Choosing a charger for gel batteries. Chargers for car batteries Small chargers for gel batteries

Although the main segment in the car battery market is occupied by conventional acid batteries, so-called gel batteries are increasingly appearing. The advantages of such batteries are much greater than those of conventional acid batteries; they are less demanding in operation and maintenance. But everything is in order.

Design

So, a gel battery differs little in design from an acid battery. Inside there are sections with packages of lead plates placed inside. Each package consists of negative and positive plates. All packages are connected to each other and two terminals come out of the housing - “positive” and “negative”, to which the terminals of the vehicle’s on-board network are connected.

But gel batteries, unlike conventional acid batteries, are filled with electrolyte, which is in a gel-like state, hence the name battery.

These batteries are completely maintenance-free, their housing is completely sealed. Since the electrolyte is in the form of a gel, the battery can be positioned in any way; the electrolyte will stick to the plates and will not flow when the battery is tilted or turned over.

Advantages

The electrolyte, which is in the form of a gel-like substance, will not leak even if the case is damaged, which allows the battery to be used in the future, but not for a long time.

In addition, the evaporation process inside a gel battery is much lower than that of acid batteries, which made it possible to place the entire structure in a sealed case. The vapors that form inside the battery are absorbed by the gel electrolyte and again participate in the reaction.

The main advantage of a gel battery is the provision of high inrush currents, even when the battery is somewhat low. It is indicated that it is capable of providing high starting current even at a charge level of only 30% of the rated one. Moreover, such deep discharges for a gel battery are not as destructive as for an acid battery.

This battery also has a significantly lower self-discharge current. If it is idle for a year, it will lose no more than 10% of its charge. In addition, it can be stored even in a discharged state, without loss of performance. If necessary, you only need to fully charge it to start using it further.

If you recharge this battery correctly, it practically does not lose its capacity. This provides it with the ability to withstand up to 700 charge-discharge cycles, which ensures a significant service life.

Another important advantage of gel batteries is their lower sensitivity to low temperatures. At such temperatures, although the starting current decreases, it is to a lesser extent than with conventional acid batteries.

Flaws

All this makes it attractive to use this type of battery in cars. But they also have disadvantages. There are fewer of them than positive qualities, but they are also significant.

One of these is the cost of the battery. It will cost significantly more than an acid one, and although its service life is longer, improper operation and maintenance can significantly reduce the “life” of the battery.

And stress can shorten her “life.” This battery is very sensitive to voltage. The optimal voltage for it is 14.2-14.4 V. Exceeding this value will lead to peeling of the gel electrolyte from the plates, the transition of the gel to a gaseous state. Moreover, the amount of gas will be significant, and it will no longer be possible to convert it into a gel. This effect has already been called “melting” of the gel. And considering that voltage regulators on cars often do not have a specific value, but operate in the range of 13-16 V, then the failure of such a battery is only a matter of time.

Although it is quite possible to use such a battery in a car, only before purchasing such a battery should you diagnose the on-board network and adjust the voltage regulator so that it does not produce more than 14 V.

Methods for charging gel batteries

This battery, although maintenance-free, is still required periodically. The frequency of recharging, if this battery is used in a car, depends on its service life. It is recommended to recharge the gel battery no more than 1-2 times a year.

Something else useful for you:

Video: AGM and Gel battery. Charging gel and AGM batteries

For recharging, a special charger must be used, designed to work only with gel batteries. Such devices will never even exceed the voltage, which can harm the battery. Some types of such devices perform recharging according to a certain algorithm, with periodic changes in current and voltage.

But such chargers are not yet common, and not all service stations undertake charging gel batteries due to the lack of such devices at their disposal.

But at home, you can recharge the gel battery using a regular charger. But it is not recommended to use automatic devices, since they themselves regulate the voltage and current, and during the charging process they can exceed the voltage above the value that is critical for such a battery.

But if the charger allows you to manually set the voltage and current, then recharging the gel battery is quite possible.

How to charge a gel battery with a charger

Before starting charging, be sure to set the voltage slightly below the value that is critical for the battery. This value is usually indicated by the manufacturer and is approximately 14 V +/- 0.4 V.

Video: Charging a gel battery - how to charge!

You also need to set the current correctly. The optimal value is 10% of the nominal capacity of the gel battery. For example, a battery has a capacity of 60 Ah, which means the charging current should be no higher than 6 A.

It is also important to know the charging time.

But if you have time, you can recharge with a current of 5% of the capacity. For the specified battery, the parameter will be 3 A, and the charging time will increase to 24 hours. But with this mode, the process will go better and the battery will fully accept the charge.

