Charger for car gel batteries. Chargers for car batteries. Cons of gel batteries

But with a gel-like electrolyte. Does this mean that the charging of these two is the same? No, using battery chargers here will not lead to anything good. So how to charge or auto? You need a charger that has the ability to adjust the current and voltage. Since GEL batteries are also demanding on charge voltage, this is extremely important.

The fundamental difference between acid and gel batteries is only that in the second case, silicon is present in the substance inside the battery. Thanks to this element, the flowing electrolyte takes on the appearance of a thick jelly.

This is relevant, for example, for scooters - so that when their position changes, the connection of the gel structure does not come off from the plates, and the battery operates more stable. The same applies to constant shaking.

According to research, a charged battery of this type loses only a quarter more energy due to tilting and vibration compared to normal driving. Although it’s still not worth turning it over.

Obvious advantages:

• Good starting current even when the battery is running low.
• More durable compared to previous models , hold a charge well.
• No maintenance needed .
• The gel substance does not have to be wiped off, even if the device body is damaged . It will continue to work, and with the remaining charge inside the batteries you can actually get to the repair point.
• If you use batteries competently and carefully, you can not be afraid any toxic fumes. For example, a stored scooter may even be surrounded by household appliances.
• Can be left in the cold .

Minuses:

• Charging a gel battery must be carried out under constant monitoring of voltage and current values. , which even on a powerful motorcycle are not always easy to determine.
• The cost of gel products is usually higher than a regular lead-acid device , but not significantly. The difference pays off in increased service life and no maintenance costs.

Basic rules for safe charging

Before you figure out how to charge your moped, you need to learn how to monitor it in operation. During the period of operation of the battery, it is recommended to regularly monitor its charge level. A device that allows you to do this yourself is called a multimeter. The charge determination circuit is simple - you need to turn off the scooter and connect a multimeter to the terminals.

There is a so-called voltage threshold that must be monitored while recharging the scooter. The usual figure is 14.2-14.5 volts. The average voltage during battery charging is approximately 14 volts, but it does not remain stable, but fluctuates constantly. The more the device is discharged, the higher the current readings, which subsequently slowly decrease. By the way, this phenomenon explains interesting observation: When the battery is discharged, more energy is wasted, although the number of volts of voltage remains the same.

Exceeding the voltage threshold is dangerous because the jelly will boil and turn into steam. Not only is there no way to replenish its reserves, because a gel battery for a scooter or car does not provide such an opportunity, but it is also very explosive. In addition, the gel may also come off the plates. This is normal for a regular acid device, but once contact is lost, the gel battery cannot be repaired in any way.

How to charge a gel battery for a scooter? You can charge the device even at home, the most important thing is to do Possibility of direct current supply. An important step service The battery is control over what it charging always completely and low charge not used. Gel batteries have memory, so long stay discharged may result in reduced capacity. Listing ordinary battery recharging action will be correct tactics. Even in weak charged In this condition, the battery efficiency is not bad, and you can always quickly go and recharge it.

How to charge such a battery?

How exactly to charge a gel battery for a scooter is now clear. Another question arises - what device to do this with? Only special charger for a 12 V battery of this type. If an inattentive reader has a question whether it is possible to charge a gel battery with a device designed for charging acid counterparts, we will again categorically answer - under no circumstances! They are charged only by those who want to instantly “kill” the device.

There is a sufficient selection of chargers in stores to buy the right one. Some make . What makes them different from similar devices is the ability to control the incoming voltage. It is recommended to set this indicator at one tenth of the device’s power.

It’s unfortunate, but you can observe the incorrect charging scheme for motorcycles even in service centers. Their specialists, especially in the regions, are rarely good enough at servicing equipment such as gel batteries, and they themselves do not know how to properly charge the battery.

What should the charging current be and how long should it take to charge?

It is best to follow one simple scheme on how to safely charge a gel battery without bringing the date of its disposal closer. The charging current in amperes per hour should not exceed 10% of the battery capacity. In general, the principle applies very well here - the less, the better. A battery that is charged with a weak current can be pampered much less frequently with additional maintenance.

If we take this circuit and the specified charging current into account, the charging time will be approximately 12 hours.

How to properly charge a gel battery? Algorithm

To understand how to recharge the battery, it is enough to combine the data from the previous paragraphs.

So:

1. Choose the right charger .
2. Set the current to 1/10 of the capacity .
3. Attach the charger to the battery terminals .
4. Start the current.
5. Wait and check from time to time whether the voltage has exceeded the threshold values .
6. Turn off and disconnect the charger from the scooter after 12 hours .

That's all, the ABK is ready for use again.

What care does a gel battery require?

