Quality Charger

[dpayne]

Looking for a good quality Charger without breaking the bank.

 

[Ebiker01]

I just got a Grin SATIATOR.
300$ and it can charge at 8amps any 24/36/48voltage.
Any other chargers are trash.
The Luna cycles ones deserve a mention also ! 100$ 3/4/5 amps .

5 amps one 600wh bat. Charge 15-90%=111minutes

8amps same batery-55minutes

55 very precious minutes saved on the road,

55minutes X 35-40X usage/year.= Around 2.000minutes or 35hours saved per year not waiting in some Starbucks on the road to fill up the lithium cells.

Is 40hours saved per year worth an extra 200$ ? Or 80hours if used 3-4x/week.

 

[smorgasbord]

The Satiator is a great charger, but it's quite pricey.
I'd also be careful about high charge rates. They can hurt battery longevity. Even worse, the connectors on some batteries are not rated to handle 8 amps. You can set the Satiator up to charge slower, so that's not a problem - except for the cost.
For many of us, we ride once a day so overnight charging is just fine - OR we commute and can charge for the return trip while at work.
The Luna chargers are a good compromise for flexibility and price. Faster than stock chargers (but not too fast) and can be set to not fully charge (which can help battery life) when you don't need it.

 

[Ebiker01]

Yes, it took me one year to finally decide and get it.
But it’s like a computer, it has many settings.
Adjusting the resistance of the charging cable based on it’s lenght ? That’s sound like Nasa stuff and i like this things...

8amps is not bad at all for a quality cells. The proffesionals are saying that that is only close to 50% of how much it can handle.

Besides that , it has the protection like trip charging below sets amp rates and other geeky settings, firmware updates , etc.

The manual is 28pages long all in English, you know how most manuals would have 5-6languages bundled up in one manual...

And it’s only 1kg compared to 5kg of a spare battery. Most quality batteries have strong and reliable connectors. Cheaper ones may melt....

 

[tomjasz]

I just got a Grin SATIATOR.
300$ and it can charge at 8amps any 24/36/48voltage.

I bought the first run and the original still hums along. Sadly to many batteries, regardless of the BMS capable of high charge rates are using 5.5mm X 2.1mm barrel plugs. 99% of which are rated for less than 1A. Scary stuff IMO.

The Satiator is a great charger, but it's quite pricey.

Consider the cost of a good battery pack. If the data on variable charging rates and charge levels is correct a proper charger can DOUBLE battery life. In my previous life I'd have to show the CFO a short payback on a large equipment purchase. What did it save? What was the expected duty life, and more... When I looked at a Satiator from that standpoint it appeared to be a winner. INDEED years later it still is. One charger for 36V 48V and 52V.

The Luna chargers are a good compromise for flexibility and price.

With their chargers I'd need to spend nearly the price of a Satiator and accept far fewer useful features and a warranty that may be among the worst on the market. Short of an Aliexpress purchase. (I have two that lasted as long as the warranty coverage. At that time 90 days)

I can mount the Satiator on my bike, track battery charges, prep some batteries for winter storage, and so much more.

DISCLAIMER. Yes I have sold them. I only sell them to shops in order to insure I can give adequate support.

 

[Ebiker01]

I bought the first run and the original still hums along. Sadly to many batteries, regardless of the BMS capable of high charge rates are using 5.5mm X 2.1mm barrel plugs. 99% of which are rated for less than 1A. Scary stuff IMO.

Consider the cost of a good battery pack. If the data on variable charging rates and charge levels is correct a proper charger can DOUBLE battery life. In my previous life I'd have to show the CFO a short payback on a large equipment purchase. What did it save? What was the expected duty life, and more... When I looked at a Satiator from that standpoint it appeared to be a winner. INDEED years later it still is. One charger for 36V 48V and 52V.

With their chargers I'd need to spend nearly the price of a Satiator and accept far fewer useful features and a warranty that may be among the worst on the market. Short of an Aliexpress purchase. (I have two that lasted as long as the warranty coverage. At that time 90 days)

I can mount the Satiator on my bike, track battery charges, prep some batteries for winter storage, and so much more.

DISCLAIMER. Yes I have sold them. I only sell them to shops in order to insure I can give adequate support.

For the cheaper batteries, what exactly are those “barrel plugs” ??

The only drawback is that if having two different ebikes, different manufacturers, need 2 Satiators.

B/c the charge ports are different. Or maybe one can be modified To have same port.

