Battery Charger Schematics and DIY Projects
Find circuits and construction guides for charging various battery types used in amateur radio setups, from NiCd to lead-acid.
Keeping batteries charged is essential for ham radio operators, especially for portable stations, emergency communications, and powering handheld transceivers. Reliable power sources ensure that operators can maintain QSOs, participate in nets, and stay on the air during field operations or power outages. Many hams enjoy building their own power solutions to match specific battery types and operational needs.
This category features various homebrew projects for battery chargers, covering common types like NiCd, NiMH, and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries. Operators can find schematics and construction details for simple 12V chargers, automatic charging circuits, and even specialized designs like the Rechargeable Battery Cycler by VE2ZAZ, which helps maintain battery pack health. These resources provide practical guidance for building chargers tailored for everything from small handheld radio battery packs to larger 12V gel cells used in portable setups.
-
PCB for a battery charger described in the datasheet for the MAX712/MAX713 fast charge controllers. -
Schematic of a fast charger for Gel Cell batteries -
Well, firstly the 12 Volt source will typically vary anywhere from 11 Volt to 15 Volt, and then a battery needs a controlled charge current and voltage, which cannot result from connecting it directly to a voltage source. -
The charger described here is intended for charging small 12 Volt lead acid batteries -
A NiCAD Battery Charger with Current and Voltage Limiting -
This battery charger circuit is regulated and adjustable to make this circuit able to charge the mosto NiCAD battery. -
This is a handy little charger that can provide a charging current of up to 120 mA continuously for batteries in the range up to 12 volts. The supply is housed in a small plastic enclosure 90 x 55 x 32 mm. -
A home made battery charger 110-220 v AC providing from 1.25-24 v DC Adjustable at 8 Amps output power, with Short Circuit Protection Over Load and over charge Protection. -
an autonomous device that will periodically discharge A recharge Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel-Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH) battery packs so that they are always fresh and ready to deliver by VE2ZAZ -
A simple charger designed for charging 12 V sealed lead acid batteries, used by radio amateurs for portable operation Amp-Hr Class used by radio amateurs for portable/emergency operation.