Electric Bikes - Testing a Charger??

Hello all -

I am wondering if anyone knows how to test a charger that is used to recharge the battery pack on my Lashout ebike? The light on the charger used to glow red until the batteries were charged, then switch to green. Now it is only green, every time I plug it in, regardless of the charge the batteries have.
The charger has 3-pins where it inserts into the charging port. I have a digital multimeter, but am not very knowledgeable with it, so I am wondering which pins I would check, with which leads of the meter, and what readings to look for?

Thanks much!



QM

Don't know what your nominal battery pack voltage is or what chemistry, but if it where 36V and lead acid you should be able to put your multimeter to the 200 volt setting and measure across the power output while it's charging (careful leads on the multimeter aren't plugged into the 10 amp ports on some) and watch voltage climb to about 42V fully charged.

Thanks, wernmax....I appreciate your quick reply!!

I touched two of pins in the end of the charger that plugs into the battery case port. I got a reading of 29.01.

That leads me to think the charger is OK. So, I did some further digging in the battery case and found what appeared to be a case for a fuse. I opened it and pulled out a blown 40a fuse!!

Don't know if I blew it while trying to charge the batteries today, or if it blew some time ago, and that is why only the green light on the charger lights up. I am hoping that it blew a while ago and that's why I don't get the usual red light while first charging.

Will be going out tomorrow to get a replacement fuse and see what happens.....

QM

^^^

Sounds like you found the problem. :thumb:

Good luck to you finding a 40A AGC (glass) fuse like that out there in normal retail. I even went to a massive fuse-only outlet and they had none. They called Bussman (perhaps the largest fuse maker) who said they don't make them.

The fuse experts decided the 40A fuse Currie uses is purpose-built and not a standard fuse. I mention currie because the seatpost battery setup and threeprong charger with red/green all sound very Currie.

I found some online at scooter stores using the google fu "40 amp agc". Got mine here:
http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/40ampagcglfu.html

While waiting for the 40A to arrive I popped in a 30A I could source locally so I could charge the pack.

Super....thanks for the tip, fratermus!!

I am heading out to the local hardware stores in a bit, to see if I might "luck out" and find one there. Or maybe at NAPA or Carquest?

Will post an update on the whole situation later. Thanks for your help guys!

QM

Went to the web site fratermus suggested. I need a blade fuse. Sorry for any confusion. Maybe I'll have luck finding that type in 40a size?

Fuse found, no problem, at NAPA!

Inserted fuse and charging now (with the usual red light glowing)....reading on the multimeter is steadily climbing, so that part of getting my Lashout back in service is underway. Now to find a good, used motor!!

Thanks,

QM

Glad to hear your charger is doing the deed!

Blade fuses are abundant/cheap in 40A sizes. It's the little glass 40A/250V bastages that are tough to find.