Barrel size matters

[Gionnirocket]

Unless the battery has actual communication capabilities... Such as you can see real time battery stats on the display. The handshake is typically a voltage bounce or ground connection which can be easily faked/duplicated.
That said I don't see the lure of the Satiator unless you have many different batteries of different voltages and/or you need to keep detailed battery statistics like a bike shop may want to do.
Many much easier and cheaper ways to vary charge level imo

 

[DDBB]

Indeed. I use basic math and a timer to charge to approx 80% or whatever level I want/need but being used to hobby grade chargers with a plethora of information and then going to the black box "green light" ebike charger is kind of a bummer. I do like the ability to monitor the charge progress, stop the charge at precisely the voltage I want, etc. etc. Is the ability to do that worth over $300? I don't know

 

[PCeBiker]

You might be able to sorta splice the Satiator and your OEM charger together with switches to get your charger to wake up the battery, then have the Satiator take over?

That gets kinda complicated though, but you could probably find a way to conveniently get it to work.

I use basic math and a timer to charge to approx 80% or whatever level I want/need

I just use my Bench Charger to charge my batteries, and I'm adjusting the voltage and charge rate all the time.

I don't have the third communication wire though, so I don't have to deal with that crap.

I'd probably replace my BMS in my batteries if they needed a proprietary handshake.
I hate proprietary crap.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I hear you... I'm kinda the same.
If you're somewhat handy this is a relatively easy build @1/10 the price and I use it with 4 different chargers and a DC desktop power supply.
I charge to 51v every day... though you do have to one time calibrate for each charger.

$10 DIY Smart Charger Alternative / Updated_Ver 3.0 @<$30

I've been experimenting with an easier way to achieve a 70% - 90% charge or a storage charge for my battery other than just timing it and I came across an inexpensive solar charge controller that I thought I might be able to adapt. In the end I am able to achieve my goal, but it didn't end up...

forums.electricbikereview.com

https://forums.electricbikereview.com/attachments/pxl_20241103_185848111-jpg.185561/

In terms of longevity, the optimal charge voltage is 3.92V/cell. Battery experts believe that this threshold eliminates all voltage-related stresses; going lower may not gain further benefits but induce other symptoms
(See BU-808b: What causes Li-ion to die?)

 

[DDBB]

Yes, I believe someone else w/ my battery bought a satiator and when connected voltage was 12.5 and not the 48+ volts that the battery was actually at. I don't think he was able to get the satiator to start even with the "force start" feature. Bad handshake I guess? I would hate to spend all that money and then have to really mess with it to get it to work, assuming I can even find the correct connector. Of course I could always make my own with paper clips, how elegant!

 

[PCeBiker]

I don't think he was able to get the satiator to start even with the "force start" feature.

If you haven't already purchased a Satiator, then it's probably not a good investment.

Maybe you can talk to Grin to see if there is a software update that will enable the Satiator?

You're probably better off gutting your OEM charger and splicing it into @Gionnirocket 's smart charger project.

You'd save a lot of money and end up with the same thing.

 

[DDBB]

Doing the math really isn't very difficult. My charger charges my pack 1% for every 2 minutes on charge. I simply note the charge remaining at the end of the ride and then set an alarm to remind me to unplug the charger. I could get real fancy and put a timer on the charger. LOL. Of course accuracy isn't the best here but it's far better than those that just charge to 100% all the time and then let their battery sit for weeks. I've ordered a second charger out of fear that the company will go bust, as far as the battery itself goes, I would use one of the battery rebuilder options available to us. I've already emailed one of them and got a nice reply with price quote that seemed reasonable to replace all the cells in my 52 volt pack.

 

[DDBB]

If you haven't already purchased a Satiator, then it's probably not a good investment.

Maybe you can talk to Grin to see if there is a software update that will enable the Satiator?

You're probably better off gutting your OEM charger and splicing it into @Gionnirocket 's smart charger project.

You'd save a lot of money and end up with the same thing.

I did contact grin a few days ago and have yet to receive a reply. I contacted both their US distributor and the company itself

 

[Gionnirocket]

Doing the math really isn't very difficult. My charger charges my pack 1% for every 2 minutes on charge. I simply note the charge remaining at the end of the ride and then set an alarm to remind me to unplug the charger. I could get real fancy and put a timer on the charger. LOL. Of course accuracy isn't the best here but it's far better than those that just charge to 100% all the time and then let their battery sit for weeks. I've ordered a second charger out of fear that the company will go bust, as far as the battery itself goes, I would use one of the battery rebuilder options available to us. I've already emailed one of them and got a nice reply with price quote that seemed reasonable to replace all the cells in my 52 volt pack.

TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug can make it real easy to set up different timers and are easily adjusted.

 

[DDBB]

That's pretty cool. TBH, I'm never far from the battery while it's charging so simply setting an alarm on my smart phone has been fine for stopping a charge. The worst that can happen is I miss the alarm or it doesn't go off and the battery charges to 100%

 

[Gionnirocket]

That's pretty cool. TBH, I'm never far from the battery while it's charging so simply setting an alarm on my smart phone has been fine for stopping a charge. The worst that can happen is I miss the alarm or it doesn't go off and the battery charges to 100%

It does add a layer of safety as well as allowing for auto start as I do at 6am while I'm still in bed.

 

[PCeBiker]

I've ordered a second charger out of fear that the company will go bust,

Well, being as you have a second charger on the way, you can probably turn down one of them to not go to full charge.

I turned my Das-Kit charger down as far as it will go (53.0 V),..

The screws are hidden under the rubber foot pads,..

I did want to turn it down further, but that's as far as it would go and I didn't want to bother changing the trim pot or adding a resistor to turn it down further.

I use it to charge to about 85% or whatever 53V turns out to be.

