12v battery charger8/7/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() If you're unsure of the composition of the batteries you want to charge and you can't find it written on the batteries, you'll need to contact the battery manufacturer. Not all chargers are compatible with all types of batteries. What type of battery will you be charging? Popular battery types include lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), and lead acid. You might need to buy more than one charger if you have a wide range of battery sizes because it's rare to find one charger that can take on both household and vehicle batteries. ![]() Think about what size batteries you need to charge and choose your charger accordingly. Some can charge just one type of battery, while others are universal models, compatible with batteries of various sizes. Prevent discharge when battery not in useīattery charger features to consider Battery size compatibilityīattery chargers come in a range of sizes to handle everything from small household batteries to car or boat batteries. These are for batteries that slowly lose power when not in use. Trickle chargers are like smart chargers, but instead of turning off completely when the battery is fully charged, these constantly "trickle" a small level of power into the battery. Shut off automatically when battery charged Smart chargers are worth the higher cost. Smart chargers have a microprocessor inside that enables the charger to tell when the batteries are fully charged, at which point they shut off automatically. Possible to over- or under-charge battery LED indicator light to show battery chargingĭon’t switch off when battery fully charged We'd only recommend a manual charger if you don't have much to spend. Manual battery chargers charge batteries continuously, but It's very easy to undercharge or overcharge your batteries. Types of battery chargers Manual battery chargers It's a bit like keeping a can of petrol in your workshop - in theory it's perfectly safe, but most of us would rather it was sat somewhere else.Make sure your battery charger comes with relevant leads or adapters necessary for charging different kinds of batteries. They can also leak acid, or explode if there is a fault. Fine in a draughty engine bay, not so great in your back room. Oh yes, car batteries release explosive gas when in use. For added niceness, use the Dangerous Prototypes ATX breakout board or your own implementation of the circuit. A friend has just blown the tracks off a circuit board by powering it from an un-fused motorcycle battery.ĪTX PSU's are ten a penny from any discarded PC, I would look at salvaging one or more. in short, when on charge, you can't really guarantee what the voltage will be or what the charger will do if you start drawing current.Īs mentioned above, car batteries (even tiny ones) can provide HUGE currents (250A+) so you absolutely MUST have a fuse on it. Some smart or conditioning ones may spike the voltage to de-sulphate the battery plates, or drop to trickle-charge mode, or charge in cycles. A battery, when idle, will be around 12v but it's not regulated and will drop with load & float back up when unloaded.Ĭar battery chargers are quite variable, and will not output a smooth or regulated voltage - mainly because they don't need to. A car battery & charger is not a good 12v supply - for a start, it's not 12v. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |