Opinions [Isolated Charger]

["Jon \"Sheer\" Pullen" <sheer@brassrat.net>]

What follows are *my opinions*. They should not be taken as worth anything
more than that.

> 2. Grounding helps, but you are going to be charging in many different
> places.  Do you test every outlet's ground?  What if you're far from home
> and have to take what you can get?

This is a valid point.. however, if the _charger_ has a GFI, it will trip
regardless of whether or not the outlet is grounded.

> 3. GFIs are essential to safety, too, but how many people on this list
have
> grown exasperated at the K&W BC-20 charger's tripping GFI and bypassed it?
> If you have another type of nonisolated charger, does your charger have a
> GFI?  If not, why not?

Because I always, always, _always_ charge at home, in my nice cozy GFI'd
outlet. The only time I have charged elsewhere I ended up regretting it - I
would have been better off to drive home on the charge I had [enough, but
'just barely']. Until I have a computer controlling my charger, my charging
is and must be a carefully performed routine, including checking the car
regularly and deliberately undercharging a few percent.

But, you are of course correct. My car will have a GFI under the hood, a 30
amp job inside some sort of creative li'l breaker panel that will not have
the UL mark, but will have passed the common sense test.

Among other things, having a GFI under the hood will let it trip even if the
ground pin isn't connected. Yes, the GFI could fail, and I'd really like a
'software' GFI that can 'self test' itself by turning on a deliberate small
leak. But that may prove to be overambitious. Then again, they sell GFIs for
$20, how complicated can they possibly be?

> I agree, an isolated charger is not the "be-all-end-all" of safety.  But
it
> is one more component, and I think an important one, in a chain of safety
> devices: charger isolation, pack insulation and isolation, grounding, GFI.

Only if that isolated charger is 95%+ efficient. Otherwise, you're trading a
not-very-likely death scenereo for irresponsable use of resources.

I used to have one of those old tube tape recorders. It ticked the hands
some, if one was grounded one had to be careful with the mic. But it never
felt like the kind of thing that would kill someone.

I realize that comes out harsh, but that is my honest opinion and I can
defend it.

> When you convert a vehicle, you are going to spend at least $6,000 to
> $10,000 on parts, possibly much more.  How much will a high quality 230
volt
> GFI add -- $50-100?  How much more for an isolated charger -- a few
hundred?

This isn't a money issue for me. This is a efficiency issue. However, many
have made the _quite_ valid point that with flooded batteries, it's
basically impossible to get good isolation. I accept that flooded cars
should always [unless they have completely plastic, sealed battery boxes]
have a GFI AND a isolated charger.

S.