It's stupid to ride vehicle until the battery is completely drained. Of course, it will not stop working, but in the future, chargers will not be able to replenish the previous amount of energy.

In order to avoid situations of complete discharge, it would be a good idea to buy a multimeter and carry it with you, in order to be able to detect in time that the battery is not charged, drive the same scooter to the nearest outlet and wait until it charges.

Additionally worth:

1. Keep the device body free from contamination .
2. Once a quarter, “plant” gel batteries and put them back to full charge .
3. Always check that the terminals are correctly attached to the device .

How to extend the device's operating life?

Batteries are not allowed to experience a single extra volt of voltage at the terminals. If it is charged in any way, the gases released when the electrolyte evaporates can cause damage to the device.

It is necessary to adhere to a careful scheme for replenishing the charge of the device - use a current not at 10, but at 5% of the declared capacity, and the time that will take charging gel batteries , double the size. So, forget about it for a whole day motorcycles charging . It is this technique that is most reasonable to use if, despite all precautions, the battery is still completely discharged. The loss of energy intensity during such actions will be less than with the usual way.

Careful and correct operation of the battery will allow it to serve for about ten years and produce about one thousand discharge and charge cycles.

The charging device for gel batteries must meet certain requirements due to the special properties of this type of battery. First of all, the ban on use concerns direct current devices. Easiest to buy universal device, due to its compatibility with many types of batteries.

More about application

battery device

First you need to understand what gel batteries are. This separate species autonomous power supplies developed on the basis of GEL technology.

This group represents maintenance-free batteries, which are characterized by increased capacity. In terms of their set of properties, gel batteries are similar to analogues produced using AGM technology, but in appearance they are similar to lead-acid versions.

The main difference between batteries based on GEL technology is the degree of viscosity of the medium in which the lead plates are placed - it is thicker. This is due to the presence of special additives in the electrolyte, which makes it possible to obtain a jelly-like gel. This type Battery supports high values current in the circuit, and additionally, such batteries can operate even in the event of a critical discharge level.

Let's watch the video in detail about the purpose and use of gel models:

Taking into account some differences, you should select a different type of charger to power gel batteries with certain characteristics. The key point here is the ability to change the amount of charge current depending on how deeply discharged the battery is.

Main selection criteria

For long-term operation of the battery, you need to select a charger with a certain set of characteristics, so as not only not to damage the battery, but also to help extend its service life. The following criteria are decisive:

1. Charge current range. To determine the normal level of this parameter, you need to be guided by approximate calculations: 0.05-0.2C, which means a small part battery capacity (C), the unit of measurement of which is Ah. If a multi-type car charger for powering gel batteries operates at currents no higher than the minimum limit of the stated interval (0.05 C), then the battery charging process will take a very long time. In the opposite situation, when the battery is connected to a power source with an increased charge current, there is a high risk of its failure. The optimal values ​​of this parameter for GEL type batteries are in the range of 0.15-0.2C.
2. Possibility of adjusting the charge current, which allows you to set the permissible limit this parameter under battery conditions of a certain capacity. It is not recommended to connect a charger operating at a charging current exceeding the above limits, which will gradually lead to a reduction in battery life.
3. The battery voltage must match the charging type. For example, there is a different type of charger for powering 12V or 24V gel batteries, and if you need a device for powering a battery with a voltage of 6V or, for example, 48V, in this case it is possible to make it to order.
4. Temperature compensation. This function allows you to control the battery heating level. The best option is thermal compensation, the temperature sensor of which is remote to obtain more accurate measurements.
5. The number of stages of the charging process, which implies a combination of cyclic and buffer modes, the first of which allows you to charge the battery first with constant current, then with constant voltage, and the second maintains an already charged battery at a high level.
6. Permissible temperature values environment. It is usually recommended to use the device in the range from +5 o C to +40 o C.

If there is one more nuance: the charger for sealed lead-gel batteries should have a lower charge voltage than in the case of liquid-acid batteries. Otherwise, again, we can talk about the imminent failure of such a battery.

Overview of suitable models

Model Soyuz VS-2410A

The Soyuz VS-2410A variant, designed for 24V battery voltage, received high user ratings. Such a device operates cyclically: first, the primary charging mode is performed, which destroys sedimentary sulfation, as a result of which the battery becomes able to charge up to maximum level.

At this stage, the charging current increases gradually, then the maximum rated current is supplied and in the mode the device operates up to a charge level of 80%.

And at the end, charging is carried out with a current that gradually decreases. In total, a multi-type charger for powering 24V gel batteries of this type implements a 7-step process. The price of this model is 7,000 rubles.

