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Introductory Note: Methods of charging lead acid batteries will be explored at a very fundamental level. Many manufacturers make a wide range of battery chargers that work just fine with a particular type of battery, when used in a specific application. There are few chargers, if any, that work very well with all types of lead acid batteries in all types of applications. This should come as no surprise. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. The ultimate question is: How good is good enough?
Table of Contents:
What happens to a battery when it is charged and discharged? ...................................... 1 What is a charge algorithm?............................................................................................ 1 Battery Charging Algorithm Fundamentals: ................................................................... 2 GENERAL 4 STEP CHARGING ALGORITHM.......................................................... 2 GENERAL 3 STEP CHARGING ALGORITHM.......................................................... 4 ADAPTIVE 4 STEP AGM CHARGING ALGORITHM: ............................................. 5 BULK CHARGE MODE:............................................................................................... 6 ABSORPTION CHARGE MODE: ................................................................................ 7 EQUALIZATION CHARGE MODE:............................................................................ 8 FLOAT, MAINTENANCE CHARGE MODE: ............................................................. 9 Deltran Chargers: General Charging Algorithm Summary: ................................ 11
General 4 Step Charging: Charger Current Limit Bulk, Absorption, Equalization, Storage (Float):
(Constant Current) = D Amps Bulk Charge Current Limit & Hold @ B Volts Absorption = A Volts Float = C Volts Equalization Charge: Constant Current, Voltage Increases then Constant Voltage, Current Decreases Bulk Charge: Constant Current, Voltage Increases Absorption Charge: Constant Voltage, Current Decreases Float Charge: Constant Voltage, Maintenance Current Constant Current (Current Limit) = E Amps Float Current = F Amps
B A C
X Y
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 3 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002
A C
High Frequency Charger Adaptive 4 Step AGM 12V20A DC Output Charging Algorithm
Limit & Hold @ 2.6 vpc Constant = 2.48 vpc (15.6 V)
(20 A)
14 13 12 11
BULK
10
ABSORPTION
EQUALIZATION
FLOAT
10.0
T1
9 8 7 6
T3 = T2 = 1.5 * T1 0.5 * T1
Constant Constant Voltage Current (2 A)
Indefinite
7.5
Current Limit
Constant Voltage
5.0 2.5
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 5 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002
17 16 15
14 13 12 11 10
BULK
T1
ABSORPTION
EQUALIZATION
FLOAT
10.0
9 8 7 6
Current Limit
T3 = T2 = 1.5 * T1 0.5 * T1
Constant Constant Voltage Current (2 A)
Indefinite
7.5 5.0 2.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 6 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002
17 16 15
14 13 12 11
10
EQUALIZATION
FLOAT
10.0
T1
9 8 7 6
T3 = T2 = 1.5 * T1 0.5 * T1
Constant Current (2 A)
Indefinite
7.5 5.0 2.5
Current Limit
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
17 16 15
14 13 12 11
10
T1
9 8 7 6
Current Limit
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
17 16 15
14 13 12 11
FLOAT
Indefinite
10
T1
9 8 7 6
T3 = T2 = 1.5 * T1 0.5 * T1
Constant Voltage Constant Current (2 A)
Current Limit
Constant Voltage
(50 to 100 mA)
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 9 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002
As long as they are functioning properly, the Battery Tender battery chargers can be left connected to the battery indefinitely.
NOTE: The obvious question is: What happens if the charger is not functioning properly and it is left connected to a battery? Batteries store a tremendous amount of energy due to their electrochemical composition. As that energy is transferred out of the battery into a load (discharging) and into the battery from a charger (charging), there are some risks involved. The basic chemical reaction occurs between the conductive lead grid, the various oxides and active materials, and the sulfuric acid, which is the electrolyte. Depending on the reaction rates, the sulfuric acid will decompose in to gaseous components. The biggest danger to a battery is water loss, ultimately resulting from the escape of hydrogen and oxygen gasses during recharge. The importance of charging voltage values applied to a battery, and the reason that several manufacturers
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 10 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002
Deltran Chargers: General Charging Algorithm Summary: The Battery Tender Junior implements 2 of the charge cycle stages, Bulk, and Float. The Battery Tender Plus implements 3 of the charge cycle stages, Bulk, Absorption, and Float. Shop Chargers, 5 & 10 Bank units implement the same algorithm as the Battery Tender Plus only at a higher current. The International Battery Tender both the single output unit and 4-Bank Battery Management System implement 3 of the charge cycle stages, Bulk, Absorption, and Float. (Exactly the same as the Battery Tender Plus) All 70W Battery Tender product line models (Lightweight, OnBoard, Power Tenders) implement 3 of the charge cycle stages, Bulk, Absorption, and Float. The high power chargers, DVS, DVD, and SuperSmart High Frequency (Golf Cart style) chargers implement either 3 or all 4 of the charge cycle stages. The Equalization charge mode is only used on specific models.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Deltran Corporation, 801 U.S. Hwy 92 East, DeLand, FL 32724 Page 11 of 11 Phone 386-736-7900 FAX 386-736-0379 www.batterytender.com Revised April 10, 2002