The charger is a special device that is designed to charge the battery with electricity from external sources. In most cases, they use AC power. Such devices can be used to recharge tablets, phones, laptops, toothbrushes, cars and other units where battery recharging is required.

Often, devices for charging batteries come with purchased equipment, for example, this is a charger for a cell phone. But in some cases, such a device must be purchased independently. On sale today there are a large number of devices that allow you to recharge the battery. But for right choice you need to know how to correctly evaluate the selected product, which, first of all, you should pay attention to.

Kinds

The charger according to the method of its application can be:

• External.
• Embedded.

Devices can be classified according to the method of charging the battery, the type of indication, performance, the presence of the discharge function, and others. For example, in devices for cell phones, the indicator is the mobile screen, where the battery charge level is displayed.

Chargers can also be:

• Rechargeable- work is carried out according to the scheme of charge accumulation and its further return to the battery device.

• Network- the power is supplied from the electrical network, after which the voltage is converted into the required one for a particular unit.

• Automotive- they operate from the cigarette lighter located in the car. The power supply here is the on-board network.

• universal- this is a wire that has a connector to connect a smartphone, as well as a USB connector for charging from a personal computer.

• Wireless- the phone does not interact directly with the current. The device represents a special platform. The operation of this accessory is based on the principle of an induction coil.

For different types Batteries are manufactured in various chargers, for example, for NiCd, NiMH, Li-Ion or even combination batteries.

According to the method of charging, devices can be charged with direct or pulsed current. Depending on the required functions, the devices can be professional or household. In terms of charging time, devices can be slow or fast.

Device

Chargers in most cases include the following items:

• Voltage transformer. It can be a switching power supply or a transformer.
• Voltage regulator. It maintains a constant voltage, regardless of its fluctuations occurring in the input circuit.
• Rectifier. This element converts the electrical current of alternating value into direct current, that is, the one that is necessary to charge the battery of a particular device. Each type of battery requires a certain amount of input voltage.
• A device that controls the charging process or the strength of an electric current.
• Led indicator.

The charger may have other elements, for example, a battery in external units and other devices. Industrial devices additionally they have blocks with electronic equipment that control the charging process. Such devices are used to simultaneously charge 3-5 batteries. Certain models can charge at the same time with pulsed currents and perform continuous charging.

Complex devices are equipped with microcontrollers that allow you to accurately monitor a number of parameters: temperature, battery voltage, charge and other indicators. More advanced devices even have a sensor outdoor temperature, because it significantly affects the charging process.

Operating principle

All devices that are used to recharge batteries almost always operate on the same principle. When connected to the mains, a voltage of 220 V is supplied to the charger. The elements of the device adjust the strength and voltage of the current to those indicators that are necessary to charge a particular battery. Moreover, each type battery requires its own method and order of recharging.

For automotive lead-acid batteries Recharging is recommended until they are completely discharged. Alkaline batteries should be fully discharged as they have a memory effect. But at the same time, both types of batteries should be recharged to the maximum value. Therefore, recently only automatic devices for machines that do not require human intervention. They only need to be connected to the network and install the clamps on the battery terminals.

The automatic charger controls everything:

Controls the charge level, the cycle, as well as the procedure itself. After charging to one hundred percent, the unit turns itself off. If the device is not disconnected, it will constantly monitor the battery status. When the charge drops, the sensors see this, as a result of which the battery begins to charge again. As a result, the charge level will be at 100 percent level.

There are wireless charging systems that use the principle of electromagnetic induction. This means that charging takes place at a certain distance due to the appearance of an electric current in the closing circuit when the magnetic voltage that permeates this circuit changes. The system includes the first and second coils. The result is a system with inductive coupling.
The alternating current that flows in the winding of the primary coil forms a magnetic field, forming an inductive voltage in the second coil. This voltage is used to charge the battery. But this principle works only at a certain small distance. When the phone or other device is removed, the main part of the magnetic field is dissipated, as a result, the secondary coil does not receive it.

There is also a manual charger, which is often used to charge a cell phone somewhere in the wilderness where there is no electrical network, for example, in the taiga. However, their principle of operation is completely different, they operate on the principle of wind turbines. The main element of such devices is the handle for rotation. The function of this handle is comparable to that of a wind turbine propeller.

When the handle is turned, the rotation is transferred to the rod. As a result, the kinetic energy that is created by a person is sent to the generator of the charging device. It is the last element that produces an electric current with a small voltage of the order of 6 volts. This voltage is enough to charge a dead battery, make the necessary call or send a message.

Application

The charger is used to charge the batteries of devices and equipment:

• Cell phones and smartphones.
• Tablets.
• Notebooks.
• Toothbrushes.
• Portable, and many other electric tools with a battery.
• Electric cars.
• Portable vacuum cleaners, hair dryers.
• Automobiles, motorcycles and other equipment.

How to choose

There are a huge number of types of battery chargers. These are domestic and foreign. Therefore, sometimes it is difficult to make a choice.

• If you need a device to charge your car from time to time, then look for a simple but reliable device without unnecessary functions. For example, such charging can be useful for charging the battery due to its downtime during cold weather or traveling to foreign countries during the holidays.
• For beginners, it is best to choose automatic devices where you do not need to configure. For experienced car owners, multifunction or start-chargers are recommended. The number of options is limited only by financial resources.
• It is necessary to purchase only the charger that is designed for a specific electrochemical system. You should be aware that most of the devices are used only for a specific type of equipment. For example, the phone connector may not be suitable or the device generates a current of a certain voltage. Whereas a certain device requires a completely different voltage. Do not charge the battery if the voltage is not correct.
• Using a higher capacity charger will reduce the charging time, but the battery itself may be limited. Fast charging without such a function in the unit can reduce the life of the battery or even damage it.
• You should also pay attention to the shape, design, construction and dimensions of the device for charging. The choice here in this case depends on the buyer.
• When choosing a wireless device, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer of the equipment. Not every brand makes devices with batteries that are suitable for wireless charging. There are also their own food standards "PMA" and "Qi". There may also be limitations here. Not all equipment can support these two standards.
• When choosing a wireless device, you should also pay attention to power, functionality, operating time and security.