 

[tomjasz]

need 2 Satiators

Nope, adapters are easy to make, or buy.

I have 4 different adapters and various configurations. I made a couple for member Vincent a few months ago. Remedial stuff for any LBS, or should be....

 

[Ebiker01]

Nope, adapters are easy to make, or buy.

I have 4 different adapters and various configurations. I made a couple for member Vincent a few months ago. Remedial stuff for any LBS, or should be....

And that one connects from where to where ?


I’m going to use it for the BH ebike and they ,Grin , don’t make any adaptor for this brand proprietary Singatron plug.

That’s why i have to unsolder the original cable and solder the new one from Bh.

And say if i get a Haibike or Stromer It will be all different ports , will need other Satiator b/c had alreadu modified it for the Bh and won’t take the adaptor that Grin sells.

 

[tomjasz]

The barrel is a common connector on many batteries. Apparetntly not yours...

You bought a XLR to some connector, with the Satiator? I have one with Anderson connectors. SO I create an adapter. Anderson Powerpole to whatever the battery port is. If Ihad the pictures XLR to XT60 I'd create a XT 60 to the appropriate battery input.

 

[Ebiker01]

I didn’t get any of the XLR to “x” adapters b/c they weren’t the proper fit for the Bh, instead thinking that i will just remove the whole main cable and resolder the one from my bike’s charger.

Now, i see , i can get an XLR to XT 60 or Rosenberg or 4pin XLR and THEN Make or LOOK on how to make another adapter from that one ??

So, main cable-adapter 1 XLR to “x”- adapter 2 “x” to the port for BH ?

2 adapters for 1 cable , right ..

and if i need for a dif. Ebike, the 2nd adapter gets changed.

Now i get it.

 

[Ebiker01]

But having 2 adapters, meaning many connections involved doesn’t affect the chArge ?

Like a slight loss in the current being sent ?

 

[smorgasbord]

Consider the cost of a good battery pack. If the data on variable charging rates and charge levels is correct a proper charger can DOUBLE battery life. ... One charger for 36V 48V and 52V.

With their chargers I'd need to spend nearly the price of a Satiator and accept far fewer useful features and a warranty that may be among the worst on the market.

Like I said, you can get the same battery life extending charge cycles with the adjustable Luna chargers at 1/3 the cost. I think the "Double life" claim is overblown, despite the data from Grin. And I think a 90% charge gets most of the life extension credit without impacting usable range as much. Note that draining to near zero is also bad for the battery, so if charging to 80% means you've got a flashing bar for the last 5 miles, you've lost the battery life extending attributes anyway.

And while with the Satiator one charger can charge different voltage batteries, I suspect many of us have just one eBike, or even with multiple eBikes, all the batteries at the same voltage. Plus, if you're using one charger for all your eBikes, then the faster charging aspect is lost, as you now have to charge them back to back instead of simultaneously.

No argument on Luna's warranty.

 

[tomjasz]

What happens with a fair number of eBike riders is discovering one bike doesn’t do all. I have scores of customers with at least two different voltages. 2 batteries, 48v and 52v ownership isn’t increasingly more common. Luna licks us in to two of three options. Satiators can track a batteries life and function and give us a much broader and useful range of functions.

That said the Satiator do much more than just charge. But it means taking the time to review the manual snd underdtand the features and improvements. For some me it’s a “meh“, so what. For others it’s a battery management charger that can actually add value to a battery. I sold dozens of Luna chargers when I did support for them. It was the most returned and most troublesome product I supported. My experience with the Satiator is in total contrast. Incredibly low, actually almost non existent, return rates. Luna can’t sell Satiators and as a result they have been completely negative about Satiators. Labeling them as glitchy and hard to program. In fact the criticisms are due to interpersonal issues completely unrelated to facts and function.

 

[tomjasz]

But having 2 adapters, meaning many connections involved doesn’t affect the chArge ?

Like a slight loss in the current being sent ?

No issue with varied connectors. I suspect yours isn’t proprietary, just hard to find. I’m doing some searching. A couple of USA electronics sources have products from the same connector maker. The trick is finding someone to sell one piece.

i had to buy 100, $200 plus shipping and tariff to make adapters for battery builders using Cusmade plugs.

bike builders do not use custom connectors. Everyone, with few exceptions use a connector already on the market. FINDING the source is the adventure.

