I have a small modified sine-wave beer-can inverter that was originally used to charge a 19v laptop in the car. Been using it for a year now charging 18v Ryobi batteries. Now Im reading that a pure sine-wave should be used when changing batteries, not modified. Last week I got a new battery/charger that says it MUST be plugged into the mains. Not even a pure sine wave generator will do.
My thoughts are that a battery charger is converting 100-240V 50-60Hz AC to DC at the voltage/current that the charger is rated at. So there is a bit of tolerance within the charger input. Maybe not a modified sine wave inverter but cannot see any issues with a pure sine wave inverter or my Yamaha generator (also pure sine wave).
Are people out there charging > 12v batteries successfully via a good inverter and the charger that came with the batteries?
Amongst other things, I charge my DeWalt 18/54 Flexvolt batteries using the stock AC charger (not the fast charger) through an inverter. No issues so far and I don't recall seeing any warning about Mains only.
Last week I got a new battery/charger that says it MUST be plugged into the mains. Not even a pure sine wave generator will do.
How does it know what it's plugged into?
That's my question too given the voltage and cycle range of the input. Think Ill just go a good inverter.
The inverter that has floated to the top in my investigation is the KICKASS 600W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 12V to 240V AC. Anyone used one of these?
I have a small modified sine-wave beer-can inverter that was originally used to charge a 19v laptop in the car. Been using it for a year now charging 18v Ryobi batteries. Now Im reading that a pure sine-wave should be used when changing batteries, not modified. Last week I got a new battery/charger that says it MUST be plugged into the mains. Not even a pure sine wave generator will do.
My thoughts are that a battery charger is converting 100-240V 50-60Hz AC to DC at the voltage/current that the charger is rated at. So there is a bit of tolerance within the charger input. Maybe not a modified sine wave inverter but cannot see any issues with a pure sine wave inverter or my Yamaha generator (also pure sine wave).
Are people out there charging > 12v batteries successfully via a good inverter and the charger that came with the batteries?
I do not know of any reason why any 240V battery charger should not work perfectly ok off a suitable watt rated pure sine wave inverter or generator.
Perhaps another case of people selling the stuff do not have a clue on the subject???
Perhaps another case of people selling the stuff do not have a clue on the subject???
More likely the manufacturer / importer trying to escape warrantee claims. ie. Was it plugged into an inverter or generator ? If the answer is "yes" then claim denied.
Perhaps another case of people selling the stuff do not have a clue on the subject???
More likely the manufacturer / importer trying to escape warrantee claims. ie. Was it plugged into an inverter or generator ? If the answer is "yes" then claim denied.
Yes good point ,
Another reason to wary about buying from that source /brand
"More likely the manufacturer / importer trying to escape warrantee claims. ie. Was it plugged into an inverter or generator ? If the answer is "yes" then claim denied."
That's the conclusion I came to. The CYA limited warranty.
With the inverter/charger off grid house systems we install, it is not good enough for the generator to just be pure sine wave, it must also have as a minimum a digital voltage regulator and preferably an inverter generator so both the Hz and the voltage is held stable. It seems the smarter the charger the cleaner the supply must be so it can maintain its efficiency and high output without generating excessive heat that effects its operation. It is the inefficiency that creates the heat, so rather than building circuitry to tolerate a poor supply the monitor the supply and drop out if it doesn't meet the requirement.
T1 Terry
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With the inverter/charger off grid house systems we install, it is not good enough for the generator to just be pure sine wave, it must also have as a minimum a digital voltage regulator and preferably an inverter generator so both the Hz and the voltage is held stable. It seems the smarter the charger the cleaner the supply must be so it can maintain its efficiency and high output without generating excessive heat that effects its operation. It is the inefficiency that creates the heat, so rather than building circuitry to tolerate a poor supply the monitor the supply and drop out if it doesn't meet the requirement.
T1 Terry
Yes ,Perhaps I should have made it clearer I was referring to inverter generators which by their design maintain frequency & voltage over a wide range of loads & even sudden loads like motors starting.
A plain sine wave generator may not be able to do that ,especially with sudden heavy loads.[loses speed].
When that happens the output frequency drops, leading to inductive loads such as motors dragging even more current,further overloading the unit
Pure sine wave Inverters by design should not have that problem,if used within [a] their rating ,& input voltage maintained within specified range
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 06:44:21 PM
Are you saying that although a device has a range of inputs (100-240V, 50-60Hz) the device expects whatever power is fed in (via inverter, mains etc.) to be consistent otherwise the device may overheat. i.e input detects 240V 50Hz so it must stay that way until powered up again.
Are you saying that although a device has a range of inputs (100-240V, 50-60Hz) the device expects whatever power is fed in (via inverter, mains etc.) to be consistent otherwise the device may overheat. i.e input detects 240V 50Hz so it must stay that way until powered up again.
LLD
No, not quite that
.A switch mode multi voltage & have a frequency range device will work Ok , provided the supply is within those specified ranges The comments I made are more relevant to non switch mode devices such as motors , devices with transformer, Etc
Are you saying that although a device has a range of inputs (100-240V, 50-60Hz) the device expects whatever power is fed in (via inverter, mains etc.) to be consistent otherwise the device may overheat. i.e input detects 240V 50Hz so it must stay that way until powered up again.
It very much depends on the device being able to auto switch on the fly, or if it detects a certain voltage and frequency and sets this up as its supply base line. It will have a percentage of allowable variation because not even the mains supply is 100% stable, but if the input supply goes outside those ranges it will disconnect from the shore supply and revert to battery power if it has that option available. If the only supply available is via the 240vac plug, then the unit will shut down. Some need to be unplugged and then plugged back in to reset the voltage and frequency sensing, others have a timed reset where they periodically check the supply and adjust their parameters accordingly.
Back a few yrs, there was a switching mechanism close to where the supply cord entered the device and needed to be manually set to suit the input available.
T1 Terry
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I can see what you mean. I am reasonably confident though that the 18V, 36V and 42V chargers that I will be plugging into my inverter should not effect the battery.
I can see what you mean. I am reasonably confident though that the 18V, 36V and 42V chargers that I will be plugging into my inverter should not effect the battery.
36v and 42v chargers, you have got me interested now, are these power tool batteries or are we experimenting with something else?
The 18v, 36v and 56v chargers we use for various tool batteries all work fine on the W7 style inverter as well as the Projecta IP2000. Some have questioned the "pure sinewave" output from the W7 style inverters and even put a video up with clipped wave patterns, but I think it was more a problem caused by them using a mains charger on the battery that was powering the inverter that was causing the strange wave form. Anyway, it has powered all our chargers, coffee machines and induction cooktops and air fryers for quite a few yrs.
T1 Terry
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
