Battery Charger Project

[Gary Lecomte]

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

 

[Bill Bowden]

chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte) wrote in message news:<ca76d1a9.0310261837.220d4272@posting.google.com>...

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Do you think there any danger to the diodes if power
is applied at the peak of the line voltage, say 340 volts?
The current could be many amps for a short period, but
maybe only a microsecond or so. I usually use a resistor
in series, but maybe it's not needed?

-Bill

 

[Gary Lecomte]

Hi Bill, It shouldn't be a problem. The 1N4005's have a surge current
of 30 amps and the Capacitors Reactance of the 2.2 ufd cap should
quite effectively stop any peak currents to a reasonable value.
However at 340 Volts, you will need to use a Much smaller Capacitor to
get the 100 Ma. in my circuit
(About .8 ufd and at least a 400 volt rating)

Take care.........Gary
**************************************************************************
wrongaddress@att.net (Bill Bowden) wrote in message news:<ad025737.0310272245.4d35a686@posting.google.com>...

chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte) wrote in message news:<ca76d1a9.0310261837.220d4272@posting.google.com>...
I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Do you think there any danger to the diodes if power
is applied at the peak of the line voltage, say 340 volts?
The current could be many amps for a short period, but
maybe only a microsecond or so. I usually use a resistor
in series, but maybe it's not needed?

-Bill

 

[Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun]

Gary Lecomte wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Yeah, right. "Take care", and you have a project that can be deadly.

I have a gizmo that's very similar to your circuit, that looks like the
plug on the end of a power cord, minus the power cord. On one end there
are the two brass prongs, and on the other end there are the standard
snap-on clips for a 9V battery. This device was imported from Japan in
the '60s, and was made for charging these batteries. It was downright
dangerous, and you won't find such devices nowadays because they _are_
dangerous. If you build one of these circuits, you should enclose the
battery under a lid with an interlock switch to shut it off when the lid
is opened, so that someone can't touch the contacts when it's live.

BTW, the 470 uF (not MFD) capacitor is of little use in this circuit.
The battery dowsn't need filtered DC, and the cap can't charge up to
more than the zener voltage.

--
----------------(from OED Mini-Dictionary)-----------------
PUNCTUATION - Apostrophe
Incorrect uses: (i) the apostrophe must not be used with a plural
where there is no possessive sense, as in ~tea's are served here~;
(ii) there is no such word as ~her's, our's, their's, your's~.

Confusions: it's = it is or it has (not 'belonging to it'); correct
uses are ~it's here~ (= it is here); ~it's gone~ (= it has gone);
but ~the dog wagged its tail~ (no apostrophe).
----------------(For the Apostrophe challenged)----------------
From a fully deputized officer of the Apostrophe Police!

<<Spammers use Weapons of Mass Distraction!>>

I bought some batteries, but they weren't included,
so I had to buy them again.
-- Steven Wright

FOR SALE: Nice parachute: never opened - used once.

(Problem) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear
(Solution) Evidence removed

F
o
d
d
e
r

f
o
r

s
t
u
p
i
d
"
n
o
t

e
n
o
u
g
h

i
n
c
l
d
u
d
e
d

t
e
x
t
"
e
r
r
o
r

m
s
g
..

 

[Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun]

Bill Bowden wrote:

chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte) wrote in message news:<ca76d1a9.0310261837.220d4272@posting.google.com>...

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary


Do you think there any danger to the diodes if power
is applied at the peak of the line voltage, say 340 volts?
The current could be many amps for a short period, but
maybe only a microsecond or so. I usually use a resistor
in series, but maybe it's not needed?

It should have a 100 ohmn resistor in series with the line, to make a
low pass filter. This helps prevent high voltage transients from
passing thru the capacitor and damaging the rest of the circuit.

-Bill

--
----------------(from OED Mini-Dictionary)-----------------
PUNCTUATION - Apostrophe
Incorrect uses: (i) the apostrophe must not be used with a plural
where there is no possessive sense, as in ~tea's are served here~;
(ii) there is no such word as ~her's, our's, their's, your's~.

Confusions: it's = it is or it has (not 'belonging to it'); correct
uses are ~it's here~ (= it is here); ~it's gone~ (= it has gone);
but ~the dog wagged its tail~ (no apostrophe).
----------------(For the Apostrophe challenged)----------------
From a fully deputized officer of the Apostrophe Police!

<<Spammers use Weapons of Mass Distraction!>>

I bought some batteries, but they weren't included,
so I had to buy them again.
-- Steven Wright

FOR SALE: Nice parachute: never opened - used once.

(Problem) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear
(Solution) Evidence removed

F
o
d
d
e
r

f
o
r

s
t
u
p
i
d
"
n
o
t

e
n
o
u
g
h

i
n
c
l
d
u
d
e
d

t
e
x
t
"
e
r
r
o
r

m
s
g
..

 

[default]

On 26 Oct 2003 18:37:40 -0800, chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte)
wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Peak of the line voltage for 120 volts is ~170 Volts. Peak to peak is
340 and a DC rated cap should be 3X higher than the AC line.

