Yesterday, we were saved the walk of shame, by the portacharger.
I had overestimated the battery left and the soft cut kicked in while I was still a mile from home.
At a bit more than a half mile, the max speed became intolerably slow, and I found a shade tree and attached portacharger to deck between my feet. It was still set to 8 amps output from the last use.
Fiona wanted to walk quickly home, despite the insane heat and humidity, and so I put skate in chariot, and followed her.
She quickly slowed and found some more shade, So I pulled the sk8 out of the chariot, she jumped in, and I hit the throttle and the soft cut was gone, and we cruised home at over 20mph/30kmh.
The 5.5x2.5 right angle barrel connectors I have been using, have been largely trouble free, despite my lack of confidence in the design. Mine do not have the opposing pin claspers/ Bifurcated tongs, which can grab either 2.1 or 2.5mm Pin. They just have the 2.5mm inner barrel and the contact with inner pin seems just incidental and if the pin were off center, then stronger contact would be insured.
So I stuck an Awl in there to bend the pin over and popped another 10 amp charge port fuse !.
Just kidding.
The right angle plug is basically a requirement for portacharger charge and ride, to tuck the wiring tight against the enclosure, keep it out of harms way, reduce the leverage that vibrations can apply.
I have hundreds of miles with the portacharger attached while rolling and the 5.5x2.5 receptacle is no doubt compromised. I have also had the spark when hooking the charger to it before the charger was powered up, and even my regular wattmeter alone will have a small spark/pop.
I have 5 new 5.5x2.5 charge ports, the all metal bodied ones that claim 10 amps rating, and they are not attracted to a magnet.
I wanted to rid myself of the open barrel type male connectors in favor of Bifurcated tongs. I saw some of the latter for a decent price and ordered them.
They arrived yesterday, and at first glance I was somewhat satisfied, but the magnet attracted them strongly.
Steel junk.
Waste of money.
Should be nickel plated brass or some other copper alloy.
Hunting for a better connector was frustrating as even the ones which claim 10 amps, could also just be highly resistive steel junk.
Long story somewhat shorter, SwitchCraft 760KH
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/switchcraft-inc/760KH/7219688
From what I read these are a respected manufacturer that is not going to cut every corner possible for maximum profit.
These do not have the 90 degree bend I desire for the portacharger, but I am going to make it conform to my wishes.
These have an actual threaded locking ring for mating with the SC PC712A receptacle, which I regret not ordering. This would require some modification to mount to my Thicc fiberglass enclosure, but could be done.
Sharp eyes will see that these are rated at 7.5 and 5 amps, but I suspect that they are far superior to the connectors I am using now which are surviving fine at 8 and 10 amps max.
I know most will want a burlier connector to be able to charge at far higher rates, but I do not ever expect to need to charge my current equipment faster than 10 amps, and my 10s2p is only 10AH nominal capacity, and I wont push the portacharger higher than 8 amps, and am unwilling to adopt an entirely new system. I just want to improve it.
I also want to be able to use the inline barrel wattmeter, whose male is a bifurcated tong capable of clasping a 2.1 or 2.5mm pin, but whose female 2.1 pin makes no contact with my Non bifurcated 5.5x2.5 barrel plugs.
I’ve more info on this product in this thread:
I’ve really grown to like using this meter on the bench. I am not concerned with it overheating at 8 amps. The heat seems to come most from the display. If I pull the plugs and place them up againt my cheek they are barely warm. I am more concerned with the leverage it can apply if I inadvertently tug the cord.
Most of my chargers are using the open barrel 5.5x2.5 male plugs though, which do not make proper contact with the Meter’s 2.1mm pin. I do have one pretty good bifurcated plug, but need to use an additional xt90 to xt-60 or 45amp Anderson powerpole inline.
I’ve got two of the SwitchCraft 760KHs ordered from digikey. About 25$ with tax and shipping.
Will report back when they arrive and I implement them and after I push them to 10 amps in a hot Florida garage.