Dumb charging idea?
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:00 pm
I have a string of 16 Optima batteries (from a scrap yard so they don't matter too much). Would it be entirely dumb to charge them just by rectifying 230v mains - and connecting it straight to the batteries?
That will deliver 14.3v per battery which isn't far off the constant 14.7v they recommend.
OK, it's not a managed, conditioning charge cycle - but I've always charged SLA's on a straight constant voltage source without problems.
'Proper' battery chargers seem to be in the 100's if not 1000's of pounds cost range - whereas this is in the 1's to 10's!
Somewhere I have a 200A bridge rectifier out of a welder - which would do the trick.
Si
That will deliver 14.3v per battery which isn't far off the constant 14.7v they recommend.
OK, it's not a managed, conditioning charge cycle - but I've always charged SLA's on a straight constant voltage source without problems.
'Proper' battery chargers seem to be in the 100's if not 1000's of pounds cost range - whereas this is in the 1's to 10's!
Somewhere I have a 200A bridge rectifier out of a welder - which would do the trick.
Si