On Sat, 01 Mar 2014 09:53:39 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:
On Sat, 1 Mar 2014 11:13:56 -0600, "RogerN" wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
om...
I also confess I don't know enough about electronics. Is there a good book
to start with that isn't too stupid yet not over my head? I think I can
still learn stuff.
If you're interested in battery charger electronics you can look up some
voltage regulator circuits. You can use an adjustable voltage regulator,
such as an LM317, by setting the output voltage to what you want the maximum
charge voltage to be, you can use it to charge a lead acid battery. By
adding a resistor, low ohms and enough power for an amp or so, you can have
the regulator lower the charge current while the battery gets nearer to full
charge, like the lead acid battery chargers do.
I read some interesting charging information about the "Battery Tender"
maintenance charger, useful if you want to keep your seasonal batteries in
good condition through the off season.
I found a PDF file that, on page 4, shows the voltages that the battery
tender operates at, "absorption charge" to 14.5 and maintenance charge of
13.2V.
http://www.powerwerx.com/download/Pr...rproof_800.pdf
Also, something I was interested in for boat batteries. Get a gasoline
small engine and mount an automotive alternator, then you can have a
portable battery charger that should be capable of some fairly high current.
For Gunner's 8V batteries, I read about modifying the voltage regulators for
alternators (the kind that have external regulators). IIRC, the basic idea
was to control the output by controlling the power going to the rotor. That
way the alternator, with the right voltage regulator, could be used to
charge 8V batteries on up to 48V golf cart or fork truck batteries.
http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/alt_mod.html
http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...witworks.shtml
RogerN
Thanks for the links!!
Gunner
Inserting a few diodes in the "sense" lead to the regulator will
raise the charging voltage 3 silicone diodes will raise the voltage by
aprox 2.1 volts - close enough to charge an 8 volt battery with a 6
volt regulator.