 

[tomjasz]

Like I said, you can get the same battery life extending charge cycles with the adjustable Luna chargers at 1/3 the cost. I think the "Double life" claim is overblown, despite the data from Grin. And I think a 90% charge gets most of the life extension credit without impacting usable range as much. Note that draining to near zero is also bad for the battery, so if charging to 80% means you've got a flashing bar for the last 5 miles, you've lost the battery life extending attributes anyway.

And while with the Satiator one charger can charge different voltage batteries, I suspect many of us have just one eBike, or even with multiple eBikes, all the batteries at the same voltage. Plus, if you're using one charger for all your eBikes, then the faster charging aspect is lost, as you now have to charge them back to back instead of simultaneously.

No argument on Luna's warranty.

No, just no. There’s no comparison in terms of features and function. Overblown? Again, no. The data is out there. If you decide to not trust the science and testing, that’s on you. It seems we’ve become a culture that values opinion over fact. There’s lots of research clearly demonstrating that charge levels prolong battery life.
it’s a value judgement. If $300 is out of a riders budget then it’s not a good deal. But only because the buyer hasn’t sorted the difference in functions against value. I get that not everyone can afford a Satiator. But if I review its value to me based on my limited experience with hundreds of Charger sales weigh the advantages, it’s a winner. But as always, YMMV. I could use a $10 fanless charger, a timer, with a multimeter and charge my batteries to a predetermined level. I could easily charge at any given level. But I choose to use a charger that can track my battery, review my battery history, and give me incredible value. Again YMMV, but my batteries will outlast yours.

 

[Ebiker01]

It should be not debate amongst the connoisseurs about the best charger- that is Grin Satiator. Again a 28page manual and each page with valuble information, settings , FOR A CHARGER.
We barely wrote here in this thread to cover a few pages ...
Now to have newbies involved and argue w/o knowing the facts is almost a futile exercise.

 

[Scott Adams]

ok, the Satiator is a fine charger, which I own, though I would not say that everyone needs one

that said, here are two further points regarding the Satiator-

it is highly water resistant and shock proof, making it a good travel companion on rides and a must on tours

buying one helps to support Grin Tech, which means alot to me, although it may not matter to others

 

[Ebiker01]

No issue with varied connectors. I suspect yours isn’t proprietary, just hard to find. I’m doing some searching. A couple of USA electronics sources have products from the same connector maker. The trick is finding someone to sell one piece.

i had to buy 100, $200 plus shipping and tariff to make adapters for battery builders using Cusmade plugs.

bike builders do not use custom connectors. Everyone, with few exceptions use a connector already on the market. FINDING the source is the adventure.

Thomas, i really appreciate sharing all this valuable info anD advice. I’ve learned for the past 2years and continuing to learn about The universe of ebiking....there are many galaxies here

I was trying to send you a PM, but couldn’t find the way how to...

So, I would need to find or source any XT 60/90 / Rosenberg/XLR 4pins or common connectors to the one that’s made FOR the BH.

OR can just cut the cable of the BH charger (the one going into the ebike charging port) and splice it into the end of the XLR to XT 60 adapter.

Meaning from XT60 it will connect to my cable using an XT90. Or is it XT90 to XT60 ? A little lost throughout the connectors world.

Is that correct that last idea ?

 

[Ebiker01]

ok, the Satiator is a fine charger, which I own, though I would not say that everyone needs one

that said, here are two further points regarding the Satiator-

it is highly water resistant and shock proof, making it a good travel companion on rides and a must on tours

buying one helps to support Grin Tech, which means alot to me, although it may not matter to others

It’s actually fully waterproof unless someone decides to tAke that solid plastic vent cap out of the charger.

If they had made some kind of a bike tube strap or carrier it would have been perfect.
This way it could have stayed secured to the frame and charge on a whim. A retractable charging cord would have been another nice feature. That can be bought aftermarket actually.

Something like what Abus Bordo has ,that hard case that secures to the bike , that’s what is missing.

We should make a group:
The Grin Satiator Forum. Or Grin Tech Forum, since that would cover other masterpiece items from that company.

 

[Feliz]

I've picked up various proprietory connectors by going to the bike shops in our town and asking for bad chargers that have been returned. I cut off the fitting and make my own charging cords/adapters. I have two Grin chargers, one came with my Watt Wagon Commuter and one I purchased on a visit to Grin and I also have a Luna, I use them all but the Luna is a toy compared to the Satiator. I also have a friend who owns a ebike store and just happens to be an electrical engineer, he always manages to come up with the fittings I need.