Possible stupid question around charging E-bikes

SteveSSS

Member
Aug 14, 2019
75
41
Lancaster, UK
I’m looking to charge my E-bike whilst staying away overnight and came across a cigarette lighter to 3 pin plug adaptor for the car.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/ring-mini-inverter-12v/88988?kpid=88988&ds_kid=92700046638549236&ds_rl=1243318&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=CjwKCAjw5_DsBRBPEiwAIEDRW_3k8lGsGpMoPshJFfZ8UG0CyHpi7-ahwkjWV1MGeMp6S1FttUcx-xoCcKQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I’m UK based and would be looking to re -charge whilst the vehicle is running / moving. I’m not expecting to get a quick charge but a top up would be good, however I also don’t want set fire to my car, melt anything or blow any fuses. I’m also unsure whether there would be enough power to charge for a vehicle outlet.

Any advice or recommendations welcome.
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
1,326
1,173
S.Wales
Unfortunately your car battery is only 12v and your ebike battery is 36v. It will not work. Your ebike charger gives out a voltage of 42v which is the voltage of a fully charged battery pack (assuming you have this size battery).

Also, the wattage power given out by the battery charger is 36v multiplied by the number of amp rating. For instance, if your charger is rated at giving out 4 amps, the total wattge would be 36x4= 144watts
 

Jeff H

Well-known member
May 19, 2019
207
200
San Jose, CA, USA
I’m looking to charge my E-bike whilst staying away overnight and came across a cigarette lighter to 3 pin plug adaptor for the car.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/ring-mini-inverter-12v/88988?kpid=88988&ds_kid=92700046638549236&ds_rl=1243318&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=CjwKCAjw5_DsBRBPEiwAIEDRW_3k8lGsGpMoPshJFfZ8UG0CyHpi7-ahwkjWV1MGeMp6S1FttUcx-xoCcKQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I’m UK based and would be looking to re -charge whilst the vehicle is running / moving. I’m not expecting to get a quick charge but a top up would be good, however I also don’t want set fire to my car, melt anything or blow any fuses. I’m also unsure whether there would be enough power to charge for a vehicle outlet.

Any advice or recommendations welcome.
You’re probably on the right track with an inverter but you might need something more heavy-duty like this:


I think this has been discussed so do a search. I don’t know the current draw of the charger but I bet it’s well over the 75w rating of that mini-inverter.
 

Russell

Well-known member
Dec 16, 2018
211
149
Iow
It should say on the charger I would have thought.
Input 230v and ?amps or ?Watts.
Power(watts) =Volts x amps x power factor. I doubt it will have a power factor on there so just watts = volts x amps
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
6,568
5,058
Weymouth
...plus....a large drain on the main car battery would require your alternator to be running flat out over extended periods of time and not sure how long the diode pack would put up with that!!
 

Lee

Member
Jun 11, 2019
43
60
Lancaster
I’m looking to charge my E-bike whilst staying away overnight and came across a cigarette lighter to 3 pin plug adaptor for the car.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/ring-mini-inverter-12v/88988?kpid=88988&ds_kid=92700046638549236&ds_rl=1243318&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=CjwKCAjw5_DsBRBPEiwAIEDRW_3k8lGsGpMoPshJFfZ8UG0CyHpi7-ahwkjWV1MGeMp6S1FttUcx-xoCcKQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I’m UK based and would be looking to re -charge whilst the vehicle is running / moving. I’m not expecting to get a quick charge but a top up would be good, however I also don’t want set fire to my car, melt anything or blow any fuses. I’m also unsure whether there would be enough power to charge for a vehicle outlet.

Any advice or recommendations welcome.

Yes, you'll need a 12v to 240v inverter that's a little more powerful than what you linked to, 250w or above will do, but i wouldn't get one that connects to a 12v socket as most sockets are only rated at 10amps meaning a maximum of around 120w, better to get one that connects straight to the battery terminals and put an appropriate fuse in the positive supply.

hope this helps.
 

Jeff H

Well-known member
May 19, 2019
207
200
San Jose, CA, USA
Yeah,
...plus....a large drain on the main car battery would require your alternator to be running flat out over extended periods of time and not sure how long the diode pack would put up with that!!
Yeah, probably asking a lot from a 12v system on a light duty vehicle. A heavy duty system on a truck/van with tow package or an RV would be the way to go. Tap into the high voltage of an EV or hybrid? ?
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
1,326
1,173
S.Wales
You’re probably on the right track with an inverter but you might need something more heavy-duty like this:


I think this has been discussed so do a search. I don’t know the current draw of the charger but I bet it’s well over the 75w rating of that mini-inverter.

I’d love to see that in action. It may have enough wattage to run your charger. Good luck. If it works tells us,, i’ll Buy one too ??
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
1,326
1,173
S.Wales
Yes, you'll need a 12v to 240v inverter that's a little more powerful than what you linked to, 250w or above will do, but i wouldn't get one that connects to a 12v socket as most sockets are only rated at 10amps meaning a maximum of around 120w, better to get one that connects straight to the battery terminals and put an appropriate fuse in the positive supply.

hope this helps.

That’s good advice
 

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