🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <28220@amdcad.AMD.COM> phil@diablo.amd.com writes:
 
>I just found a source of 12 V 6 AH sealed no maintenance lead acid
>batteries for $10 each. They seem to have a lot of applications (house
>burglar alarm, CB radio power, video camera and lights, etc) so I am
>looking for some advice on what a charger needs to do. What is an
>appropriate fast charge rate? Is it ok to trickle charge them in a
>burglar alarm application? What does the discharge curve look like?
>How should a fast charger know when to turn off? Do lead acids have
>the memory problems of NiCads? Is it ok to leave them flat? What is
>the best condition to store them in?
 
 
The July '86 issue of Radio Electronics magazine ran a construction
article for a "Universal Battery Charger" intended for gel-cells.
 
Basically, it uses a LM317 as a constant current source, and when
the terminal voltage approaches full charge, it trips an SCR that
brings the circuit back as a voltage regulator for a constant voltage
trickle, or "float" charge.
 
Klay-Corp in New York makes PC boards for the charger.  I changed
the layout to use it as a motorcycle battery charger (higher charge
rate) and sent the artwork to Klay-Corp, so be sure to specify which
version you want.
 
BTW, you can find the complete motorcycle battery charger article
in rec.motorcycles.
 
                    Klay Corporation, Inc.
                    106 Mark Drive
                    Syracuse, NY 13209-1808
                    (315) 635-5862
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
       Kristopher Means                   Luck is the residue
       Van Nuys, California                    of design.
       (818) 343-5850
       email: sometimes,
       not always.

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