Portable propane-fueled battery charger

1. A battery charger comprising:

a housing that supports a battery connector configured to receive and support a battery pack, the battery connector including

electrical terminals configured to engage electrical terminals of the battery pack, and

a mechanical coupling configured to engage a mechanical interface of the battery pack;

a carrying handle coupled to the housing;

a propane fuel line;

an engine including an output shaft, the engine configured to receive propane via the propane fuel line and rotationally drive the output shaft;

an alternator including a rotor and stator coils, wherein the output shaft is mechanically coupled to the rotor, the rotor is rotationally driven by the output shaft, and an electrical current is induced in the stator coils by rotation of the rotor; and

an electrical circuit that receives the electrical current and is configured to

determine when the battery pack is coupled to the battery connector,

charge the battery pack based on the determination;

determine a state of charge of each of a plurality of battery packs coupled to the battery charger;

select, based on the state of charge, a selected battery pack from the plurality of battery packs; and

electrically connect the selected battery pack to a motor drive circuit, wherein the motor drive circuit supplies electrical current from the selected battery pack to power the alternator and start the engine.

2. A method of charging a battery pack, the method comprising:

receiving and supporting, by a battery connector of a housing, the battery pack, the battery connector including electrical terminals that engage electrical terminals of the battery pack, and a mechanical coupling that engages a mechanical interface of the battery pack;

receiving, by an engine, propane via a propane fuel line;

at a point when the engine is not operating, power an alternator with electrical current supplied by the battery pack coupled to the battery connector to start the engine;

rotationally driving an output shaft of the engine, the output shaft being mechanically coupled to a rotor of the alternator;

inducing an electrical current in stator coils of the alternator by the rotational driving of the output shaft;

providing the electrical current to an electrical circuit in the housing;

determining, with the electrical circuit, that the battery pack is coupled to the battery connector; and

charging, with the electrical circuit, the battery pack.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the battery pack is a first battery pack, the method further comprising charging, with the electrical circuit, a second battery pack.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein charging, with the electrical circuit, the first battery pack includes charging, with the electrical circuit, the first battery pack when the first battery pack is coupled to a first set of battery connectors, and wherein charging, with the electrical circuit, the second battery pack includes charging, with the electrical circuit, the second battery pack when the second battery pack is coupled to a second set of battery connectors.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising charging, with the electrical circuit, a third battery pack coupled to the first set of battery connectors when the electrical circuit determines that the first battery pack is fully charged.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising:

selectively controlling, with a first sequence switch, the electrical circuit to provide a first charging current through one of the first set of battery connectors; and

selectively controlling, with a second sequence switch, the electrical circuit to provide a second charging current through one of the second set of battery connectors.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a state of charge of each of a plurality of battery packs coupled to the battery connectors;

selecting, based on the state of charge, a selected battery pack from the plurality of battery packs;

electrically connecting, with the electrical circuit, the selected battery pack to a motor drive circuit; and

powering, via the motor drive circuit, the alternator with electrical current supplied by the selected battery pack to start the engine.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising adjusting a speed of the engine based on a charging current being provided to the battery pack.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, with a tilt switch, when a battery charger is tilted in excess of a predetermined tilt threshold; and

shutting down the engine, with the electrical circuit, when the tilt switch indicates that the battery charger is tilted in excess of the predetermined tilt threshold.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein starting the engine includes

receiving, from a toggle switch, a toggle switch signal indicative of a position of the toggle switch;

receiving, from an input unit, a start engine signal; and

when the toggle switch signal indicates that the toggle switch is in a first position, starting the engine.

11. A battery charger comprising:

a housing that supports a battery connector configured to receive and support a battery pack, the battery connector including

electrical terminals configured to engage electrical terminals of the battery pack, and

a mechanical coupling configured to engage a mechanical interface of the battery pack;

a carrying handle coupled to the housing;

a propane fuel line;

an engine including an output shaft, the engine configured to receive propane via the propane fuel line and rotationally drive the output shaft;

an alternator including a rotor and stator coils, wherein the output shaft is mechanically coupled to the rotor; and

an electrical circuit coupled to the stator coils and configured to

at a point when the engine is operating, receive an electrical current that is induced in the stator coils by rotation of the rotor and charge the battery pack with the electrical current, and

at a point when the engine is not operating, power the alternator with electrical current supplied by the battery pack coupled to the battery connector to start the engine.

12. The battery charger of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack is a first battery pack and the electrical circuit is configured to simultaneously charge a second battery pack.

13. The battery charger of claim 12 , further comprising a first set of battery connectors including the battery connector and a second set of battery connectors, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to simultaneously charge the first battery pack coupled to one of the first set of battery connectors and the second battery pack coupled to one of the second set of battery connectors.

14. The battery charger of claim 13 , wherein the electrical circuit is configured to charge a third battery pack coupled to the first set of battery connectors when the electrical circuit determines that the first battery pack is fully charged.

15. The battery charger of claim 13 , further comprising

a first sequence switch, wherein the first sequence switch is configured to selectively control the electrical circuit to provide a first charging current through one of the first set of battery connectors; and

a second sequence switch, wherein the second sequence switch is configured to selectively control the electrical circuit to provide a second charging current through one of the second set of battery connectors.

16. The battery charger of claim 11 , wherein the electrical circuit adjusts a speed of the engine based on a charging current being provided to the battery pack.

17. The battery charger of claim 11 , further comprising a tilt switch that indicates when the battery charger is tilted in excess of a predetermined tilt threshold, wherein the electrical circuit shuts down the engine when the tilt switch indicates that the battery charger is tilted in excess of the predetermined tilt threshold.

18. The battery charger of claim 11 , further comprising:

a toggle switch; and

an input unit;

wherein the engine is configured to start when the toggle switch is in a first position and the input unit is activated.

19. The battery charger of claim 11 , further comprising

a first plate that supports the engine and the alternator; and

a second plate that supports the electrical circuit,

wherein the carrying handle is coupled to the housing via a connection to the second plate and extends out of through-holes in the housing, and wherein the second plate is substantially parallel with the first plate.

20. The battery charger of claim 11 , further comprising a second battery connector coupled to the electrical circuit, wherein

the housing encloses the electrical circuit and includes a first side face and a second side face,

the electrical circuit is positioned between the first side face and the second side face,

the battery connector is positioned on the first side face of the housing, and

the second battery connector is positioned on the second side face of the housing.