ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2012 and older => Topic started by: rotoiti on May 17, 2012, 11:31:40 PM
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I would like to buy an extra power cable for the internal charger. The socket looks just like a PC power supply socket but most PC cables are 18 AWG which is way too small for charging the bike. I was looking for either 14 AWG or 12 AWG cable but had no luck finding anything relevant on Amazon.
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Search the 'net for computer stores, i.e. CDW etc.
Tripp Lite 14AWG 10 foot C13 NEMA 5-15P, search for " P007-010 "
http://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/Tripp-Lite-Heavy-Duty-power-cable-125-VAC-3-m/1636941.aspx?enkwrd=ALLPROD%3a%7cP007-010%7cAll%20Product%20Catalog (http://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/Tripp-Lite-Heavy-Duty-power-cable-125-VAC-3-m/1636941.aspx?enkwrd=ALLPROD%3a%7cP007-010%7cAll%20Product%20Catalog)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1416142&CatId=5306 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1416142&CatId=5306)
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I have been using a PC-cable for the past year without incident. The cable does not get hot and the charging rate is the same 4 hours for a full charge. I use the cable at home in my garage and use it everyday. Perhaps, I should replace it with a more robust cable?
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18 AWG is supposedly fine for a 10 amp load. 16 AWG for 13A, 14 AWG for 15A. I usually see 8-9 amps from my charger.
Monoprice is my standard go-to for cables.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022801&p_id=5293&seq=1&format=2 (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022801&p_id=5293&seq=1&format=2)
10 ft 14 AWG $4.73 + shipping ($6.90 shipping for me, ouch)
They have other lengths as well - 3, 6, 15, 25 foot.
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Monoprice is my standard go-to for cables.
Good one proto! I forgot all about Monoprice; guys up here do group buys from them due to the shipping rates ;)
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Last week I bought a 6' replacement power cable from Radio Shack for $10. I bought it just to carry around on the bike should I need a little juice when parked somewhere and forgot to bring the stock power cable. The cable is 18 gauge and is rated for 1350 watts. Since I have never seen more than a 950 watt draw from my charger, I figure that it should work well. I tried it out the other day and it did not get warm anywhere along the cord. So I stuffed it into the hole and it will be ready should I need it. Plus, if anyone sees it and decides to steal it, no great loss.
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The cable is 18 gauge and is rated for 1350 watts. Since I have never seen more than a 950 watt draw from my charger, I figure that it should work well.
Probably the cable is rated for amps instead of power, and they just calculate the power by 110v * amp rating = power rating. So that works out to about 12 amps.
(18 AWG would be fine for carrying 2 kW at a 240v supply, for example)
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Per the NEC, 18AWG copper wire is good to 14A, 16AWG is good to 18A, and 12AWG is good to 20A at 86 degF (though overcurrent protection/breaker ratings are 15A for 14AWG).
I still bought a 14AWG "computer" plug, found it on amazon, but I think the supplier ended up being Monoprice. I bought a 2-foot one I could plug into any of my extension cords.
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I took one of my 18 AWG PC cables laying around my house and charged the bike with it. The cable became warm to the touch within the first 10 minutes but not hot and the temperature stabilized. The insulation is rated for 60 degrees C, and the cable was significantly cooler than that. According to my kill-a-watt meter the bike was drawing about 7.5 amps.
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I just thought of something, hope it's not too late. Your IT section at work can probably give you a couple of 14 AWG power cables; a lot of rack mount servers come with both the standard "PC style" cables and rack PDU style cables, the "PC style" cables end up being put in storage or tossed out as most data centres use PDU's.
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I did cut the computer-end plug off one of my really cheap power cables (which I would not have used either for the Zero or a PC). I stick it in the power socket when I ride, to keep mud, dirt, etc. from getting in there.
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I did cut the computer-end plug off one of my really cheap power cables (which I would not have used either for the Zero or a PC). I stick it in the power socket when I ride, to keep mud, dirt, etc. from getting in there.
That's a great idea. After my one 'rain ride' I noted that socket looked very dirty, and thought it should be better protected. I'm going to do the same thing.
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I did cut the computer-end plug off one of my really cheap power cables (which I would not have used either for the Zero or a PC). I stick it in the power socket when I ride, to keep mud, dirt, etc. from getting in there.
Another one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas. Thanks! :)
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It works pretty well, and is probably one of the cheaper bike enhancements I've made :) Unfortunately, I left it in the bike when I took it to the dealer yesterday, so it might get lost.
But that has me thinking about my next design enhancement: leave a short length of cord on the plug, and attach that cut-off cord to the bike somewhere. Then I will always be able to find it, and unlike, say, a chain, the cord will be stiff enough that it won't whip around in the wind and scratch the bike's finish.
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Early-on, when I complained about the exposed charging contacts here, a nice fellow at Zero sent me (to my home at no charge) a blank charging cord plug that he said they had laying around the office, with its end cut off as mentioned by CIC. I have been using it whenever I go for a long ride to protect the three prongs.