DigiNow/Super Charger V1
From Unofficial Zero Manual
< DigiNow
This was DigiNow's initial aftermarket charger product, with a limited release in 2016 and eventually recalled / withdrawn in 2017 with the introduction of the V2.
- Product link
- DigiNow Super Charger V1 (courtesy of Internet Archive's wayback machine).
- Production
- This charging product went through an intense development and testing phase in late 2015.
- Due to manufacturing quality and contractual issues, this is now discontinued and has been replaced by the DigiNow Super Charger V2 sourced from a different vendor with more reliable technology.
- Historical Notes
- After an initial private testing phase by Terry Hershner and others, Brian Rice was contracted to document the product and help beta-test in an in-kind compensation deal.
- This documentation effort aimed to help guide Zero dealers and owners through the installation and safe operation of the equipment.
- This documentation also predates this wiki, and the wiki arose from the complications necessary in describing Zero's systems to people without Zero dealership licenses.
- For these reasons, its development is controversial but overall instrumental in community growth.
- Features
- Monolithic 12kW charging capability.
- Power Tank area fitment with forced-air cooling.
- WiFi access point serving up a simple JS+HTML web application to monitor and control the unit.
- Ordering
- Product is discontinued.
- Technology
- V1 was assembled as a homologated single 12kW high powered switching power supply derived from an existing generic unit to fit in the Zero tank area.
- V1 was not a solid state switching power supply, but a full wave bridge rectifier with an embedded controller board, limited circuit protections, and adequate if slightly flawed ingress protection.
- eMotorWerks product page for generic/programmable version
- Patrick Truchon described some more general information about it
- The control board sets up a WiFi access point with a mobile-web application server for adjusting how it operates once it's supplying power.
- The control board is powered from the external charging source.
- DigiNow has indicated that the V1 situation was difficult for some reason involving the supplier, but specifics are not commented on publicly yet.
- Enough V1 units worked reliably for customers in the field to provide a reasonable development platform for understanding the parameters of operation and compatibility issues with various charging station technologies, that fed into the V2 platform.