What do I need to buy to charge 12 Nissan Leaf batteries

[Shero]

Hi. I've converted a Smart Roadster with a Curtis 1238/6501 Controller and AC35 motor. I bought 12 used Leaf batteries and the car is basically running and almost ready to put on the road.. except!... partly due to a lack of knowledge, I haven't sorted out the battery charging.

I've done the conversion on the cheap, sourcing parts from ebay over the years but it's always suffered from a lack of time so it's taken me a long time, the car really has to be on the road this year otherwise it's never going to get finished.

So my question is, what off the shelf system do I just need to go and buy to end up with a suitable BMS and charger that's just going to work for these cells?. I've periodically looked around but it's never clear what I should buy.

In short the spec is 24s 3.6/4.1v cells so peak 98v, I'd prefer a BMS but presume it's best not to use the cheap chinese ones.. are there any nice chargers, within a reasonable budget that would suit this setup?.

Many thanks for any help.

 

[LeftieBiker]

I suggest you try also posting this question at endlesssphere.com, as there are only a very people here, if any, working with fractional packs. My signature suggests that I'm one of them, but my Vectrix was converted by someone else and it has no BMS - just balance leads for the cells. Leaf cells are somewhat popular with small EV builders, though, and the above site should have existing threads on them, or at least people with more knowledge of them.

 

[alozzy]

You might also want to reach out to Emile Nijssen @ Muxsan for some ideas about where to source a decent BMS:

https://muxsan.com/

This might be a good starting place, but I'm no expert: http://www.rec-bms.com/BMS.html

I mention that vendor only because I came across this post on using a REC BMS for a 48V RV project here:

http://www.beginningfromthismorning.com/house-batteries-part-2/

Another possibility: https://www.orionbms.com/products/orion-bms-standard

 

[powersurge]

I have made Lithium battery packs for my electric bicycle. I don't know how BIG your batter pack is... (AH?, KWH?)

The important thing is to get a Lithium battery charger which is rated for the total voltage of the pack. E.G., 36, 48, 72 volts.

I do not know if the Leaf batteries are anything different, but if you add your individual batteries to total the voltages of these chargers, I don't think you will have a problem because they are made to stop charging at the correct voltage.

If you have a small battery, the chargers from Ebikes would work... Mine charges up to 5 amps.

 

[LeftieBiker]

Actually, most battery chargers put out just a little more voltage than the pack's maximum, to get the electrons to flow in the right direction even when the pack is virtually full. My Vectrix charges to 147 volts, but the onboard charger outputs 148 volts. I'm sure the OP knows this, and is just looking for a good Battery Management System (BMS) for the pack.