Be sure to follow the connection sequence. First, connect the charger clamps to the battery terminals (it is important not to reverse the polarity), and then plug the device into the network. Voltage and current parameters should be monitored periodically during the process.

It is strictly forbidden to stop charging prematurely. The fact is that such gel batteries have the so-called “memory effect”. If you interrupt charging prematurely during the process, for example, the battery was only able to restore the charge to 80%, then next time it will not be able to charge more than this 80%. That is, from undercharging the battery will lose part of its capacity and it will no longer be possible to restore it.

Nowadays, gel batteries are increasingly found in auto and motorcycle stores. They are especially popular for scooters. When purchasing such a battery, many are faced with the fact that they do not know how to maintain these batteries. They often try to service them with ordinary chargers for acid batteries. But this is absolutely impossible to do. Today we will learn everything about gel batteries for scooters, and also look at how and how to charge and maintain gel batteries.

What are batteries for?

When the engine is started, the current in the on-board network is generated from the generator. The latter is connected to the crankshaft pulley. The more revolutions, the faster the charge. However, if the engine is turned off, the generator will not produce current.

To prevent the on-board voltage from dropping, batteries are used in cars and scooters. It is thanks to them that the engine is started when the generator is not yet running. There are different types of batteries. In the past, lead-acid devices were often used. But recently, calcium and gel analogues have gained great popularity. They are a little different from the classic lead ones, so you need to know how to properly maintain them.

How they appeared

The development of these batteries began for a reason. Initially they were used for military equipment, namely in aviation. The fact is that it is impossible to use conventional acid batteries under these conditions. Aircraft technology is constantly changing. The battery is experiencing huge overloads. All this did not have the best effect on So the US authorities set a serious task for scientists - to develop a battery that could retain all the functions of a conventional battery and at the same time work normally in extreme conditions. Gel batteries were perfect for these conditions. Now they are actively used not only in weapons, but also for absolutely civilian purposes - on cars, motorcycles and scooters.

Gel battery device

In their design, these batteries are not much different from lead-acid ones. Their electrolyte contains a special additive, due to which a gel is formed. There are two types of batteries:

They vary depending on the manufacturing technology.

AGM batteries

AGM is a very common glass fiber that is located between the positive and negative lead plate. It contains electrolyte gel. The electrolyte itself is a traditional acidic liquid. But in this case, it is placed in a special fiberglass separator, due to which it does not spread. So, the battery can be used in any position. In addition, these batteries are completely safe for the body. Any vapors and gases that are formed as a result of chemical processes are securely retained in the pores of the fiberglass.

These gel batteries are a budget solution. Moreover, their service life is about 5 years. And this is not the limit - if charging and servicing gel batteries of this type were carried out correctly, then the battery does not lose its characteristics for ten years or more. A standard battery can withstand up to 200 cycles at a depth of discharge of 100%.

GEL batteries

Batteries manufactured using this technology have a fairly high cyclic life. In some cases, subject to proper maintenance, they can withstand up to 800 charge/discharge cycles without loss of capacity. But you need to know how to charge the gel. The methods require the presence of a special device. This is the only way the battery will preserve its resource.

GEL is not helium, as it may seem, but a gel. In this case, the role of the separator is played by silica gel, which fills the free cavity during the production process. Once the silica gel has hardened sufficiently, the substance will turn into a solid. Pores are formed in it where the electrolyte will be located in the form of a gel.

Due to the silica gel between the plates, such batteries are protected from shedding. This has a great effect on the resource. And even more - this solution helped to significantly improve the general parameters of gel batteries. And even though the nominal life of GEL batteries is practically no different from the service life of AGM batteries, the number of cycles here is much higher. A standard GEL battery can withstand 20% more cycles at maximum depth of discharge.

Advantages of gel batteries for scooters

She is very reliable. The battery does not lose its characteristics even under the condition of maximum discharge. After charging, the battery is able to recover to its full extent, while an acid battery will lose part of its useful capacity without the possibility of restoring its characteristics. Due to its specific features, the battery is capable of delivering high starting currents. If charging and servicing gel batteries is carried out according to all the rules, then this battery can withstand significantly more cycles than a traditional battery.

The battery can be used in any position, including on its side. Since the gel battery is virtually maintenance-free, it can be used immediately after purchase. There is no need for pre-charging. If the battery case is damaged, it will not change its characteristics. The housing here is not the main container for the electrolyte. Its function is only to protect the solid body. And finally, this is one of the safest types of batteries for cars, scooters and motorcycles.