A more expensive option (TSB Electronics) is Omnicharge 12-40, designed for a voltage of 12V and a current of 40A. Its price is about 34,000 rubles, and such a device is suitable for GEL, AGM and liquid acid batteries. This model has the ability to charge using 4 modes.

A much more affordable version is Orion Vympel-05, offered at a price of 900 rubles. This device is compatible with acid and gel batteries. Rated for 12V and 1.2A. Another device is Soyuz VS-1205A (12V, 5A), its cost is 3,900 rubles, the number of stages of the charging process is 7.

Nuances of work

In the case of a built-in function that determines the battery voltage level, the device will independently select the required operating mode. If you have a charge current regulator, you should set a sufficient limit for charging a specific battery. The value of this parameter should increase gradually: from minimum to maximum. If the low current mode is selected, then the charging process will be somewhat delayed, therefore, in order to eliminate the risk of heating, the charger is periodically turned off.

Watch the video and charging methods:

Some craftsmen prefer to assemble a charger for powering gel batteries with their own hands. To do this, you will need, among other things, a microcontroller that allows you to better control the battery charging process. If desired, you can make the device turn off when the maximum charge level is reached, however, it is possible to implement a mode of constant recharging with low currents until the maximum voltage value is reached. If the value of this parameter decreases, the charging process will resume.

The charger circuit for 12V gel batteries also provides for thermal compensation and a fan, which will be turned on using the controller directly in a situation where there is no temperature sensor. The device is controlled by changing the amount of charging current, which is affected by the resistance level. The device is turned on by pressing a button, then the battery charge level is determined, which determines the choice of a specific operating mode.

Thus, the type of battery determines the choice of charger design. And for gel batteries this is a task of paramount importance, taking into account some design differences. In order not to damage the battery by turning on the wrong charger, you need to pay attention to their compatibility.

Features of chargers for gel batteries and their use

Today, among car enthusiasts you can find the opinion that gel batteries are difficult to charge. Due to the low prevalence of the required chargers (chargers), the charging process becomes problematic. Indeed, gel batteries are quite demanding in terms of charging current and voltage. However, the situation in this direction is changing, more and more necessary chargers are appearing. Let's try to figure out which one is better to choose for your battery.

In the west, gel rechargeable batteries have been offered for decades, and all the equipment needed for them is available on the market. In our country, they are not yet so popular, since car owners simply do not know about all the advantages of these batteries. When used and charged correctly, gel batteries do not cause any problems and have a longer service life than conventional lead-acid batteries. But it requires a charger with additional capabilities or recharging with a second battery, which will be discussed below.

• Heat. The gel battery should not heat up under any circumstances. When heated, the gel electrolyte melts and peels off from the plates. Once the battery has reached full charge, the power must be turned off. This requirement is difficult or impossible to meet when charging with a conventional device;
• Charge transfer. Even if there is starting device with voltage and current settings, it is quite problematic to transfer charge to the battery;
• Specific features. The process of recharging gel batteries has features that are taken into account only in chargers for them;
• Current strength. The current strength in standard chargers can easily damage gel models.

It is especially important that the gel battery should not heat up. If it gets very hot during charging, then part of the gel turns into a liquid state. Even if you have charged the battery and the battery shows normal parameters, it will not function normally. When she returns to workplace, the destruction of the gel electrolyte continues and eventually it will fail.

What requirements must a charger for gel batteries satisfy?

• Current adjustment. The charger must be able to adjust the charge current. A gel battery requires charging with a current of 10% of the nominal battery capacity. Exceeding this value will result in battery failure or significant reduction in battery life;
• Heating metering. The charger must provide temperature compensation. The temperature in the room and the battery itself may change and charging conditions should change as well. For example, when the battery heats up by 10 degrees, the voltage needs to be reduced by about 0.3–0.4 volts. The charger must have a temperature compensation option. Ideally, it should take breaks from charging on its own when it reaches a certain temperature;
• Staged charging process. The charger must be able to install several charging stages. Experts recommend dividing the charging of a gel battery into 3 stages. At the first stage, charging is carried out with increasing voltage. On the second, the battery is charged with a constant voltage and decreasing current. The third stage is maintaining the charge at minimum voltage and current. This stage is required only if the battery is intended to be stored;
• Working temperature. The charger must have a wide temperature range to operate. Most models work in temperature range from +5 to +40 degrees Celsius. But you may need to charge in the garage or on the balcony, where temperatures will be lower. So, it is better to choose chargers with an extended temperature range.

