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Old 04-26-2016, 11:24 PM   #330 (permalink)
Ecky
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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So, recently I fried my old grid charger, so I decided to upgrade it.

Old design, using a pair of eBay no-name 90v LED drivers, a generic 12v driver, fused AC input, voltmeter, DC-DC converter (for isolation), old server power supply + fan. Harness had diodes in it, to prevent accidental death or (more importantly) damage to the charger.




Design changes:

Reused case + fan, 12v driver, DC-DC converter, multimeter, fused AC input.

Now discharge capable!

-Diodes moved from charging harness to just in front of the HV LED driver.

-Placed fast-blow fuses in harness instead, which allow discharge but still provide some protection, and more fuses where power enters/exits the grid charger.

-Unit now has a switch and a standard AC power outlet, for plugging in a lamp or shop light for discharge, and a switch to select either charge or discharge. Voltmeter works for both.

-Replaced 2x 90v LED drivers with 100-200v 500ma constant current Mean Well LED driver, which is about 8x heavier than the old eBay no-names.








EDIT: I'd like to change the 4-pin molex connectors I've been using to something a bit... safer? eventually, but haven't been able to find a set I like for the right price yet.

Last edited by Ecky; 04-27-2016 at 07:20 AM..
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