Charging in the car, inverter type?

[CPG]

For some time now I have been using a modified sine wave inverter to run my two different Luna chargers while on road trips. I made the determination to not bother with a more expensive pure sine wave inverter based on my past experience with small solar systems and their components. Plus I had it laying around in the shop! A cheap Harbor Freight 400 watt unit, (that I would NEVER use in any of my solar projects) it is nicely loaded up when charging at the 3 amp setting, they are a bit more efficient when run at 75% or so of their capacity. Running 300 watts through a 4,000 watt inverter will work, but not ideal. Several times now, elsewhere on the internet, I have seen people mention that they believe a pure sine wave charger is REQUIRED, that is not my experience. Not a big deal either way, the little pure sine wave inverters are not that much more money, I just wonder where this "accepted fact" started out? BTW, you will most likely need to upgrade your 12 VDC plug in your vehicle, most are fused for 10 or 15 amps, you'll be drawing a bit over 20.

I've taken two long road trips since getting into e bikes, and around the same time since getting a used PluginPrius. I promptly removed the passenger front seat and now am able to carry my folding BBSHD/Rohloff'd Montague there, with plenty of room to sleep in the back left over, all with 50 MPG economy. It is great fun and can be a welcome diversion on a long boring drive, when you see a point of interest and you know you can be riding off to check it out in 3 minutes or so after parking, with a freshly charged battery. There's something really cool about driving while charging your ebike on a road trip, it really adds something to the drive. In my case, with my bike carried inside I lose no MPG to aero drag, plus the dark tinted windows make it real stealthy, it's like I have a secret weapon in there!

[HarryS]

In general, I thought only motor driven appliances like a refrigerator or a 110V electric drill needed a sine wave supply.

[ykick]

Got an IR temp gun? Do a temperature test at the end of charge running on home AC power and then again on the modified inverter. If noticeable increase of temperature you’re probably better off running pure sine. If no measurable difference in temp, it’s probably fine. Thyristors, SCR’s, digital clocks, those type of things don’t like modified sine waves.

I love charging my eBike in my RV. Not quite as cool as a hybrid charging setup but someday I will find the elusive all-electric TOAD and see if I can figure out a “plug-out” system to power my motor coach.

Here’s a link to my evolving RV/eBike photo album -

http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/Ykick/library/YkickJoeRoadShow?sort=2&page=1

[calfee20]

For some time now I have been using a modified sine wave inverter to run my two different Luna chargers while on road trips. I made the determination to not bother with a more expensive pure sine wave inverter based on my past experience with small solar systems and their components. Plus I had it laying around in the shop! A cheap Harbor Freight 400 watt unit, (that I would NEVER use in any of my solar projects) it is nicely loaded up when charging at the 3 amp setting, they are a bit more efficient when run at 75% or so of their capacity. Running 300 watts through a 4,000 watt inverter will work, but not ideal. Several times now, elsewhere on the internet, I have seen people mention that they believe a pure sine wave charger is REQUIRED, that is not my experience. Not a big deal either way, the little pure sine wave inverters are not that much more money, I just wonder where this "accepted fact" started out? BTW, you will most likely need to upgrade your 12 VDC plug in your vehicle, most are fused for 10 or 15 amps, you'll be drawing a bit over 20.

I've taken two long road trips since getting into e bikes, and around the same time since getting a used PluginPrius. I promptly removed the passenger front seat and now am able to carry my folding BBSHD/Rohloff'd Montague there, with plenty of room to sleep in the back left over, all with 50 MPG economy. It is great fun and can be a welcome diversion on a long boring drive, when you see a point of interest and you know you can be riding off to check it out in 3 minutes or so after parking, with a freshly charged battery. There's something really cool about driving while charging your ebike on a road trip, it really adds something to the drive. In my case, with my bike carried inside I lose no MPG to aero drag, plus the dark tinted windows make it real stealthy, it's like I have a secret weapon in there!

Sometimes a solution is so simple you just can't see it. I have been putting my cruiser in my pickup and going in search of new bike paths to explore. I have been really enjoying myself and want to get some kind of camper to extend the exploring. My long oversized cruiser limits the choices available to me. A folding paratrooper can fit anywhere. All I will have to change is the seat and handle bars. I have read all of your posts. I don't know why the idea didn't sink in sooner............calfee

[CPG]

Heat on the charger seems to be the same, plugged in at home or via the mod sine wave inverter.

When I ride in town at the local trails, (rarely) I always see the parking lot full of Subaru's and SUV's, so far I'm the only Prius driver. The Montague fits in the back of a Metro or other very small car, easily. It also was particularly well suited frame wise for the BBSHD conversion (or the BBSO2, my first build). The economy of the Prius, not to mention the good sound system/SAT radio, make it pretty easy to justify a road trip to a bike destination. I also have bike racks for my big pickup and Toyota RAV4, (same rack, they plug into the receiver hitch) but unless I need 4 wheel drive they stay garaged, besides being many times as cheap to operate, the Prius is more fun to drive and way more comfortable. Buy used and they are affordable, plus they consistently rate in the top ten of the most reliable cars OF ANY KIND on the road!

[AZguy]

I'd be super surprised if a sine-wave inverter brought anything to the table aside from cost for a ebike battery charger. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the chargers would be most efficient with >100VDC...