Charger capabilities for gel batteries

In this article, we will not consider any specific memory models. New models from different manufacturers are gradually appearing in stores and separate articles will be devoted to their consideration. Here we will look at the operating procedure of the average device for charging gel batteries. It includes the following steps:

• Turn on the charger and measure the battery current. The charging phase then begins based on the automatically determined current;
• After completing the first stage, the charger stops the process and allows the battery to cool. Then it turns on with a different current strength and charging resumes;
• In the interval between charges, the device measures the current from the battery. When the required value is reached, charging stops.

Here it is especially worth noting the ability of the charger to turn off after reaching certain battery parameters. If you continue charging further, this will lead to battery failure. This is the main difference from standard lead-acid batteries, for which if charging continues longer than expected, nothing particularly bad will happen.

Today, gel batteries are becoming increasingly popular in the domestic market. Let's try to figure out what they are, how to use them, how gel batteries are charged, and whether it is possible to assemble a charger for them yourself.

Gel battery device

A GEL battery consists of six cans with electrode plates, but instead of a liquid electrolyte, they are filled with a gel, which is formed under the influence of a stabilizing substance from the same sulfuric acid and distilled water. The gel does not leak, the battery can be installed sideways. It does not evaporate, as a result of which it can be used even inside a car, for example, to connect an acoustic system, or in the house as a backup electronic storage device. If the housing is broken, it will leak out.

Features of using a gel battery

• The battery plates do not crumble due to the density of the gel.
• The service life is at least twice that of simple lead-acid batteries.
• Deep discharge is not scary. You can charge up to five hundred times, with virtually no loss of battery capacity.
• They do not lose power at rest (discharge per year is approximately 20 percent).
• Overcharging has a very bad effect; you need to constantly monitor the voltage reaching the battery terminals, since voltage above 14.4 V can damage it.

Based on all of the above, and taking into account the low price, GEL batteries should be used in difficult conditions, where cyclic modes with deep discharge are required, and at sub-zero temperatures.

How to properly charge a gel battery

How to properly charge a gel battery

It is recommended to charge and maintain the gel battery, if possible, twice a year.

Many people wonder: is it possible to charge a gel battery? It’s not possible, but it’s necessary. It is recommended to charge and maintain the gel battery, if possible, twice a year. In this case, you need to ensure that the battery is charged until fully charged, because Incomplete charging results in loss of battery capacity.
To charge GEL batteries in a garage, you should choose chargers with constant voltage. The optimal device is one that charges the battery in two steps. It does not destroy the battery itself and charges it as quickly as possible.
First step– charging occurs at constant current and increasing voltage. Continue this way until the voltage reaches 13-14 V.
Second step- charge at constant voltage before full set power.

Let's consider what current to charge a gel battery

In order not to damage the power source, you need to select the maximum charging current for the gel battery, which is calculated as 1/10 of the installed battery capacity, that is, this means that if you are charging a 60-amp battery, you need to set the current to 6 A. If charging occurs with a lower current, this will not harm it in any way, it will just take much more time to fully charge it.

Charger option for gel batteries on the Russian market

To charge gel batteries while traveling, there are adapted automatic chargers.

Nowadays you can buy many types of chargers for gel batteries. They mainly differ in maximum current strength, some have a temperature sensor. For charging on the go, there are adapted automatic chargers.
If you have a regular charger, let's talk about how to charge a gel battery using it. All you need for this is an adapter. You can use a simple lead-acid battery as it. Connect the “charger” to a regular battery, and connect the wires from it to the GEL battery. With this sequence, you should not be afraid of damaging your new battery, but it is still not recommended to leave the process unattended. It is necessary to periodically touch both batteries to avoid overheating, and also check the GEL battery with an ammeter. Make sure that charging in this way lasts no more than 2-3 hours.

Homemade charger for gel battery

You can assemble a charger for a gel battery with your own hands. To do this, you will need an L200C chip, which must be installed on the radiator to avoid overheating during operation.

Charger circuit for gel batteries

Before charging a gel battery, you must check the integrity of its case for cracks, swelling and leaks.

Then everything is simply mounted on the substrate. Note that the resistance of the resistors should not be less than that indicated on the diagram. Resistor R7 sets the output voltage within 14.5 V, diodes are used in a metal case. The result is a homemade device for gel batteries, through which you can easily charge a GEL battery.
We will also say that before charging the gel battery with a charger car device or homemade, you need to check the integrity of the battery case. If a crack or swelling of the plastic on the battery is detected, it must be disposed of. The gel battery, which does not take a charge, is also subject to disposal.

In conclusion, we would like to add that gel batteries, despite their cost, are persistently gaining a place in the domestic market. You shouldn't be afraid of them. GEL batteries are no more difficult to maintain than their liquid-filled counterparts, and they will last at least twice as long and will fully pay for themselves over the course of their operation.