You should have accessible trim pots in your charger unless it's a fully potted brick charger without a fan, then you'll need a hammer and chisel to get it open.

 

[6zfshdb]

If you do eventually get a Satiator, Grin makes this $12 raw ended cable that makes it easier to add a connector without cutting anything.

Satiator Output Cable (Unterminated)

Satiator DC Output Cable with 1m Lead Unterminated.

ebikes.ca

 

[6zfshdb]

You could also contact your bike maker and ask what that 3rd pin does, if anything.
Checking the voltage on the connector pins on both the charger and battery might tell you something. Won't help much if CANBUS or some other data transfer scheme is used.
You can also order a Satiator from Amazon. If it doesn't work, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund.

https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Satiator-Programmable-Electric-Battery/dp/B00VB2BXGG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=22FT3I9I2ATY1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3qvXR998iwiGo6xwM0gzFxPJJwm_0BUZqS4w5OiUj3qvgsXGLPgfzF-43R3EXcqsznwh6VBwm9A57__0qVz24-fj1JHvEChUHheYgkLLc2mfYk0cnYl1fVpmZ_zDctl9PflfRgOCc2SH6xcPviXLWxrAPKW8bXswxdvOz7VaPQTvUEq9A5hxQPsI7tXFp3AbbQiuADj0947q8Uooax0q7sNrX1ILTFZsWE4UWL6-N88._UqJ3WUpiLjT-KZCs76sxS9f5Ve7dkhKhhdO01ci3w0&dib_tag=se&keywords=grin%2Bsatiator%2Bcharger&qid=1743012370&sprefix=grin%2Bsatiator%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

That's pretty cool. TBH, I'm never far from the battery while it's charging so simply setting an alarm on my smart phone has been fine for stopping a charge. The worst that can happen is I miss the alarm or it doesn't go off and the battery charges to 100%

Timers are certainly a cheap and easy way to "custom" charge a battery. I used one a while back until I found the battery would self discharge back through the charger when the AC was disconnected. Only happens on one of my battery/charger combos though, but it might be worth checking yours. Of course it isn't an issue if you remember to disconnect the charger from the battery.

As a result, before I bought the Satiator, I used this 2 pole twist timer so both the AC and DC sides of the charger could be disconnected.

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Int-Mat-Ff412H-12Hr-Spr-Wound-Tmr/5606298?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=intermatic-shopping-pla-alone&utm_content=129568250556&utm_term=&category=g&creative=559566774706&audience=old-campaign&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy46_BhDOARIsAIvmcwOaqQ8dS-bN84xDLJg3p0N4VWtPEIimUeY8VTF_kkQVWMgm0cUlLL8aAsETEALw_wcB

It's also mechanical and immune from AC line issues, which can cause unexpected results with electronic timers.

 

[DDBB]

Well, the OEM charger has no screws holding it together and there is no fan so I'm afraid disassembly might could destroy it or at least make a mess. It's just a black plastic box with a green light and a red light. I hate dumb chargers but this is all I have at the moment. I'd love to be able to geek out with the satiator.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Again I doubt very much that the third pin does anything...
Communication takes two conductors.
Voltage bounce is done with the positive and negative of the charging circuit
It could be ground but I very much doubt it as I've yet to see or read that is the case with ebikes.
Ground is used on golf cart chargers as a lockout to prevent someone from driving away while plugged in.

That's why I went with my diy solution. You can splice the third conductor of the stock charger straight thru so it becomes a non issue.
Your soc may vary.....

 

[PCeBiker]

Well, the OEM charger has no screws holding it together and there is no fan so I'm afraid disassembly might could destroy it or at least make a mess.

Yeah, that how Proprietary chargers hide their secrets.

I've got one too, and I really like it. (although all my stuff has no 3rd wire)

The brick chargers do get warm but they don't get too hot.(don't cover them up.)
The potting material works as a heat sink so any components inside that tend to get hot can dump their heat, and the chargers are generally lower amp output as well as more efficient, so there's less heat to deal with.


I've got 3 batteries and keep two on the e-bike.
I charge them to ~52 volts, then before a ride, I'll use that charger to top up the battery I'm going to use first.

 

[PCeBiker]

View attachment 191236

It's also mechanical and immune from AC line issues, which can cause unexpected results with electronic timers.

I've got one of those wind up timers to turn off my RO filter.
I've had 4-5 floods in the past few years when it failed to shut off.

Make Sure That You Hear The Clock Ticking, or it isn't going to shut off.
I might have to wind er' up good a couple times then reset the time before it will start ticking.

The winder upper is on a clutch so you can't over wind or break the clock spring.
Sometimes the clutch slips to easily and doesn't wind the the spring.


The old-school commercial versions worked way better.
I remember ones that you couldn't under wind because it wouldn't engage if you didn't turn it far enough.


I think a wind powered winder upper would be pretty cool !!
I found this one,..



It's only fifteen bucks !!
I'm gunna gets me 1 to light my BBQ.

I'll feed the propane from my other BBQ into the intake and fire up the output to make a flame thrower.

I'm Gunna have Loads Of Fun this coming holiday weekend.
I'll invite the local fireman to the event.

Free and 's if they bring their fire hoses and put me out before the burns would leave a mark.

 

[DDBB]

LOL.. we had an RO water flood too. Left the house on vacation with the RO machine trickling into a 50 gallon garbage can.. Overlfowed and flooded the house while we were gone

 

[PCeBiker]

Now I fill a gallon jug in the sink and run the tube into it so spills go down the drain.

I ran the waste water tube into the back of the to not waste water. Any over flow goes into the bowl then down the drain.

I find that the best way to Idiot Proof anything is to be the Best Idiot that I can be and study the results.

Vado has a magical way of making stupid s*it happen.
I use it as a study aide.