Low cost solution for charging of both NiCd and NiMh batteries Here is the circuit diagram of a low

cost universal charger for NiCD - NiMH batteries. This circuit is Ideal for car use. It has ability to transform a mains adapter in to a charger . This one can be used to charge cellular phone, toys, portables, video batteries, MP3 players, ... and has selectable charge current. An LED is located in circuit to indicate charging. Can be built on a general purpose PCB or a veroboard. I hope you really like it. Picture of the circuit:

A Low Cost Universal Charger Circuit Schematic Circuit diagram:

A Low Cost Universal Charger Circuit Diagram

Parts: R1 = 120R-0...5W R2 = See Diagram C1 = 220uF-35V D1 = 1N4007 D2 = 3mm. LED Q1 = BD135 J1 = DC Input Socket Specifications:

Ideal for in car use. LED charge indication. Selectable charge current. Charges Ni Cd or NiMH batteries. Transforms a mains adapter into a charger. Charge cellular phone, toys, portables, video batteries

Features:

LED function indication. Power supply polarity protected. Supply current: same as charge current. Supply voltage: from 6.5VDC to 21VDC (depending on used battery) Charge current (20%): 50mA, 100mA, 200mA, 300mA, 400mA. (selectable)

Determining the supply voltage: This table indicates the minimum and maximum voltages to supply the charger. See supply voltage selection chart below. Example: To charge a 6V battery a minimum supply voltage of 12V is needed, the maximum voltage is then 15V. Voltage selection:

Voltage Selection Chart For Low Cost Universal Battery Charger Determining the charge current: Before building the circuit, you must determinate how much current will be used to charge the battery or battery pack. It is advisable to charge the battery with a current that is 10 times smaller then the battery capacity, and to charge it for about 15 hours. If you double the charge current , then you can charge the battery in half the time. Charge current selection chart is located in diagram. Example: A battery pack of 6V / 1000mAh can be charged with 100mA during 15 hours. If you want to charge faster, then a charge current of 200mA can be used for about 7 hours. Caution: The higher charge current, the more critical the charge time must be checked. When faster charging is used, it is advisable to discharge the battery completely before charging. Using a charge current of 1/10 of the capacity will expand the lifetime of the battery. The charge time can easily be doubled without damaging the battery. Note:

Mount the transistor together with the heatsink on the PCB, bend the leads as necessary. Take care that the metal back of the transistor touches the heatsink. Check that the leads of the transistor do not touch the heatsink.

Production of low voltage DC power supply from AC to power is a most important problem faced by many electronics developers and hobbyists. The straight forward technique is the use of a step down transformer to reduce the 230 V or 110V AC to a preferred level of low voltage AC. But i-St@r comes with a most appropriate method to create a low cost power supply by avoiding the use of bulky transformer. Yes, you can construct power supply for your development without a transformer. This circuit is so simple and it uses a Voltage Dropping Capacitor in series with the phase line. Transformer

less power supply is also called as Capacitor power supply. It can generate 5V, 6V, 12V 150mA from 230V or 110V AC by using appropriate Zener diodes. See the design. Circuit diagram

Components required 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Resistors (470k, 1W; 100) Capacitors (2.2F, 400V, X rated; 1000F, 50V) Bridge rectifier (1N4007 diodes x 4) Zener diode (6.2V, 1W) LED (Optional)

Working of Transformer less capacitor power supply

This transformer less power supply circuit also called capacitor power supply since it uses a special type of AC capacitor in series with the main power line. A common capacitor will not do the work because the mains spikes will generate holes in the dielectric and the capacitor will be cracked by the passing of current from the mains through the capacitor. X rated Capacitor suitable for the use in AC mains is vital for reducing AC voltage. An X rated dropping capacitor is intended for 250V, 400V, 600V AC. Higher voltage versions are also obtainable. The dropping capacitor is non polarized so that it can be connected any way in the circuit.

The 470k resistor is a bleeder resistor that removes the stored current from the capacitor when the circuit is unplugged. It avoid the possibility of electric shock. Reduced AC voltage is rectifiered by bridge rectifier circuit. We have already discussed about bridge rectifiers. Then the ripples are removed by the 1000F capacitor. This circuit provides 24 volts at 160 mA current at the output. This 24 volt DC can be regulated to necessary output voltage using a appropriate 1 watt or above Zener diode. Here we are using 6.2V Zener, You can use any type of Zener diode inorder to get required output voltage.

Design Reactance of the capacitor,

Where f is the supply frequency and C is the capacitance If the supply frequency is 50Hz, then reactance of 2.2F X rated capacitor is given by,

So output current,

You can design your own supply if you need high current rating other than 159mA by choosing different capacitor values. Pin outs of Capacitor, Diode, Zener diode etc

2.2F X rated Capacitor IN4007 diode Pin Out Electrolytic Capacitor Light Emitting Diode (LED) Zener Diode

Remember: Do not touch at any points in the circuit because some points are at mains potential. Keep away from touching the points around the dropping capacitor to prevent electric shock, even after switching off the mains. Great care should be taken to construct the circuit since there is no isolation between mains and our circuit. Adequate spacing must be given between the components.

Power supply section consists of a 0-18 volt AC 1 Ampere step-down transformer, a full wave bridge rectifier comprising D1 through D4 and the smoothing capacitor C1. Current regulation is achieved by the action of R1,R2 and the Epitaxial Darlington PNP transistor TIP 127. Resistor R1 keeps the charging current to 140 milli amperes. LED and resistor R2 plays an important role to control the base current of T1 and thus its output.

NiMH Battery Charger Circuit

Around 2.6 volts drop develops across the LED which appears at the base of T1. Emitter base junction of T1 drops around 1.2 volts. So 2.6 1.2 volts gives 1.40 volts. So the current passing through R1 will be 1.40 V / 10 = 0.14 Amps or 140 Milli Amps. The LED act as the charging status indicator. LED lights only if the battery is connected to the output of circuit and the input voltage is normal.

How long time does it take to recharge a rechargeable battery? Formula for calculating batteries charging time : hr = mAh / mA hours equal battery size in milliampere-hour divided by charger output power in milliamperes

Battery type : 2500 mAh NiMH size AA rechargeable battery Require : 7.5 hour(s) to be fully recharged with 400 mA charger Fraction : 7 1/2 hour(s) to be fully recharged with 400 mA charger

Battery type : 2500 mAh NiMH size AA rechargeable battery Require : 15.0 hour(s) of re-charging in 200 mA current output charger

Battery type : 2100 mAh NiMH size AA rechargeable battery Require : 12.6 hour(s) of re-charging in 200 mA current output charger Fraction : 12 3/5 hour(s) of re-charging in 200 mA current output charger