Charging from a vehicle ?

[Beanieuk]

What type of inverter?
There's pure sine wave or quasi (modified)

It's a pure sine wave one I got from eBay. I am riding at thetford forest tomorrow so will try to charge the levo on the way home .

 

[thebarber]

Any links?

 

[Beanieuk]

Something like this

LCD 4000W peak 2000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 24V DC to 220V AC UPS Charger | eBay

Had it in for 3 years now, main use is to power my microwave

 

[thebarber]

Something like this

LCD 4000W peak 2000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 24V DC to 220V AC UPS Charger | eBay

Had it in for 3 years now, main use is to power my microwave

What motor y got?
That's 24v

 

[Beanieuk]

Opp

What motor y got?
That's 24v

Oops didn't see that mines a 12v

 

[Dax]

I have had a hunt and can't seem to find a car charger for the levo, if anyone knows different please let me know ?

Take a look at this post: Charging from a vehicle ?

 

[Theolegit]

I wonder if Specialized will make the car charger that’s available with the bmw levo widely available?

 

[Dax]

Sometime when I'm quiet at work I'll call the concept store and ask, if they can't do one I'll call BMW with the part number and see if I can order one.

 

[Theolegit]

Good luck but I have the impression that bmw will only sell one with a bike

 

[thebarber]

Well I was given an inverter yesterday(600w modified) and plugged the charger in and she lit up so all being well I'll get some old 12v batteries charged up and have a road trip.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

How’s everyone getting on with this? Did @Kernow get anything yet? I’m also interested in finding the best option

 

[Beanieuk]

How’s everyone getting on with this? Did @Kernow get anything yet? I’m also interested in finding the best option

I am heading off on a road trip in 2 weeks so will report back on my inverter and battery set up. I am sure it will be fine when I am driving but going to try and charge 3 levo batteries when parked up.

 

[Eckythump]

Been using mine nearly a year now without issue.

 

[Kernow]

How’s everyone getting on with this? Did @Kernow get anything yet? I’m also interested in finding the best option

I bought one of these Rob https://www.screwfix.com/p/impax-im800i-700w-inverter-generator-230v/15760
It does the job well , Iam surprised at the quality for the low price , it easily charges a battery on the low power setting , I think it would probably charge 2 batteries at once .
Easiest to list the advantages and disadvantages as I see them
1 cheaper than a leisure battery setup and inverter to buy .
2 infinite charges , so a better bet if your with a mate and need multiple charges
3 easily transferred to other vehicles and very portable
4 can also charge vehicle battery using supplied dc jump leads so you could also use an inverter overnight and top,up car battery next day if concerned about noise .
5 no installation required

Downsides
1 noise of generator running for many hours , its fairly quiet as generators go but still a motor running
2 costs a little petrol so maybe 2/3 litre per charge , or less if charging more than one battery . I worked out my ebike is doing 140 mpg ?
3 can’t really be used while on the move in your vehicle .

 

[thebarber]

 

[Kernow]

That’s clever I like clever people who do things like that , however as a simpleton wouldn’t it be easier to just have the solar panel charging a leisure battery and the bike battery using an inverter then you can charge your bike at night or when there’s no sun .
As for the comment about infinite range Iam not sure how that’s going to happen

 

[Eckythump]

I need something which will deal with the RoPD connection so I can charge without an inverter.
I bought a connector pig tail thinking I’d be able to use one of my many rc battery chargers to charge directly from my leisure battery or portable Kalipac solar generators but the RoPD system is not straight forward. It seems to need a signal from the CAN bus side of the connector to allow charging. The main +ve & -ve taps have 0v across them if you just mate the connector.

 

[thebarber]

That’s clever I like clever people who do things like that , however as a simpleton wouldn’t it be easier to just have the solar panel charging a leisure battery and the bike battery using an inverter then you can charge your bike at night or when there’s no sun .
As for the comment about infinite range Iam not sure how that’s going to happen

Yep!
Id use a leisure battery but if you're away and using 2 batteries a day as you say you are you're gonna need to top up the host batt. And I think Solaris a good way to do this.
My in laws have a briefcase type solar panel kit for his caravan and in France etc. I'm amazed how quickly it charges up. Dunno what difference it would be over here tho with our weather.

 

[Theolegit]

Charging problems solved

 

[npatrix]

Charging problems solved

View attachment 2151

Brilliant!!! you cracked the future of eMTB!!!

 

[Doomanic]

I dunno, they might be a bit of a handful on decent singletrack...

 

[LawmanMtb]

I am heading off on a road trip in 2 weeks so will report back on my inverter and battery set up. I am sure it will be fine when I am driving but going to try and charge 3 levo batteries when parked up.

any updates on how you got on with your charging setup Beanie

 

[Bigbarper]

Hey guys
Has anyone managed to track down a source of those BMW Levo chargers, thinking that one of those coupled up to a leisure battery is going to be less hassle that using an inverter, although the 2amp charge rate ain’t great.....

 

[Beanieuk]

any updates on how you got on with your charging setup Beanie

Sorry for the late reply, yes this worked great. I charged my levo over night using my inverter in the camper. It charged just the same as on mains at home.
I have a 2000w pure sinewave inverter and 2 120ah batteries and a split charger and solar panel. I am sure this would work with a lower spec inverter and battery set up

 

[MarkH]

I put a 1000w pure sine wave inverter in my transit and it works a treat. The van has 2 batteries anyway as its got stop/start. So far 3 months in and its never missed a beat although I only charge the Levo whilst I'm driving.

 

[steve_sordy]

Is 800w enough for a hairdryer? When the boss plugs in her industrial strength paint stripper the lights dim and factory alarms go off...

I laughed out loud at that, still laughing!

 

[Mcharza]

I bought one of these Rob https://www.screwfix.com/p/impax-im800i-700w-inverter-generator-230v/15760
It does the job well , Iam surprised at the quality for the low price , it easily charges a battery on the low power setting , I think it would probably charge 2 batteries at once .
Easiest to list the advantages and disadvantages as I see them
1 cheaper than a leisure battery setup and inverter to buy .
2 infinite charges , so a better bet if your with a mate and need multiple charges
3 easily transferred to other vehicles and very portable
4 can also charge vehicle battery using supplied dc jump leads so you could also use an inverter overnight and top,up car battery next day if concerned about noise .
5 no installation required

Downsides
1 noise of generator running for many hours , its fairly quiet as generators go but still a motor running
2 costs a little petrol so maybe 2/3 litre per charge , or less if charging more than one battery . I worked out my ebike is doing 140 mpg ?
3 can’t really be used while on the move in your vehicle .

How's this generator has been working? Still good?
I'm interesting, because roadtrippin next summer around Alps

 

[Kernow]

How's this generator has been working? Still good?
I'm interesting, because roadtrippin next summer around Alps

Yes it’s been fine , not one issue as yet , it sits for a month or two unused and always starts easily

 

[LawmanMtb]

how long is the guarantee with it mate?

 

[Kernow]

how long is the guarantee with it mate?[/QUOTE

12 months on the screwfix details online