John Wayland wrote: > Seriously, since I seem to have lit the fuse on this project, > here's my correction list so far: > > (1) I'd toss out that charger and go with a Manzanita charger > and the new MK III reg busses.
I'm not sure this is an obvious 'correction'. To my knowledge, the beefy Manzanita charger has no brains to speak of [yet], and the MkIII regs are still in development and are compeletely unknown quantities (brand new hardware, completely different from prior revs, and reliability yet unproven). The Brusa is also high efficiency, PFC, and additionally is isolated(!), and completely programmable for different battery chemistries. For the Insight EV, the NLG513 model seems like the most likely candidate (250-500V full-power output range), and will apparently deliver its rated 13.6A down to 0V. The main drawbacks relative to the Manzanita unit seems to be that the Brusa is 230VAC input rather than universal, and it doesn't have the brute grunt of the PFC20/50. Offsetting these are the isolated nature of its output, the programmability, the analog/RS232/CAN interfaces that permit more seamless integration of the charger with the other vehicle systems, and, in the case of the water-cooled version, an IP65 rating that makes it suitable for mounting underhood, etc. without worry of water ingress, etc. (unlike the fan-cooled PFCxx which would be best mounted inside the passenger compartment). Don't get me wrong, I think the PFCxx's are great, but for a project like this, involving batteries other than PbA, and striving for a high degree of system integration and plug-and-play operation, I just don't think they and the MkIII regs are quite ready yet. I think Victor is wise to plan his kit based on components that are available today and are proven, not ones that will be available "soon", and have yet to be proven. The Manzanita charger + regs system can always be substituted or made available as an option once it has been proven. Cheers, Roger.