Having appeared relatively recently, gel batteries are very quickly flooding the market and displacing their lead-acid counterparts. They are used as a power source for uninterruptible systems, energy storage devices from solar panels, in motorcycles, cars, etc.

Like any other battery, a gel battery can be charged, but you will have to use a special charger. Otherwise, the probability of successfully charging the gel battery tends to zero.

The principle of operation of a charger for gel batteries is that when a consumer is connected, a direct current with a certain voltage and strength is supplied. Those who have ever encountered charging a lead-acid battery may ask, “But what’s the difference?” We answer - there are several of them and they arise from the shortcomings of AGM and GEL batteries.

Voltage

If you connect an old-style 12-volt car battery to a standard device and start charging it, then at the beginning of the scale the voltage will show about 14-17V and this value will gradually increase. When charging a gel battery, it is dangerous to supply it with a voltage of more than 16V (optimally 13.6-15.7V). This can cause immediate failure or cause heating, causing irreversible damage to the gel structure. This also applies to 6 and 24V models, which also do not tolerate high voltage.

Find out the charging time of your battery

Current strength

Automatic charger

Old chargers generate a constant value. In general, if you can set the amperage to 1/10 of the battery capacity, then charging a gel battery under such conditions is possible, but it will reduce its service life. A special unit should gradually reduce the current, ideally bringing it to 1/20 of the capacity.

Protection

Old-style chargers are most likely not equipped with any protective systems; modern ones are equipped with prevention modules. short circuit, incorrect connection, but this is not enough. The device of AGM and GEL batteries is so sensitive to the charging process that it can fail due to a short circuit, overcharging, overheating, or output voltage surges. Therefore, the presence of a number of protective systems when charging a gel battery is mandatory.

Modes

An ordinary charger, at best, is equipped with fine-tuning of the output current. A good device for gel batteries can operate in desulfation mode - a cyclic mode that destroys sulfate formations in the battery.

Helps restore battery performance after long periods of inactivity. The “Storage” mode charges the battery for a long time at low currents, thereby prolonging the charge retention and performance of the battery during prolonged inactivity

As you can see, there are a lot of differences. Is it possible to charge gel batteries with a charger that is not designed for this purpose? - Without interference with electronics - no. Moreover, even a short-term connection can damage the gel battery.

How to properly charge the battery?

We have already figured out that charging a gel battery with a charger not intended for this purpose is dangerous. But how to do everything correctly if you have a special charger? To avoid damaging your car or other battery, follow the diagram below:

• select a mode (normal, desulfation or storage);
• connect the terminals according to polarity, set the required current strength (1/10 of the capacity);
• turn on the device, if possible, check the voltage at the battery terminals with a multimeter;
• the device turns off automatically, so if everything is in order with the voltage, strict process control is not needed.

Advice. If you are charging a 6V/12V/24V battery after being idle, first select desulfuration, and then additionally charge it in normal mode. Before storage, the battery is first charged and then additionally “run” in storage mode.

How to assemble the charger yourself?

Having found out the cost of a suitable device, you might be interested in the question: “Is it possible to assemble a charger for a gel battery with your own hands?” We answer that nothing is impossible if you have a diagram and some knowledge of microelectronics. Moreover, you can assemble the device yourself from existing parts or do everything from scratch.

Homemade charger

First of all, we go to the network and look for a voltage stabilizer. We find the unsurpassed L200C microcircuit, with a programmable output current limiter. Assembled according to the diagram below, the system is capable of maintaining a safe output voltage at 15-16V on the secondary winding of the transformer. Plus, we have a gradual reduction in output current, which ensures safe battery charging.

Among the disadvantages of this system, possible overheating of the battery, protection against short circuits, and incorrect connection of terminals are not taken into account. In other words, the system can be considered operational until an unexpected situation occurs.

How to choose a charger for a gel battery?

The following tips will help you choose the right 12V gel battery charger that can meet all your requirements and more.

• The first thing we look at is compatibility with AGM and GEL types and voltage (6V, 12V, 24V).
• Next is performance, matched to the capacity of your battery.
• The range of settings – the larger it is, the better.
• Availability of additional modes and protective systems.
• Operating temperature (a large range will allow you to charge the battery in winter right outside).

The gel battery is selected by the manufacturer or purchased by the owner based on its advantages. To preserve them and not spoil the expensive element, you need a suitable charger. A high-quality device will cost a lot of money, providing in return impeccable performance and a guarantee of efficiency. You may have to try several models until you find the right one. Immediately discard Chinese and homemade models if you are not sure of their reliability; the result of such a purchase can be not only battery failure, but also fires.