PRS iCharger Monstrosity

From LVL1
Revision as of 10:18, 26 March 2019 by Notyou007a (talk | contribs) (Created page with " == Version 2.0 == == Version 1.0 == at Blue's suggestion, we picked up two 12V 100A server rack power supplies, to make a hacked 24V 100A power supply, because the icharger...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Version 2.0

Version 1.0

at Blue's suggestion, we picked up two 12V 100A server rack power supplies, to make a hacked 24V 100A power supply, because the icharger needs ~4.5~30 V input, and is more efficient the closer you get the input voltage to the nominal voltage of the pack you're charging. Since we're charging a 12s3p Chevy Volt battery, and the iCharger does not offer 12S charging, we charged the pack in two halves, (6s3p) so aimed for a nominal charge voltage of 24V.

To hack the power supplies together, special care was taken to ensure the grounds and DC bus voltage "0V" rails were managed successfully. since the supplies' outputs are connected in series, ideally none of: the DC bus 0V, earth ground, or the 120VAC neutral wire will be connected to the chassis of the power supply to ensure the 12V "center tap" of the charger is entirely isolated. unfortunately for this build, the particular server-rack power supplies we got had the chassis of both supplies tied each to the earth ground and to the 0V bus. upon inspection, disconnecting the earth ground from the chassis was accessible (a single ground lug tied the cable to the chassis where the 120 entered the supply.) but disconnecting the 0vdc rail proved to be more difficult. in the end, we left