Battery Charger, JohnT

Geo-TH,In · Jan 5, 2012

John, Before you buy an expensive battery charger to bring your dead batteries back to life, try this. Get a 24 hour timer from Menards. They sell one that you can turn it on for 15 minutes and then it stays off for 15 minutes. Set up timer so it will turn on 48 times and off 48 times. Connect a smart charger to the timer. I used a 15amp / 2 amp sears smart charger. Connected charger, using the 15 amp setting, to a 6 year old battery that had, what I thought was a shorted cell. 5 of the cells would take a charge and one wouldn't. In less than 24 hours the bad cell showed a full charge. Prior to that nothing seemed to wake up that cell. Only time will tell if the cell stays up. I used a hydrometer to measure the conditions of the cells. Keep you posted.
George

John T · Jan 5, 2012

Thanks ,,,,, I dont have any dead batteries so far at least Im mainly lookin for a smart multi stage charger to extend expensive battery life.

As I understand it (our friend LJD is sharp as a tack on this) Bulk stage begins the initial charge at high voltage and high current thennnnnnnnnn once its up to a certain level it backs off to the slower absorption stage for a full charge and then in the float stage it maintains the battery voltage at a lower level a bit over 13 volts.

HOWEVER what I think youre talking about and accomplishing is EQUALIZATION when a high voltage like 16 is used to get rid of plate sulfation deposits and it cant be left too long or it damages the plates AND THATS WHY THE TIMING BECOMES NECESSARY

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HELP

John T

guido · Jan 5, 2012

Hello George Marsh,
That method of charging will work on other types of batteries, including the cordless drill ones.
Most people take the battery off charge as the charger comes to a full charge light.
With a weak cell, as in your case, the charger will false peak. Letting the pack cool and giving it a second shot will put the pack in a better state of charge.
Good post! I hope lots of people read your post, it will keep many batteries out of the junk heap!
Guido.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 5, 2012

Hello GUIDO,
What type cordless drill batteries are you talking about, Ni-Cd, Li-ion or Ni-Metal? I stopped buying Ni-Cd batteries. They would only last me about 2 years. I even tried zapping them with about 36 volts from a mig. No luck.

I'm impressed with Ni-metal batteries. They seem to last longer and hand hold more energy than a Li-ion.

I'm amazed how well the old sears smart charger seems to be working out. Especially after I just pruchased an expensive charger people on YT recommended buying to desulfate batteries. Kinda wished I had saved my money.

George

Battery Charger, JohnT

Geo-TH,In

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John T

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guido

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Geo-TH,In

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