VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
The search begins:
Yesterday i searched far and wide for the perfect charger to charge and maintain these &$^@# Gell Cell batteries. this particular one is a genisis 12v 12A.
Bench testing:
tested on the bench supply with a 14.0-14.1V voltage controlled input the "trickle" it would drop to is very very low. i figure about 13.7-13.8v is where i wanted my voltage control, to both charge and peak end.
Wal Wart the Usual:
Now usually they would hand us one of them 1A 12V type linear transformers, CHEAPer than me they are
they will eventually kill the battery. either slow overcharge, or take them off and no maintance
Hey we got one of them:
various 12V LINEAR (transformer) power supplies (there is like 15 old wall warts laying around here) PEAK voltages are at 16-18v, so i started adding voltage dropping diodes, as regulators wouldnt fit the bill, had the Float perfected , but the CHARGE was to low by the time i got the drop in. I needed a more stable voltage control, instead of a kludge.
What do the people say:
reviews for things like the cheap harbor freight , didnt look so good. depending on the needs.
many devices still did the trickle, been there done that , got the dead battery to prove it.
other reviews for other devices suggested the 13.3v voltage controlled devices are to low for a SLA, although it will work. and suggestion was that 13.7v device costing some $50 would do the trick. $50 the battery only costs $40
Hey they got one of them at radioshack:
radio shack has a 13.5 & 30V 1amp Switching power supply. I tested various switching power supplies (unlike linear) once they reach the supply voltage they are much more regulated. Although switching power supplies are not nessisarily long lived.
so that would work a 13.5V 1amp wall wart, it would charge and peak at (i figure) a max of about 13.8v. but costs $30 ok did i mention what a cheapskate i am plus if somone moved the switch that wouldnt be fun.
the idea here being a 13.5+V voltage regulated charge, that would charge faster as the voltage on the battery dropped by default, and peak at about the correct place for a float.
And finnaly:
then i came across a diamond in the rough, adorned by gold no less.
For freaking $20 Black&Deckner sells this little switching type battery charge maintainer at Lowes home store. Sells for $30 almost everywhere else.
I get it in and not only does it slow down neer the end of charge, but seems to do a quite nice FLoat maintain too.
and its UL approved, Fcc certified and polarity protected, fused , and Made in CHINA :mecry:
Plus (just what i needed) it will do 1 amp Or 2 amps too.
most reviews for it were very good, unlike some other similar cheap devices.
Soooo, after having all the meters set up, 1 ampmeter, and 1 voltmeter, 1 discharge light, for my kludges, i can now test things about it.
Next post some tests.
If you want me to test something else , just ask. basically its just working out fine.
Yesterday i searched far and wide for the perfect charger to charge and maintain these &$^@# Gell Cell batteries. this particular one is a genisis 12v 12A.
Bench testing:
tested on the bench supply with a 14.0-14.1V voltage controlled input the "trickle" it would drop to is very very low. i figure about 13.7-13.8v is where i wanted my voltage control, to both charge and peak end.
Wal Wart the Usual:
Now usually they would hand us one of them 1A 12V type linear transformers, CHEAPer than me they are
they will eventually kill the battery. either slow overcharge, or take them off and no maintance Hey we got one of them:
various 12V LINEAR (transformer) power supplies (there is like 15 old wall warts laying around here) PEAK voltages are at 16-18v, so i started adding voltage dropping diodes, as regulators wouldnt fit the bill, had the Float perfected , but the CHARGE was to low by the time i got the drop in. I needed a more stable voltage control, instead of a kludge.
What do the people say:
reviews for things like the cheap harbor freight , didnt look so good. depending on the needs.
many devices still did the trickle, been there done that , got the dead battery to prove it.
other reviews for other devices suggested the 13.3v voltage controlled devices are to low for a SLA, although it will work. and suggestion was that 13.7v device costing some $50 would do the trick. $50 the battery only costs $40
Hey they got one of them at radioshack:
radio shack has a 13.5 & 30V 1amp Switching power supply. I tested various switching power supplies (unlike linear) once they reach the supply voltage they are much more regulated. Although switching power supplies are not nessisarily long lived.
so that would work a 13.5V 1amp wall wart, it would charge and peak at (i figure) a max of about 13.8v. but costs $30
ok did i mention what a cheapskate i am plus if somone moved the switch that wouldnt be fun.the idea here being a 13.5+V voltage regulated charge, that would charge faster as the voltage on the battery dropped by default, and peak at about the correct place for a float.
And finnaly:
then i came across a diamond in the rough, adorned by gold no less.
For freaking $20 Black&Deckner sells this little switching type battery charge maintainer at Lowes home store. Sells for $30 almost everywhere else.
I get it in and not only does it slow down neer the end of charge, but seems to do a quite nice FLoat maintain too.
and its UL approved, Fcc certified and polarity protected, fused , and Made in CHINA :mecry:
Plus (just what i needed) it will do 1 amp Or 2 amps too.
most reviews for it were very good, unlike some other similar cheap devices.
Soooo, after having all the meters set up, 1 ampmeter, and 1 voltmeter, 1 discharge light, for my kludges, i can now test things about it.
Next post some tests.
If you want me to test something else , just ask. basically its just working out fine.
Last edited:
ARRRGGG.