Cons of gel batteries

As the reviews say, there are few shortcomings, and they are determined only by some features in the electrical equipment of the scooters. Gel batteries require very precise current and voltage parameters during charging. Such characteristics cannot always be obtained on motorcycles. But this is by no means a contraindication. You just need to take into account and know how to charge a gel scooter battery. The second drawback is the price. The cost of gel models is higher than that of acid-lead analogues. However, for smaller devices the price difference is not that great.

Service Features

Please remember that you will need special equipment for charging. It must be intended for gel batteries only. Of course, now these memory devices are not so easy to find. Gel batteries are not yet very common. Not every service center provides maintenance. Charging and maintenance of gel batteries should be carried out a couple of times a year. The most important thing is that the process is completed.

If the battery is disconnected from the device earlier, it may lose capacity, and the recovery process is quite problematic. Batteries have a memory effect. If we talk about the time that the operation will take, then it is necessary to divide the battery capacity by the charging currents. The number will be the approximate amount of time. Take, for example, a 7 Ah gel battery. Charging and servicing it will take approximately 10 hours. This is assuming a nominal current of 0.7 A.

Charging Features

The most basic and important rule that must be followed when charging gel batteries is compliance with the maximum values ​​of the supplied voltages. If you exceed the permissible limit, the battery will simply fail.

Most often, in the documentation that comes with any battery, the manufacturer indicates how to charge a gel battery, threshold voltages and permissible ones. Often the last parameter is in the range from 14.3 to 14.5 V. Also keep in mind that batteries of this type can remain discharged to zero for a long time. But if too high voltages are applied to the battery, the electrolytic gel will begin to release huge amounts of gases. As a result, the battery will simply swell.

About charging gel batteries for scooters

It is believed that it is best to service the battery once every three months. First, the gel battery is completely discharged. Charging and maintenance involves a full discharge using a light bulb. You can determine that the battery is low by the red glow of the indicator. Now regarding the charging process. The current should be no higher than 1/10 of the actual battery capacity.

If this rule is violated, the service life of the battery will be significantly reduced. The currents in the process should be as small as possible. This will have the best effect on the gel battery, and its charging will be of high quality. If the current in the scooter battery is 7 Ah, then the maximum current should not exceed 0.7. As for the required time, it is already indicated above that it will take about 10-11 hours. But it must be said that the best option for charging a gel battery for a scooter is to reduce the current strength by half. In our case, this parameter will be 0.35 Ah. Although this will simultaneously increase the required time, the battery will be charged with virtually no loss. And the battery life will not be reduced.

About choosing a memory

As you know, charging gel batteries using traditional devices can greatly harm it. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the charger for a gel battery. When choosing, you should consider the type of battery. Since the design of the battery is quite specific, and the final voltage of the batteries is different, the high voltages that are permissible for an AGM-type battery can cause the electrolyte to boil.

Temperature compensation parameters in specific chargers must correspond to the values ​​​​required for specific batteries. If there is no thermal compensation, this will cause overdischarge, and then a reduction in battery life. It is also necessary that the charger produces the correct voltages. Before charging a gel battery, remember that the battery is very sensitive to sudden changes in current. Therefore, the process must be performed only under strictly defined voltages. Also, when choosing a charger, the charging stages are also taken into account. If you take a lead battery, the procedure is divided into three stages. At the first stage, charging is carried out with constant currents at increasing voltage. Then the voltage is constant and is reduced by half. And then the charged battery is maintained at a low constant voltage and minimal current.

Conclusion

Knowing these parameters, as users say, you can successfully use gel batteries for scooters. Maintenance and charging will not present any difficulties. With proper and good care, this battery will last a very long time.

I am posting an interesting and accessible in detail circuit diagram of a gel battery charger assembled on a common op-amp chip LM358, developed at my request by the author of Aenigma. The memory is assembled on SMD parts for small cases, thoroughly tested - it works flawlessly.

The HL1 LED (end of charge indicator) begins to light up when the battery voltage reaches approximately 7 V and lights up at full brightness when the voltage reaches 7.2 V. After this, the battery voltage remains constant, so it is impossible to recharge the battery. Resistor R2 allows you to more accurately set the charging current to 0.45 A. Resistor R7 sets the maximum voltage on the battery to 7.2 V. An LED has been added to the circuit, a power indicator that is constantly lit. Zener diode KS133G (VD1) can be replaced with any 3.3...3.9 V, for example KS139G, KS407A, KS407B, as well as from the series BZX55.In order for the LED to start glowing not at 6.8 V, but at 7 V, for this you need to reduce the resistance of resistor R8 to 0.5 Ohm by parallel connecting two 1 Ohm resistors with a power of 0.125 W each, set resistor R5 to 22 Ohm, resistor R2 - at 4.7 kOhm, resistor R3 - at 470 Ohm. This is how it was originally, this is how I did it.