The circuit would probably work and last forever, but I'd go with a
100 ohm resistor to limit the inrush current all the same. The
current is only limited by the circuit impedance until the 470 uf
charges. When the reactance cap is at zero volts, and power applied
at the peak of the sine wave, the wire inductance and resistance of
the wire and parts are the only limiting factors.

A flame proof resistor will also serve to act as a fuse if the
reactance cap shorts. In that scenario, your zener may vaporize or
flame and the electrolytic turn into shrapnel. The cost of the
resistor is a bargain considering the safety it adds.

Does the circuit really need the electrolytic cap?




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[Bill Bowden]

"Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun - the Dark Remover\"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote in message news:<bnon3t$4lbp6$2@hades.csu.net>...

Bill Bowden wrote:

chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte) wrote in message news:<ca76d1a9.0310261837.220d4272@posting.google.com>...

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary


Do you think there any danger to the diodes if power
is applied at the peak of the line voltage, say 340 volts?
The current could be many amps for a short period, but
maybe only a microsecond or so. I usually use a resistor
in series, but maybe it's not needed?

It should have a 100 ohmn resistor in series with the line, to make a
low pass filter. This helps prevent high voltage transients from
passing thru the capacitor and damaging the rest of the circuit.

-Bill

I'm not sure if the resistor is needed or not. When you turn the
thing on at the peak of the line (170 volts) the current is limited
only by the wire resistance, maybe an ohm or so. This means the diode
current will be 170 amps which falls off with a time constant of
RC or 2uS. If the time constant is 2uS, the current falls to almost zero
in 10uS. So, we have an average current of 85 amps for 10uS which
amounts to 850 microjoules of energy if the diode voltage is 1 volt.
I don't think a millijoule is much to worry about since some of
those avalanche MOSFETS are rated at 500 mJ. This is 500 times less,
so I doubt the diode will blow. But the capacitor could be already
charged to the full line voltage and switched on at the negative peak
which would multiply the problem by 4. Still not much at 4 millijoules.
I think I'll try that circuit using a couple 1N914 diodes back to back
to see if I can blow them. They should survive.

-Bill

 

[Gary Tait]

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 07:40:07 -0800, "Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun - the
Dark Remover\"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote:

Gary Lecomte wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Yeah, right. "Take care", and you have a project that can be deadly.

I have a gizmo that's very similar to your circuit, that looks like the
plug on the end of a power cord, minus the power cord. On one end there
are the two brass prongs, and on the other end there are the standard
snap-on clips for a 9V battery. This device was imported from Japan in
the '60s, and was made for charging these batteries. It was downright
dangerous, and you won't find such devices nowadays because they _are_
dangerous. If you build one of these circuits, you should enclose the
battery under a lid with an interlock switch to shut it off when the lid
is opened, so that someone can't touch the contacts when it's live.

BTW, the 470 uF (not MFD) capacitor is of little use in this circuit.
The battery dowsn't need filtered DC, and the cap can't charge up to
more than the zener voltage.

There is a commercial product, for a cordless power tool, that is a
charger that is directly connected to the line. The terminals are deep
inside the unit where the battery is inserted.

 

[Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun]

In article <k3uvpvs3kij80b57rl5886ahd5pg6oigq5@4ax.com>,
R75/5@defaulter.net mentioned...

On 26 Oct 2003 18:37:40 -0800, chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte)
wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Peak of the line voltage for 120 volts is ~170 Volts. Peak to peak is
340 and a DC rated cap should be 3X higher than the AC line.

The circuit would probably work and last forever, but I'd go with a
100 ohm resistor to limit the inrush current all the same. The
current is only limited by the circuit impedance until the 470 uf
charges. When the reactance cap is at zero volts, and power applied
at the peak of the sine wave, the wire inductance and resistance of
the wire and parts are the only limiting factors.

A flame proof resistor will also serve to act as a fuse if the
reactance cap shorts. In that scenario, your zener may vaporize or
flame and the electrolytic turn into shrapnel. The cost of the
resistor is a bargain considering the safety it adds.

Does the circuit really need the electrolytic cap?

If it's used as a power supply. But for a dharger, I don't believe
so.

I've heard that the pulsating DC ripple knocks some hydrogen bubbles
off one of the plates, but I don't know if this applies to all
types of batteries.

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Gary Lecomte]

A Few Comments:

Yes this circuit can be dangerous, that is why the warnings in my
article.

No the 470 Cap isn't needed if you are only charging a battery, but
can be helpful if it is also running a circuit at the same time.

As to uf which I agree is proper abbreviation, but back in the 50's
when I started in electronics, numerous schematics used various
definitions and I picked up some bad habits. Sorry if it offends
anyone, but we all have bad habits.

Placing a 100 ohm resistor can be a good idea as it will act as a fuse
in the event of a short, however a standard 1/2 watt resistor will
constantly fail. If you really want this I suggest a wire wound type
resistor or even a 250 ma fuse.

