Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Fast Charging?
Will Fast Charging affect my battery life?
How will Fast Charging affect my battery warranty?
Will Fast Charging overheat my batteries?
What is a Battery Monitor and Identifier (BMID)?
The BMID is installed on the battery and has two parts:
• An electrolyte emersed thermistor that constantly monitors battery temperature which in turn signals the charger to adjust its algorithm for a safe charge, and
• An advanced electronic device that stores the identity and proper charging profile for a battery as well as documenting and storing charging event information including dates and times, begin and end voltages and currents, cumulative amp hours in the battery and more.
How come there is no battery "cool down" period with Fast Charging?
Cool down is required for conventional chargers for two reasons:
• Most conventional chargers must charge a battery at a standard temperature to be effective. A cooled-down, room temperature battery provides just such a standard temperature. Since PosiCharge constantly evaluates a battery’s temperature and adjusts the charger voltage, no cool-down period is necessary.
• Recent tests conducted by both PosiCharge and major battery manufacturers have confirmed that, in contrast to popular belief, batteries can in fact operate at higher temperatures than previously thought, without loss of life or damage to the battery. However, battery temperature must be measured to properly charge and prevent overcharging and/or excessive gassing.
What is the difference between opportunity charging and FAST charging with PosiCharge?
Opportunity charging commonly refers to the act of charging during breaks and shift changes with a conventional charger. PosiCharge, although it charges during breaks and shift changes, is a completely different, safer, and more powerful charging method. The greatest differences boil down to two issues:
1) Fast Charging puts significantly more energy into the battery during the quick charge, and
2) PosiChargers use a superior battery monitoring device to minimize heating by adjusting charging algorithms according to battery temperature. These devices also program the exact charging profile for the battery to prevent abusive overcharging typical of opportunity charging programs. Conventional chargers typically used for opportunity charging do not read battery state of charge and therefore can not prevent overcharging.
Will Fast Charging reduce my electricity costs?
What kind of information does the PosiCharge collect and store?
We’ve learned that one of the keys to a successful fast charge program is knowing exactly how and when people are using the system. Since any change is difficult to implement, we’ve built our software to track exactly who is charging and when. It reports beginning and ending voltage, current, and state of charge. Plus it records the cumulative Amp hours in the battery. With this information you’ll know exactly when batteries require maintenance and replacement. In some cases, you can manage your charging program with Fast Charging, and reduce your fleet size. The data provided by the BMID component of the PosiCharge system can help you evaluate fleet utilization and reduction.
This data can be read from the charger’s two-line digital display panel, or it can be downloaded to a PC for analysis and distribution.
Do I need special batteries to charge with PosiCharge?
PosiCharge is a universal battery charger capable of charging nearly all common industrial batteries. This means if you have a fleet with various battery sizes and types, you only need one charger to power them all. Fast charging, however, does require modification to the batteries so they can handle the high current charges.
DEKA, GNB, Crown Battery, C&D, Hawker, and Enersys all provide fast charge ready batteries. These new batteries differ from standard batteries in three ways. First, the cell-to-cell interconnects are made larger to handle high charging currents. Second, the battery connector is changed to accommodate the charger’s dual SBX or single Euro connections. And third, if required for maximum charge, most manufacturers can provide a special battery box that allows cooling air to flow through the battery pack.
Can I retrofit my current batteries?
What is the difference between the PosiCharge MVS parallel charger and a sequential multi-vehicle fast charger?
The difference between our multi-vehicle PosiCharge MVS parallel charger and the “sequencer” type fast chargers is apparent in the way available charging power is delivered.
Let’s use the example of 4 trucks connecting simultaneously. With parallel charging, the system looks at the power requirements of each truck – this is determined by the size and voltage of the battery and its current state of charge – then prioritizes all the available power and distributes it accordingly. As a truck’s requirement diminishes, the power it was pulling is automatically shifted to other vehicles to get all trucks recharged as fast as possible. All the power available is being used to recharge vehicles.
In contrast, a sequential charger will prioritize trucks, and then it will send an 8-minute charge to each truck one at a time. This wastes valuable charging power, slows recharge time considerably, and heats batteries unnecessarily.
The greater efficiency of the PosiCharge MVS means you can have more charge ports per system and get the same or better results than with a sequencer. This translates to reduced equipment and installation costs. It also highlights the fact that evaluating a fast charger based on cost per port can be misleading. You aren’t just buying hardware with a fast charger – you’re buying charging ability.