The power transistor can heat up if you charge a very discharged battery, so a small heat sink is needed. A 0.5 W zener diode is sufficient, more is worse, since their minimum stabilization current can be higher, and in this circuit it plays a significant role. For example, the recommended zener diode KS133G designed for a power of 0.125 W. In general, the LED is whatever you like best. In this circuit, the current through it is automatically limited to 15 mA. It should light up when approaching approximately 7 V, the higher the battery charge, the brighter it is.

The printed circuit board can be very easily modified to accommodate ordinary elements if, instead of the patches of SMD elements, you carefully add contact circles under ordinary parts. In the archive I attach several options for charging boards. My scarf turned out to be compact, as always, and fit perfectly into the body.

Microcircuit LM358 You can look for SMD on boards from burnt-out motherboards, etc., which are abundant in computer repair shops. Plus, there are field plants and other useful details. I personally get it from friends, it’s all a lot and free.

Gel batteries appeared on the market much later than their older acid brothers. Gel batteries are mainly found in scooters, motorcycles and ATVs. They are also used in uninterruptible computer equipment, gas boilers, and paired with a solar battery. The main feature is that inside they do not have liquid acid, but a gel, which allows them to be used even “upside down”.

Among the advantages of gel batteries it is worth highlighting:

• high current output, even with a minimum charge, about 20% - 30% of the nominal.
• up to 1000 recharge cycles.
• minimum self-discharge current (no more than 20% per year)
• ability to store completely discharged even at sub-zero temperatures.

Disadvantages:

• much higher price in comparison with acid batteries with the same parameters.
• !!!Does not like recharging!!!

Do gel batteries charge?

This question is often asked by car enthusiasts and motorcycle drivers. Gel battery, like any battery, unlike batteries, can and should be recharged periodically, if the battery is not used for a long time. And, as you know, any storage battery has self-discharge, i.e. It discharges itself over a certain period of time. Different batteries have different self-discharge percentages. The only thing is that you should use a special charger for gel batteries.

But gel batteries, unlike acid ones, are charged with a special charger with adjustable charging current.

What current to charge a gel battery

There are no special differences in current here. Charge 10% of the battery capacity. A 50-amp battery should be charged with a current of 5 A. As stated above, for a gel battery, it is very important when charging not to use a voltage higher than the limit. Typically this is 14.5 volts. It is worth noting that using a voltage above 14.5 volts will lead to irreversible consequences and failure of the battery.

How long to charge a gel battery

It is advisable to charge the gel battery 1-2 times a year. The main thing is to complete the charging process. Disconnecting from charging earlier is fraught with loss of battery capacity, which will be difficult to restore later. This phenomenon is called. If we talk about time, then the capacity should be divided by the charging current. The resulting number will be the approximate number of hours for charging. For example, a gel battery for a scooter with a capacity of 7 Ah and a charging current of 0.7 A should be charged for 10 hours.

A special charger, in this case, will automatically determine the charging time and signal the completion of charging.

Charger for gel batteries

From the Chinese, for example on Aliexpress, you can order special chargers for gel batteries with different functions and for different wallets.

• Economy class charger for gel batteries KW KW-BC021. Input voltage: 90~270V, 50Hz, charge current constant 2A. Recommended for batteries with a voltage of 12V and a capacity of 4 to 20 Ah. Price $10. An adapter for a Euro socket is required.

• Charger KW-C032 for batteries with capacities from 28 to 63 Ah. Input voltage 90~270V, 45~65Hz. Output voltage 13.8V. Overload and short circuit protection. Euro socket. Price $15.

How to restore a gel battery

Initially, the gel battery is NOT serviceable. Since there is no electrolyte in it, and the storage conditions for it are more stringent than for an acid battery. Moreover, according to manufacturers, the service life is more than 10 years. But periodic recharging 1-2 times a season with a special charger for gel batteries will not hurt at all.

It is worth pointing out that gel batteries almost do not emit explosive gases during operation and charging. The gases recombine into a gel. But if for some reason the battery is swollen, it should be recycled, or, more simply put, thrown away.

This is not the first year that you can find a large assortment of gel batteries in car stores in our country. This type of battery has many advantages over electrolyte batteries. In particular, they can deliver more powerful current regardless of the degree of discharge. This is especially important for starting the car in the cold season. The advantage of gel batteries is that they can deliver energy down to 25% discharge.

