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Old 03-19-2009, 04:28 PM   #36 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MazdaMatt View Post
What are the technical details of charging a set of batteries with an engine that you are currently USING to drive an e. motor? I would think that the controller would not be very happy with the power supply.
I know someone who did this (gas generator in the back of his pickup conversion).

I don't think the controller cares - it won't even "see" the charger - it just sees battery voltage, and as long as the max voltage at rest (eg: no load on the batteries, generator charging full tilt) is below the controller high cut-off specs, it'll be OK.

The charger is more likely to be a problem: the battery voltage while driving is going to be low, so the charger will be perpetually in bulk mode, drawing max amps and putting a high load on the generator.

I do believe the guy had trouble with his charger tripping the generator breaker if he accelerated briskly and sucked amps, pulling the pack voltage down. Could have just been a case of the charger not well matched to the generator though.
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