheqs. I am a little confused about the listed 24v battery voltage. This could mean these are designed to work with 24v batteries, and maybe those are more common in that part of the world?

The 5a is very impressive though. Lets say you have a "middle" battery in your string that is very weak, then it could have two units to transfer energy to it (if these are wired the same way powerCheqs are) than thats 10a, and 20a of balance difference. Quite a lot to help a weak battery out in a situation where it is severely dropping in voltage at end of charge, which could boost range significantly.

If these are not linked somehow to share information, than they will have some of the same limitations as powerCheqs. From http://www.evsource.com :

Note: Certain battery string configurations are not compatible with PowerCheq modules, or produce less effective results. These include long battery strings (12+), strings with long cable leads between separated portions of the pack, and battery packs used in conjunction with high current output chargers.

Though they might work with longer strings because of the lower voltage difference needed to equalize, and they might work well with higher current chargers because of the higher amount of current they can transfer.

I just had an idea; I don't see why you couldn't put powercheq units in parallel doubling the balancing current capability.

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Extended battery life
The life of the battery is extended as both over and undercharging are prevented.

It should be noted that these don't prevent anything. They can help reduce the risk of overcharging and undercharging, but if they are like powerCheqs than they are definitely not like the BMS systems used on lithium-ion packs which do prevent undercharging, overcharging, and too high a discharge rate. However to do that you need a way to disconnect the batteries from the string, or switch off the pack as a whole, and that means something to disconnect the load-carrying circuit. These equalizers don't appear to be able to do that, and neither can powerCheqs.

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Avatar taken from http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
My KZ750 Project: here

Sorry that didn't sound right; I'm not in any way affiliated with powerCheq or any of its distributors. You could put 3 or 4 in parallel to get even more balancing! J/K

So the undervoltage cut out is 10v on these, which seems to be an improvement over the 10.5 on the powerCheqs. I'm no expert on battery balancing, but I don't see why it shouldn't balance lower than that. If you drain SLAs real quickly, you can safely take them down to 8v or lower, but the voltage might dip well below 10.5v/battery during high loads anyway, and this is when you most need the balancing.

It may be that it takes the voltage input to power the unit across two batteries, in which case it will function until the batteries are at 5v each.

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Avatar taken from http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
My KZ750 Project: here