Charging Segs with an inverter....

[Nelda]

We purchased a 350 watt inverter to charge our two p model Segways while traveling in our motorhome. As soon as the second Segway was plugged in, the inverter went to battery overload. I read where it only takes 120 watts to charge a single Segway so it should have worked.
Our connection was to a single 12 volt battery with #14 wire connected to the inverter's #10 wires. Could this have been the problem?
We really need to find a way to charge the batteries while traveling. Sitting in the visitors parking lot or a laundromat for charging gets old real quick.
I will do a separate post on our 9,000 mile (so far) trip as we are still traveling.
I will do a report on being the first segs to tour the Adirondack and Shelbourne Museums as well as Monticello (Thomas Jefferson would have loved us but the ticket taker didn't.)
Nelda

[macgeek]

Nelda,
I also plan on using a inverter. You have to remember that when the seg FIRST starts a charge cycle, it is "peaking" for 6-10 Minutes. it 'peaks' at 200W, so two of them will peak at 400 Watts, THATS why your unit went off on overload.. charge one, then start the charge of segway #2 30 minutes later - Or buy a Bigger Inverter (a 1000W peak jobbie is only a few hundred dollars, not bad)

Jonathan

Segway - "Let's Roll"
Centaur - "Lets Roll on all fours"
www.segwaygeek.com

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

I recently bought a 500W inverter for less than $40 (Sam's Club).

And here's a 750W for arond $65.
http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_1954217911.1097693492_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccdfadcmkjkmjhecfkfcfkjdgoodflf.0&coe=0&oidPath=0%3a-23542%3a-32122%3a-32124%3a-32141%3a647705

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"

“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[Segway City]

http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6275

[terryp]

I believe that Segway recommends a 350W inverter for a single HT. I picked up a Coleman 400W unit at Fry's for $25, and it works great.

Segway - How do YOU get around?

[W9GFO]

I use a 400 watt inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter socket. I've blown the 10 amp fuse once in the last six months. When charging the HT it is the only thing plugged into the inverter.

Also, in my rig I have several 12 volt sockets to choose from. Some of them will trigger the inverter's low battery alarm. Just depends on the path they take to get to the battery.

Use one inverter per HT and utilize the shortest path to the batteries. Or get a larger inverter and wire it directly to the battery using really thick wire.

Rich H
Rock Springs, WY

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html

[Nelda]

thanks to all of you for answering me. The past threads have really helped. Traveling and checking the internet at the library doesn't leave me much time to research. Thanks again.
Nelda

[SegwayLongIsland]

a 400 watt inverter is fine for charging 2 Swgways...I do it with 2 I's.

The trick is to bring power from the car/truck's fuse box to the inverter using at least a 10 gauge wire.

Also, I had a problem using any Segway charging wire that used all three prongs. It kept giving me a fault indicator on the inverter. Two inverters later, I discovered I had to cut off the third (ground) prong (or use one of those three-two converter plugs and leave the wire disconnected.) I've discussed this with Segway and the best anyone can figure is that there is a difference in the grounding systems between the car and the Segway. The truck uses ground negative, but the Segway uses ground neutral.

I can plug in both "I" model segways dead at the same time and both charge fine ans fast! But don't do it with the engine off!

Good Luck...Wayne

[Lohja]

I have a Honda Mini-van with two plugs. The manual states that you shouldn't connect more than 100-watts total. A Segway battery charge may get up to 108-watts constant, One may work; but two will overload. A direct connection of the inverter to the car battery would work. The wire used to connect directly to the battery should be able to carry 20-amps. That would probably be a 12 AWG copper wire. Ten AWG would be better. As and alternate, charge one at a time.

[W9GFO]

It's not that a 400 watt inverter can't handle two HTs, it's that the vehicle wiring can't (often) handle the current - draws down the voltage which sets off the low battery alarm. Having the engine running helps a lot because it brings the supply voltage up.

Rich H

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html

[Ground Loop]

I think Rich and others nailed it -- At that kind of current draw, wire matters and the inverter is probably starving on undervoltage just from the wire loss and voltage sag.

Also, I don't know about your particular inverter, but I've seen quite a few with very "optimistic" wattage ratings. I have one that's the size of a pack of cigarettes claiming to be "500W".. Shyeahh..