I have used this charger design in a large number of speciality
industral products that have been in the market place for over 20
years. These products were all used by "Electric Utility Companies"
throughout the world. "They are totally isolated from the user with a
plastic case and knobs". No limiting resistor and no problem. I used
both Phillips "366 series" and Evox "MMK" caps, both rated at 250
volts. "None of these chargers have ever failed to date". The only
thing I did do that is not mentioned in my article was to put a small
brass heatsink on the zener. Not sure if it was really necessary but
it does reduce some heating.

A number of units were also produced for 220/240 volt operation by
simply putting another cap in the neutral line. They were also as
reliable.

This design is "definately not suitable for all charging
applications", but it can have practical safe applications.

Take care.....Gary
*************************************************************************
Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, Dark Remover" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.1a0aa9aa87b9378098986f@news.dslextreme.com>...

In article <k3uvpvs3kij80b57rl5886ahd5pg6oigq5@4ax.com>,
R75/5@defaulter.net mentioned...
On 26 Oct 2003 18:37:40 -0800, chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte)
wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Peak of the line voltage for 120 volts is ~170 Volts. Peak to peak is
340 and a DC rated cap should be 3X higher than the AC line.

The circuit would probably work and last forever, but I'd go with a
100 ohm resistor to limit the inrush current all the same. The
current is only limited by the circuit impedance until the 470 uf
charges. When the reactance cap is at zero volts, and power applied
at the peak of the sine wave, the wire inductance and resistance of
the wire and parts are the only limiting factors.

A flame proof resistor will also serve to act as a fuse if the
reactance cap shorts. In that scenario, your zener may vaporize or
flame and the electrolytic turn into shrapnel. The cost of the
resistor is a bargain considering the safety it adds.

Does the circuit really need the electrolytic cap?


If it's used as a power supply. But for a dharger, I don't believe
so.

I've heard that the pulsating DC ripple knocks some hydrogen bubbles
off one of the plates, but I don't know if this applies to all
types of batteries.

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun]

In article <ca76d1a9.0310310816.3457e16e@posting.google.com>,
chemelec@hotmail.com mentioned...

A Few Comments:

Yes this circuit can be dangerous, that is why the warnings in my
article.

No the 470 Cap isn't needed if you are only charging a battery, but
can be helpful if it is also running a circuit at the same time.

As to uf which I agree is proper abbreviation, but back in the 50's
when I started in electronics, numerous schematics used various
definitions and I picked up some bad habits. Sorry if it offends
anyone, but we all have bad habits.

Not a matter of bad habits, but a matter of internationally accepted
abbreviation standards. The m or M in MFD, by international
standards, means mega if it's capitalized, or milli if it's lower
case. So it's a matter of confusion as to what you mean. I and many
others remember those days, and also picked up those bad habits, but
we had to change to the new standards. It's time you did so, too.

Placing a 100 ohm resistor can be a good idea as it will act as a fuse
in the event of a short, however a standard 1/2 watt resistor will
constantly fail. If you really want this I suggest a wire wound type
resistor or even a 250 ma fuse.

I have used this charger design in a large number of speciality
industral products that have been in the market place for over 20
years. These products were all used by "Electric Utility Companies"
throughout the world. "They are totally isolated from the user with a
plastic case and knobs". No limiting resistor and no problem. I used
both Phillips "366 series" and Evox "MMK" caps, both rated at 250
volts. "None of these chargers have ever failed to date". The only
thing I did do that is not mentioned in my article was to put a small
brass heatsink on the zener. Not sure if it was really necessary but
it does reduce some heating.

A number of units were also produced for 220/240 volt operation by
simply putting another cap in the neutral line. They were also as
reliable.

This design is "definately not suitable for all charging
applications", but it can have practical safe applications.

Take care.....Gary
*************************************************************************
Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, Dark Remover" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.1a0aa9aa87b9378098986f@news.dslextreme.com>...
In article <k3uvpvs3kij80b57rl5886ahd5pg6oigq5@4ax.com>,
R75/5@defaulter.net mentioned...
On 26 Oct 2003 18:37:40 -0800, chemelec@hotmail.com (Gary Lecomte)
wrote:

I just posted another battery charger with minimum parts count. Both
current and voltage regulated, but it is a Non-Isolated design. Can
be useful in some applications.

If interested, go to:
http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm

Take care......Gary

Peak of the line voltage for 120 volts is ~170 Volts. Peak to peak is
340 and a DC rated cap should be 3X higher than the AC line.

The circuit would probably work and last forever, but I'd go with a
100 ohm resistor to limit the inrush current all the same. The
current is only limited by the circuit impedance until the 470 uf
charges. When the reactance cap is at zero volts, and power applied
at the peak of the sine wave, the wire inductance and resistance of
the wire and parts are the only limiting factors.

A flame proof resistor will also serve to act as a fuse if the
reactance cap shorts. In that scenario, your zener may vaporize or
flame and the electrolytic turn into shrapnel. The cost of the
resistor is a bargain considering the safety it adds.

Does the circuit really need the electrolytic cap?


If it's used as a power supply. But for a dharger, I don't believe
so.

I've heard that the pulsating DC ripple knocks some hydrogen bubbles
off one of the plates, but I don't know if this applies to all
types of batteries.

--

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@