Smart Battery Charger

Model Airplane News, May 2004 by Marez, Eloy

A&A ENGINEERING

No tuning or adjusting needed!

Unlike many chargers, this is not a general-purpose device but is designed specifically to charge lead-acid batteries, and it has all the control and sensing functions you need to get the most out of your batteries. It requires a DC power source and only a few external components to tailor it for use with any pack.

The Smart Battery Charger revives a sealed lead-acid battery in three stages: "bulk," "absorption" and "maintenance." In RC speak, this means initial charge, topping off and trickle-charge. The charger senses a pack's condition and supplies only the charge necessary to bring it up to maximum capacity. It switches to a trickle rate at which the battery can be charged indefinitely without risk of damage.

Tinkerers will be happy to learn that the A&A charger is available not only assembled and tested but also in kit form. Its few parts are not particularly difficult to assemble, the component board is not at all crowded, and the instructions are clear and concise. If you can solder and follow instructions, you can easily assemble this charger. The instructions are somewhat reminiscent of the old-timer Heathkits: "Cut the red wire to 2 inches long; remove 1 inch of insulation from one end and solder to ...." Piece of cake!

The A&A Smart Battery Charger kit includes a professional-looking, painted and prepunched, silk-screen cabinet and costs $59.95. Assembled and tested-$79.95 (S&H in U.S.-$7.50). - Eloy Marez

A&A Engineering (714) 952-2114; a-aengineering.com.