Port style to use with 12s vs 6s battery packs...

[scoot-e]

Question for charging:

I notice that the 6s 10ah or smaller scooter ports seem to be like the attached pic 1a/1b whereas the 12s 10-15ah or higher seem to be like the attached pic 2a/2b (XLR three pin style).

Question: Can one use the 1a/1b style to charge 12s or is it too small a gauge/related issue or is it no problem? I like the smaller space it takes up vs the XLR style ports/plugs and it looks cleaner...

 

[amberwolf]

You can use any connector you like, but:

The little DC-jack type connectors don't carry lots of current, and they're easy to short out the jack side if conductive debris gets into it. They also can't easily be panel mounted (though they make versions that can be), unless you solder them to a PCB or glue them down to something. IF they are soldered to PCBs then they need strain relief or they break off from repeated plugin forces. The little center pins can also be easy to bend or break on the smaller types, with frequent use, depending on mounting method and handling. Under higher voltages and currents, if the machining is loose between pin size on jack and hole size on plug, you could get arcing between them if they don't make full contact.

While probably not an issue with the voltages you're talking about, the closer together conductors are without insulators between them, the mroe likely arcing is to happen on it's own.



The XLR types can usually carry more current (though not designed for a lot), are not normally prone to the arcing issues vs machining tolerance, and can take more abuse of the connector itself, and are also easier to find panel mount versions, and less vulnerable to the shorting of pins on the jack by debris (but are much MORE vulnerable to shorting on the plug side, albeit it requires much larger debris to bridge the pins).


I think it's also easier to find weatherproof or resistant covers for the XLR vs the DC-jack style.

 

[scoot-e]

So Amberwolf - if the amperage is around 4a for charging purposes at 50.4v or 63v (either 12s or 15s) for 10-15ah capacity batts do you think that amount of current would be an issue for either style plug? (assuming both are properly insulated, isolated and robust/free of debris)...

Thx again

 

[Gregory]

This data sheet says 15A for XLR with soldered connections.

These DC barrel jack are 5A+. But cheapo ones will not be rated as highly (ie using nickel plated steel rather than copper for the contacts). Use wires as thick as possible to wick away heat.

 

[scoot-e]

Thx good info!