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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Edipo76 on September 12, 2020, 10:25:25 PM

Title: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Edipo76 on September 12, 2020, 10:25:25 PM
hello everyone,
after lockdown, I realized that my zero fx 2018 no longer recharges at 100% but stops at 92% when I charge it slowly, if I use the quick power supply instead it reaches 100%.
What can it depend on and how to solve it?
Thanks
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: TEV on September 12, 2020, 10:29:39 PM
Usually that is a sign that your onboard charger is dying.
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Edipo76 on September 12, 2020, 10:34:41 PM
Better the on-board charger than the battery then, right? also because I can always finalize the charging with the external charger.
But is that integrated charger under warranty? The bike is from 2018.
Thanks
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Crissa on September 12, 2020, 11:43:18 PM
The charger is under the original warranty, not the battery warranty.  I don't know how long the warranty is for your model... You should check.  Sooner you report it, the more likely it is.

-Crissa
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 12, 2020, 11:59:18 PM
hello everyone,
after lockdown, I realized that my zero fx 2018 no longer recharges at 100% but stops at 92% when I charge it slowly, if I use the quick power supply instead it reaches 100%.
What can it depend on and how to solve it?
Thanks
Your OBC DC output voltage is low under the load of the battery. Common problem.  Unfortunately, the only fix is to replace the OBC.

You will probably  find later that the OBC will only charge to 90% and than 85%, etc. if it doesn't totally crap out first.

-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 13, 2020, 12:03:04 AM
The charger is under the original warranty, not the battery warranty.  I don't know how long the warranty is for your model... You should check.  Sooner you report it, the more likely it is.

-Crissa
I think the Zero bike warranty is two years, five years on the battery. Yeah, the charger is part of the bike.

Since it is a 2018 model, hopefully the bike was purchased after 17, September 2018. And gets reported ASAP.

-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Moto7575 on September 13, 2020, 01:13:10 PM
This is a know issue - a significant share of FX models seems to have this problem. If your bike is under warranty, warranty should apply.
If you bike is no more under warranty, you should try to reach an agreement - 2 years is much lower than the reasonable time you can expect this part to last.
If you agreement does not work, see a lawyer - this is a known issue Zero could have corrected.
If you have more money than you have time, buy a new charger.

See here : https://zeromanual.com/index.php?title=Onboard_Charger&oldid=5617
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Moto7575 on September 13, 2020, 01:20:19 PM
Here is the part reference for models up to Fxs 2017. it costs 250$/unit for a volume of 1000. I can't find the zero reference for this part.

Good news, the sheet says that the part has a 5 years warranty : The EVC-116-720 is protected by over voltage protection, over temperature protection and short circuit protection and backed by Green Watt Power’s Five Year Warranty.

 : https://www.batterypoweronline.com/markets/charging/720w-on-board-electric-vehicle-lithium-ion-battery-charger/#:~:text=The%20standard%20EVC%2D116%2D720,of%205.8%20to%206.2A%20.

Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 13, 2020, 07:26:55 PM
If you agreement does not work, see a lawyer -
Which will cost more than ten times the price of the charger, if you could find one who would take the case.

-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Moto7575 on September 13, 2020, 10:12:20 PM
This is just an investment, it will be paid back with a high chance - whereas paying for the charger is a net loss. But agree this should be a last option.
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 14, 2020, 03:01:23 AM
Good news, the sheet says that the part has a 5 years warranty : The EVC-116-720 is protected by over voltage protection, over temperature protection and short circuit protection and backed by Green Watt Power’s Five Year Warranty.
That is the first I have heard that. But that was from "Green Watt Power, a division of Calex Mfg. Co., Inc.," so perhaps it only applies when you buy it directly from Green Watt/Calex. 

Somebody should call Zero and see what they say about the charger warranty, as that is what counts. Perhaps Zero doesn't get the five year warranty so they can get them cheaper than they would otherwise. That means it's a good deal for us unless we are one of the few where it craps out between 3 an five years. :'(


-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Richard230 on September 14, 2020, 04:01:43 AM
If Calex sells their Green Watt charger directly to the public or to other manufacturers, I wonder what other products use it?
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: NoMoreIdeas on September 14, 2020, 09:25:22 PM
My '18 FX just started doing the same thing at 9400 miles. Off board charger charges it to 100% too.
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 14, 2020, 10:15:58 PM
My '18 FX just started doing the same thing at 9400 miles. Off board charger charges it to 100% too.
Come to think about it, I wouldn't even know if my Zeros  had that problem as I never charge with only the OBC. I always charge at least with 3KW and use 240 VAC.

-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: DonTom on September 16, 2020, 09:00:30 AM
If Calex sells their Green Watt charger directly to the public or to other manufacturers, I wonder what other products use it?
Perhaps some forklifts? The Delta-Q chargers were not originally designed for Zeros. They were designed for forklifts and small modifications made them ideal to work with Zero models.

Perhaps some forklifts use the Calex as an OBC? 

-Don-  Reno, NV
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Richard230 on September 16, 2020, 07:37:46 PM
If Calex sells their Green Watt charger directly to the public or to other manufacturers, I wonder what other products use it?
Perhaps some forklifts? The Delta-Q chargers were not originally designed for Zeros. They were designed for forklifts and small modifications made them ideal to work with Zero models.

Perhaps some forklifts use the Calex as an OBC? 

-Don-  Reno, NV

It seems unlikely that companies that run forklifts and the like would put up with any electronic device like a charger that was not very reliable and had a long lifespan - unlike the Zero OBC. But the Delta-Q chargers must be pretty good. When i visited Zero's factory during their 10th anniversary open house, I saw rows of the things charging newly assembled batteries. And there was not a Calex charger in sight.  ::)
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Shadow on September 18, 2020, 09:48:39 AM
...Delta-Q chargers must be pretty good. When i visited Zero's factory during their 10th anniversary open house, I saw rows of the things charging newly assembled batteries...
Ah, the famous Delta-Q array next to a household box fan for cooling.

Also I just found this super relevant video posted to YouTube:
2015 Zero FX Charging Super Charger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wX1xHWmqDI)
Title: Re: zero fx does not exceed 92% SoC in slow charge
Post by: Moto7575 on September 19, 2020, 12:59:02 PM
Thanks, very interesting.