It sounds like something must be wrong inside the charger. There's plenty
of air space around both sides of the PFC-30 (I can post a picture if that
would help) and the trunk is open, so the air probably isn't stagnant. I
can hear the internal fan running and feel air being sucked in on one end
and expelled out the other. I've sent an email to Manzanita Micro.
A J1772 charger has recently been installed near where I work, and I've been
hoping to take advantage of it to charger for 1/2 hour during lunch. But if
I can't put 30A into the pack, it won't do me much more good than the 15A
I'm already getting out of the 120V charge station in town.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx.xxx.edu [mailto:xxx@xxx.xxx.edu] On Behalf
Of Cor van de Water
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 6:23 PM
To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List
Subject: Re: [EVDL] PFC-30 Goes All Current-Limit on Me
OK, that is very clear.
Does the PFC30 have a fan inside?
Could it be that the way it is installed cause stagnant air inside and
heating up and can you notice the heating up on the outside?
It is possible that the current cutback circuit is too sensitive, but more
likely that it is working well and there is indeed something getting hotter
than usual...
Success,
Cor van de Water
Chief Scientist
Proxim Wireless Corporation http://www.proxim.com
Email: xxx@xxx.xxx Private: http://www.cvandewater.com
Skype: cor_van_de_water XoIP: +31877841130
Tel: +1 408 383 7626 Tel: +91 (040)23117400 x203
-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx.xxx.edu [mailto:xxx@xxx.xxx.edu] On Behalf
Of Bill Dennis
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 5:09 PM
To: 'Electric Vehicle Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [EVDL] PFC-30 Goes All Current-Limit on Me
Boy, I must be explaining things really badly if I'm coming across as not
even knowing the difference between current limit and reaching voltage
limit.
I am charging from a 220V outlet over a #8 cord. Charging is indicating
that it's going into thermal cutback mode, not that it's reaching voltage
set point.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx.xxx.edu [mailto:xxx@xxx.xxx.edu] On Behalf
Of Cor van de Water
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 5:53 PM
To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List
Subject: Re: [EVDL] PFC-30 Goes All Current-Limit on Me
Bill,
Current limit and pack reaching voltage limit are two entirely independent
things.
Current limit is simply the charger reducing its output current below the
level that you have chosen, because it cannot deliver the power and stay at
a safe temp so it limits itself, which only means that you have to wait
longer before the needed Ahs are put in.
The pack reaching voltage limit happenes towards the end of bulk charge and
this may take a little longer than you expect due to the reduced charger
current, but the voltage limit should not be affected by the charger cutting
back in current - it will just take longer.
BTW, the name PFC30 means that it is limited to 30A at *either* input or
output, whichever is greater, right?
Are you incidentally charging with an extension cord at 120V AV?
If the input voltage sags due to high resistance in the AC mains then it
could be that the input 30A is reached (and the charger will get hot) when
it is only drawing for example 90V x 30A = 2700W.
When it delivers current into a 120V DC pack, that means that it will hardly
be able to deliver 22A DC so if you commanded more than 22A it might show a
current limit not from overheating but because AC input current is the
limit?
Or are you charging from 240V AC?
Cor van de Water
Chief Scientist
Proxim Wireless Corporation http://www.proxim.com
Email: xxx@xxx.xxx Private: http://www.cvandewater.com
Skype: cor_van_de_water XoIP: +31877841130
Tel: +1 408 383 7626 Tel: +91 (040)23117400 x203
-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx.xxx.edu [mailto:xxx@xxx.xxx.edu] On Behalf
Of Bill Dennis
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 2:33 PM
To: 'Electric Vehicle Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [EVDL] PFC-30 Goes All Current-Limit on Me
Pack isn't reaching its voltage limit. Cutoff voltage is 124.5V.
PFC-30 goes into current limit even if pack voltage is 121V or 122V.
Yellow limits light is blinking. From the PFC-30 manual:
"If the yellow LIMITS LED is blinking, then it is indicating that there is
an over temperature condition and the charger is in thermal cutback mode."
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx.xxx.edu [mailto:xxx@xxx.xxx.edu] On Behalf
Of Mike Willmon
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 2:55 PM
To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List
Subject: Re: [EVDL] PFC-30 Goes All Current-Limit on Me
What pack voltage are you running? Are you running into a battery side
current limit or a AC line side current limit? If your pack is reaching the
regulation voltage rather quickly the current will be limited to honor that
voltage regulation.
I've never had the problem but I think that if the charger goes into thermal
cutback you will get the megabright red LED warning light.
Mike
[quote] Bill Dennis <xxx@xxx.xxx> wrote:
> If I turn my PFC-30 up more than about half way, it goes into current
> limit mode in less than 2 minutes. There's plenty of air space around
> the charger, the trunk is open, and the temp in my garage is 74F
> (23C). Does anyone else have this problem? Usually it's not an
> issue, since I charge at low current overnight. But this morning I
> was out and about, and I wanted to charge the car again to take it
> downtown for the evening.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bill
>
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