Advantages of gel batteries

This type of battery is classified as maintenance-free, since there is no conventional electrolyte, but a special gel is used instead. It will not leak under any circumstances, even if you turn the battery upside down. The service life of gel batteries is also longer than electrolyte batteries. As a rule, it reaches 14 years of age. Although this service life was designed to work in ideal conditions, which do not occur in reality. The service life of a device depends on many parameters, among which the most important are:

• current quality;
• temperature;
• ambient air humidity.

Therefore, in real conditions, the service life does not exceed 11 years, which, in principle, can also be considered an excellent indicator compared to traditional batteries.

Features of charging gel batteries

An important feature that distinguishes the charging of a gel battery is a small self-discharge current. This means that a 100% charged battery can be stored for a long time without being connected. That is, even after a year of inactivity, the battery charge will decrease by no more than 20%. All this became possible thanks to the use of modern technologies.

To make gel batteries, either with your own hands or in a factory, ultra-thick lead electrodes of high quality are used. In addition, purified sulfuric acid and various expensive materials are used in the manufacturing process. It is clear that this composition makes gel batteries much more expensive than lead-acid batteries. At the same time, given the excellent performance characteristics of this device and its long service life, gel batteries can be considered a profitable purchase. Among the companies producing such batteries for cars, the most popular are EXIDE, AGM and BOSCH.

Regular charging allows you to restore the battery capacity to almost its original volume. New models of gel batteries can withstand up to 1000 charge and discharge cycles. The principles of maintenance of gel batteries differ to a certain extent from the principles of operation of traditional electrolyte batteries. To operate such a battery, you will need a special charger specifically designed for this type of energy carrier.

How to choose a charger for a gel battery

When choosing a charger for gel batteries with your own hands, you need to consider a number of basic parameters.

Battery type

Basically, the domestic market offers chargers that are used for liquid-acid batteries. This equipment is strictly not recommended for charging gel batteries, since this type of battery has a different final charge voltage. It is also worth noting that maintenance-free batteries of this type are suitable for low voltage. Therefore, charging them with a higher voltage will lead to boiling off of the electrolyte and a decrease in the service life of the device.

Ability to change charge current

This is a very important feature for a charger, as it allows you to reduce the current where necessary so as not to harm the battery. At low current, the battery will take longer to charge, but this will not harm it in any way.

Temperature compensation function

It is recommended to choose charging equipment that has a temperature compensation function or even a remote temperature sensor. This is necessary in order to prevent the battery from overheating during charging and increase its service life.

Maintaining the Correct Voltage

Gel batteries should only be charged at a certain voltage, which is generally 14.2 volts. However, for proper recharging, it is better to clarify this parameter from the instructions. It is necessary to avoid devices that produce incorrect voltage both during charging and in buffer mode.

Multiple charge stages

To effectively charge gel batteries, it is advisable to purchase a device that will divide this procedure into three stages. At the first stage, charging is carried out with a constant current with an increase in voltage, in the second stage - with a constant voltage with a decrease in current, and in the third - maintaining the charge with a minimum current and a constant voltage.

Operating temperature range

Most models of charging equipment operate with a temperature range from 5 to 40 degrees Celsius. As a rule, the higher the temperature range, the higher the quality of the device. The extended temperature range is especially useful in this case. If you are going to charge the battery in places with low temperatures, for example on a balcony or in a poorly insulated garage.

Possibility of adjusting fan speed

The fan speed control function is especially useful if the charger is planned to be used at home. Then such a mechanism will reduce the noise level from the device.

Features and advantages of charging 12V gel batteries

The charger for 12V gel batteries belongs to a new generation of devices. It is compact, lightweight and multifunctional. In addition, such a device has special protection against incorrect connection, an automatic control system and charging mode indicators. It can be used in almost any conditions and in any position. However, for ease of use, it is advisable to place the charger in a horizontal position on special rubber stands.

To connect to a 220-volt network, a standard power cord is used here, which is used in personal computers. Energy is supplied to the battery through two black conductors, which have alligator clips at the end. In this case, the carrier wire has a positive potential, so red insulating pads are attached to it. The conductor, which has a negative potential, is distinguished by black insulating pads.

An important advantage of charging 12V gel batteries is the presence of an electronic protection system against incorrect connection. A distinctive feature of this device is the presence of several charging modes, which are switched using a special MD button.

Currently, gel batteries cannot be considered very popular, even despite their advantages. This is due to their relatively high price, as well as the complexity of operation. However, as can be seen from our article, charging such batteries with your own hands is not difficult and requires the use of high-quality charging equipment. This will extend the service life of gel batteries and maintain their technical characteristics.