Cascadable multi-charger and method for the operation thereof

A method for the operation of a multi-charger, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a plurality of charging devices to one another electrically conductively for charging a battery pack, each charging device comprising an input-side contact element configured as a power cable connection or an additional charging device connection or both as a power cable connection and an additional charging device connection, an output-side contact element configured to be connected electrically conductively to an input-side contact element of an additional charging device, internal conductors configured to provide an electrically conductive connection of the input-side contact element to the output-side contact element and for passing through a power supply voltage in contact with the input-side contact element, a charging device circuit internally connected to the power supply voltage, the charging device circuit comprising a voltage converter on a charging device circuit input side and a charging controller for charging a battery pack, wherein the power supply voltage can be converted by means of the voltage converter into a supply voltage for feeding the charging controller, a device positioning configuration transmitting a signal, which codes a position of the respective charging device in a line of charging devices comprising the plurality of charging devices and a comparison device comparing a position coded by the signal with a predefined or predefinable limit value and for a deactivation of the respective charging device upon reaching the limit value;
• with each charging device, transmitting a signal, which codes a position of each charging device in a line of charging devices comprising the plurality of charging devices, to the charging devices connected on the output side;
• with the comparison device of each charging device, comparing the position coded by the signal with a predefined or predefinable limit value and deactivating the respective charging device upon reaching the limit value.

A multi-charger comprising a plurality of charging devices, each charging device comprising:

• an input-side contact element configured as a power cable connection or an additional charging device connection or both as a power cable connection and an additional charging device connection;
• an output-side contact element configured to be connected electrically conductively to an input-side contact element of an additional charging device;
• internal conductors configured to provide an electrically conductive connection of the input-side contact element to the output-side contact element and for passing through a power supply voltage in contact with the input-side contact element;
• a charging device circuit internally connected to the power supply voltage, the charging device circuit comprising a voltage converter on a charging device circuit input side and a charging controller for charging a battery pack, wherein the power supply voltage can be converted by means of the voltage converter into a supply voltage for feeding the charging controller;
• a device positioning configuration transmitting a signal, which codes a position of the charging device in a line of charging devices comprising a plurality of charging devices;
• and
• a comparison device comparing a position coded by the signal with a predefined or predefinable limit value and for a deactivation of the charging device upon reaching the limit value.