Charging Rates and Types of Chargers
– Charging rates are often measured using the C-rate, which is the charge or discharge current divided by the battery’s capacity.
– The C-rate is a measure of how quickly a battery can be charged or discharged.
– Simple chargers supply a constant DC or pulsed DC power source to the battery being charged.
– AC-powered battery chargers have higher ripple current and voltage due to their inexpensive design.
– Fast chargers use control circuitry to rapidly charge batteries without damaging the cells.
– Three-stage chargers apply a 3-stage charging scheme to accelerate charging time and provide continuous charging.
Induction-Powered Chargers and Charger Limitations
– Inductive battery chargers use electromagnetic induction to charge batteries without the need for metal contacts.
– Inductive chargers eliminate the risk of electrocution since there are no open electrical contacts.
– Chargers with temperature or voltage sensing circuits and microprocessor controllers ensure safe charging.
– Different battery types have different charging requirements and may be damaged or even explode if not charged correctly.
– Some newer chargers, like solid-state chargers, overcome the limitations of traditional liquid batteries.
Smart Chargers and Motion-Powered Chargers
– Smart chargers can modify their charging parameters based on the condition of the battery.
– Smart chargers employ cut-off systems to prevent overcharging.
– Some devices can charge batteries using energy from human motion, such as walking.
– Motion-powered chargers harness energy from human motion and are not widely commercially successful.
Pulse Chargers and Solar Chargers
– Pulse chargers use a series of electrical pulses to charge batteries and extend their service life.
– Pulse charging breaks down lead-sulfate crystals in lead-acid batteries.
– Solar chargers convert light energy into low voltage DC current.
– Portable solar chargers can charge in low light conditions like sunset.
– Fixed mount solar chargers are connected to the electrical grid.
Timer-Based Chargers and Additional Battery Charger Types
– Timer chargers terminate the output after a predetermined time interval.
– Timer-based chargers have the drawback of overcharging partially discharged batteries.
– DC-DC chargers are used to charge one battery with another battery of the same voltage.
– Solar chargers utilize MPPT technology for efficient charging from solar panels.
– Charger for vehicles includes modular chargers for fuel vehicle starter batteries and EV battery pack chargers.
– Electric vehicle batteries can be charged by onboard or power-factor correction (PFC) chargers.
– Charge stations are a network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
– Power banks have features such as voltage conversion, circuit protection, and additional functionalities.
– Battery cases provide power delivery for mobile phones and cameras.
– Rental/exchange services offer power bank rental or subscription options.
– Mobile phone chargers are power adapters that provide a power source for the charging circuitry within the phone.
– Stationary battery plants are used in telecommunications, electric power, and computer uninterruptible power supply facilities.
– Prolonging battery life involves avoiding excessive charging current, lengthy overcharging, and fully discharging lithium-ion batteries. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_charging
A battery charger, recharger, or simply charger, is a device that stores energy in a battery by running an electric current through it. The charging protocol (how much voltage or current for how long, and what to do when charging is complete) depends on the size and type of the battery being charged. Some battery types have high tolerance for overcharging (i.e., continued charging after the battery has been fully charged) and can be recharged by connection to a constant voltage source or a constant current source, depending on battery type. Simple chargers of this type must be manually disconnected at the end of the charge cycle. Other battery types use a timer to cut off when charging should be complete. Other battery types cannot withstand over-charging, becoming damaged (reduced capacity, reduced lifetime), over heating or even exploding. The charger may have temperature or voltage sensing circuits and a microprocessor controller to safely adjust the charging current and voltage, determine the state of charge, and cut off at the end of charge. Chargers may elevate the output voltage proportionally with current to compensate for impedance in the wires.
A trickle charger provides a relatively small amount of current, only enough to counteract self-discharge of a battery that is idle for a long time. Some battery types cannot tolerate trickle charging; attempts to do so may result in damage. Lithium-ion batteries cannot handle indefinite trickle charging. Slow battery chargers may take several hours to complete a charge. High-rate chargers may restore most capacity much faster, but high rate chargers can be more than some battery types can tolerate. Such batteries require active monitoring of the battery to protect it from overcharging. Electric vehicles ideally need high-rate chargers. For public access, installation of such chargers and the distribution support for them is an issue in the proposed adoption of electric cars.
