DIY 'Chargenectifier'

[SparkyJJO]

So I bought a thing (or a few things)

1. Eltek 48V/2000W rectifier for a steal of $50 from ebay
PCB interface board for $12 from ebay
vk4ghz Eltek Monitor to control it for $90+21 AUD (so around $78 USD)

My generator is only rated at 3500W continuous. I think a 48V/3000W would have been a better match, but it was going to cost about 3-4x as much. Though, if I stack 2000W units, I need another interface board and controller to run it.... hm. Maybe I should have done that after all, may have been cheaper. Oh well.

Either way, this will give me the ability to push around 35A into my battery packs from the generator.

Really, this is only for backup of a backup use case, if grid goes down and stays down for any length of time, and the solar sucks, and I need a boost.

.... Or maybe just an excuse to tinker.

The vk4ghz monitor just makes my life a little easier because I'm no programmer and having to buy an arduino and program it myself and all is just not for me right now.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Oh look what showed up today.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Oh look what showed up today.

View attachment 208931

Thanks for the reminder. I ordered on the 1st, it was handed over to airline on the 7th....hope it shows up soon.

 

[Brucey]

So I see the Emerson units are 220-240V, are there any 120V solutions? Apologies if already covered.

 

[silverstone]

So I see the Emerson units are 220-240V, are there any 120V solutions? Apologies if already covered.

Around 70-80% of Rated Power according to their Datasheet (and which Version of the Datasheet you are looking at IMHO) for 120VAC nominal.





But then if it's more like 120VAC - 10% due to grid/voltage drop/etc it's going to be rather 60-65% of Rated Power ...

 

[silverstone]

So I bought a thing (or a few things)

1. Eltek 48V/2000W rectifier for a steal of $50 from ebay
PCB interface board for $12 from ebay
vk4ghz Eltek Monitor to control it for $90+21 AUD (so around $78 USD)

My generator is only rated at 3500W continuous. I think a 48V/3000W would have been a better match, but it was going to cost about 3-4x as much. Though, if I stack 2000W units, I need another interface board and controller to run it.... hm. Maybe I should have done that after all, may have been cheaper. Oh well.

Either way, this will give me the ability to push around 35A into my battery packs from the generator.

Really, this is only for backup of a backup use case, if grid goes down and stays down for any length of time, and the solar sucks, and I need a boost.

.... Or maybe just an excuse to tinker.

The vk4ghz monitor just makes my life a little easier because I'm no programmer and having to buy an arduino and program it myself and all is just not for me right now.

It seems more expensive than what I / @upnorthandpersonal use .

Emerson Charger 48V 3000W around 80-85 EUR each with interface PCB included (you MUST contact Seller prior to ordering and remind them that you want the CAN Pads exposed, i.e. the "old Style PCB"): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003755306962.html






Plus around 15-20 EUR for the CANAble Pro Adapter: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004972158302.html

 

[SparkyJJO]

I have never bought anything from Aliexpress.
3000W would be a better match but oh well.
I could have used something else for controlling the unit but this should work and has a fancy display that while unnecessary adds a little nice feature, and it is already programmed to control it so no messing with CAN signals and stuff I don't want to have to deal with.

 

[upnorthandpersonal]

This is why I like DIY so much: everyone has their own set of requirements, goals, and way of thinking which leads to a multitude of different solutions to problems, for others to build and expand upon.

 

[silverstone]

This is why I like DIY so much: everyone has their own set of requirements, goals, and way of thinking which leads to a multitude of different solutions to problems, for others to build and expand upon.

I've seen worse requirements at full-time jobs trust me .

Anyways I really have to hurry up finding a new Job now .

 

[crossy]

Anyways I really have to hurry up finding a new Job now .

Yeah, I'm in that boat too.

I'm on a project in Cairo (Metro Line 4), I "started" in February and the Contractor (Thales) are now talking about an "initial" meeting with them mid-May!

No wonder it took them 2,000 years to build the pyramids (the site-office has views of the pyramids to remind them to hurry up).

I'm really getting far to used to the 7-day weekends, I may actually have to retire.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Another piece arrived. Fits the back of the flatpack nicely.
I would love to fab a nice enclosure for it, but I have no skills or tools to do so, so it will likely live bolted to the side of my battery shelf in some form or another.




Now just waiting for the control board/display.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Oh guess what, that showed up today.
Now when do I commission it? No idea lol.