XPost: aus.cars, aus.cars.offroad, aus.computers   
   XPost: aus.electronics   
   From: damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au   
      
   "tuinkabouter"  wrote in message   
   news:labr88$1a4$1@dont-email.me...   
   > On 1/5/2014 10:32 AM, Damian wrote:   
   >> "Phil Allison"  wrote in message   
   >> news:bis9b2Fd5dgU1@mid.individual.net...   
   >>>   
   >>> "Damian"   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I have a regulated power supply that I've built from scratch back when   
   >>>> I   
   >>>> was in 'school'.   
   >>>> It's a 0-24V regulated power supply with upto 5 amp.   
   >>>> There are two settings, 1A and 5A. Also the amps can be controlled via   
   >>>> a   
   >>>> turn knob(potentiometer). Also a separate potentiometer for voltage   
   >>>> control.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> My aim is to use this unit for 'smart charging' a 12V, 6V lead acid,   
   >>>> agm,   
   >>>> etc batteries.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> How do I do that with this unit?   
   >>>> It's ok for me, to having to walk to the unit every half hour or so, to   
   >>>> adjust the settings to replicate the multi-stage battery charging.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I'm after some good information on how to do it.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Your help is very much appreciated.   
   >>>   
   >>> ** For once there is a very simple answer to you question -  cos SLA etc   
   >>> batteries are happy with "constant voltage" charging.   
   >>>   
   >>> All you need do is set the voltage on you PSU to exactly 6.9V or 13.8V (   
   >>> use a digital meter )  for use with 6V and 12V SLA/gell cells   
   >>> respectively. You MUST do this setting with NO battery attached  !!   
   >>>   
   >>> The amp setting depends on the amp hour (AH) capacity of the battery  -   
   >>> use the 1A setting for those rated at say 3 to 8AH and the 5A setting   
   >>> for   
   >>> larger examples.   
   >>>   
   >>> The battery will decide if takes all the pre-set current or   
   >>> progressively   
   >>> less as it approaches full charge -  then drop to a trickle at full   
   >>> voltage. The voltmeter will monitor what is going on.   
   >>   
   >> Hi Phil,   
   >> What I meant was, the procedure they use to 'smart charge' lead acid   
   >> batteries(specially AGM ones).   
   >> Basically I'm more interested in the classic three stage charging method.   
   >> Which basically means, start with constant high amp, decreasing voltage,   
   >> then contant voltage, decreasing amp,   
   >> then float voltage( 13.3 V etc) with minimum current.   
   >> There're microprocessor controllled units out there for sale.   
   >> I had a good one of them and accidently stuffed it up.   
   >> Now, I'm trying to do what it did, manually using the home build PSU.   
   >   
   > What is the reason you want a three stage charge?   
      
   The same reason anybody would want to purchase a muti-stage lead acid   
   battery charger.   
   Specially for AGM batteries, that's the way to go, 'cos those batteries   
   aren't cheap.   
   Multi-stage chargers charge them properly.   
      
      
      
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