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Originally Posted by maclaren
Thanks Mike Bortfeldt that cable looks like it is exactly what I need.
We aren't actually planning on modifying the chargers that first provided. We are actually planning on making the charging station from scratch. So we will be purchasing a transformer, rectifier, voltmeter read out and designing and building intelligent charging circuitry. We plan on being able to attach 8 main batteries and a few of the small backup batteries to the charing station. We are also planning on adding in some built in power sources with terminal blocks so that we can run experiments and such off of them.
Our current charging setup is the car chargers with the app cables attached to them and the problem is that students will forget to plug them in or forget to rotate them which can leave us high and dry from time to time. So once we have a charging station that is able to handle all of the batteries at once we will always have our batteries well organized and fully charged. Not to mention that we will only have to have one AC plug coming out of the unit.
I will make sure to post pictures of the charging station once we are done with it. We might also post a parts list and schematic for how to make it.
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Depending on rules for this coming year this would probably be ok as long as you are sure the charger puts out no more than 6 amps per FIRST's rules.
Why spend all the time and money building something when you could just use a couple store bought chargers and snip off the aligator clips and solder on some anderson quickconnects?
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Originally Posted by Greg Needel
This is the bare minimum solution.
Ideal - open the chargers up and replace the charging cords where they connect to the board. They are just push on connectors. Some modification to the case is necessary to run the larger gage wire through it.
Next best thing - cut the leads of the charger as close to the charger as you can and make a connection using a solder connector covered with heat shrink tubing.
Next Next best thing - same as above but you use a crimp butt connector and electrical tape
Bare minimum - splice the Anderson connectors onto the the long leads where needed and cover with heat shrink tube or electrical tape.
If you are going to convert one of the chargers to use the Anderson connectors please do it correctly. DO not just crimp the alligator clips to the wire and electrical tape them. While you are dealing with a smart charger it is still 6amps DC, and should not be taken lightly.
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I do not see the purpose as to why you tare apart the charger and replace the charger leads at the charger? There wont be any benefit to adding a larger cable other than if you need to do some weight lifting. The small 18 OR 16 gauge wire is plenty for the little 6AMP charger current.
-Mike