When they talk about the use of electrical energy in everyday life, in production or transport, they mean the work of electric current. Electric current is brought to the consumer from the power plant through wires. Therefore, when the houses suddenly go out electric lamps or the movement of electric trains, trolleybuses stops, they say that the current has disappeared in the wires.

What is an electric current and what is necessary for its occurrence and existence for the time we need?

The word "current" means the movement or flow of something.

What can move in the wires connecting the power plant with consumers of electrical energy?

We already know that there are electrons in bodies, the movement of which explains various electrical phenomena (see § 30). Electrons have a negative electrical charge. Larger particles of matter - ions - can also have electric charges. Therefore, various charged particles can move in conductors.

An electric current is an ordered (directed) movement of charged particles.

To get an electric current in a conductor, it is necessary to create an electric field in it. Under the action of this field, charged particles that can move freely in the conductor will begin to move in the direction of the action of electric forces on them. There will be an electric current.

In order for an electric current to exist in a conductor for a long time, it is necessary to maintain an electric field in it all this time. The electric field in the conductors is created and can be maintained for a long time sources of electric current.

Current sources are different, but in each of them work is done to separate positively and negatively charged particles. The separated particles accumulate on poles current source. This is the name of the place to which conductors are connected using terminals or clamps. One pole of the current source is charged positively, the other negatively. If the poles of the source are connected by a conductor, then under the influence of an electric field, free charged particles in the conductor will begin to move in a certain direction, an electric current will arise.

Rice. 44. Electrophore machine

Rice. 45. Conversion of internal energy into electrical energy

In current sources, in the process of separating charged particles, mechanical, internal or some other energy is converted into electrical energy. So, for example, in electrophore machine(Fig. 44) mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. It is also possible to convert internal energy into electrical energy. If two wires made of different metals are soldered and then the joint is heated, then an electric current will appear in the wires (Fig. 45). Such a power source is called thermoelement. In it, the internal energy of the heater is converted into electrical energy. When some substances are illuminated, for example, selenium, copper oxide (I), silicon, a loss of a negative electric charge is observed (Fig. 46). This phenomenon is called photoelectric effect. The device and action are based on it. photocells. Thermoelements and photocells are studied in the high school physics course.

Rice. 46. ​​Conversion of radiation energy into electrical energy

Let us consider in more detail the device and the operation of two current sources - galvanic cell And battery, which will be used in experiments on electricity.

In a galvanic cell (Fig. 47, a), chemical reactions occur, and the internal energy released during these reactions is converted into electrical energy. The element shown in Figure 47, b consists of a zinc vessel (case) C. A carbon rod Y is inserted into the body, which has a metal cover M. The rod is placed in a mixture of manganese (IV) oxide Mn0 2 and crushed carbon C. The space between the zinc body and a mixture of manganese oxide with carbon filled with a jelly-like solution of salt (ammonium chloride NH 4 CI) P.

Rice. 47. Galvanic cell (battery)

During the chemical reaction of zinc Zn with ammonium chloride NH4CI, the zinc vessel becomes negatively charged.

Manganese oxide carries a positive charge, and a carbon rod inserted into it is used to transfer the positive charge.

Between a charged carbon rod and a zinc vessel, which are called electrodes, an electric field is created. If a carbon rod and a zinc vessel are connected by a conductor, then free electrons will move along the entire length under the influence of an electric field. There will be an electric current.

Galvanic cells are the most common direct current sources in the world. Their advantage is convenience and safety in use.

In everyday life, batteries are often used that can be recharged many times, - accumulators(from lat. accumulator - to accumulate). The simplest battery consists of two lead plates (electrodes) placed in a solution of sulfuric acid.

In order for the battery to become a source of current, it must be charged. For charging, pass through the battery D.C. from some source. During the charging process, as a result of chemical reactions, one electrode becomes positively charged, and the other negatively. When the battery is charged, it can be used as an independent power source. The poles of the batteries are marked with the signs "+" and "-". When charging, the positive pole of the battery is connected to the positive pole of the current source, the negative - to the negative pole.

In addition to lead, or acid, batteries, iron-nickel, or alkaline, batteries are widely used. They use an alkali solution and plates - one of compressed iron powder, the second of nickel peroxide. Figure 48 shows a modern battery.

Rice. 48. Battery

Batteries have a wide and varied application. They serve to power the lighting network of railway cars, cars, to run car engine. Batteries power the submarine underwater. Radio transmitters and scientific equipment on artificial Earth satellites are also powered by batteries installed on the satellite.

a - mobile phone; b - laptop

Electricity is generated in power plants by means of generators(from lat. generator - creator, manufacturer). This electric current is used in industry, transport, and agriculture.

Questions

1. What is electric current?
2. What needs to be created in the conductor so that a current arises and exists in it?
3. What energy transformations take place inside the current source?
4. How does a dry galvanic cell work?
5. What are the positive and negative poles of a battery?
6. How is the battery arranged?
7. Where are batteries used?

The task

1. Use the internet to find out what types exist chargers and highlight their features.
2. Prepare a presentation on the use of batteries.

Many modern appliances do not operate from the mains, but from a battery that stores energy. Cars, mobile phones, players, etc. are arranged according to this principle. different types chargers. They can be used for industrial purposes, as well as for servicing home portable appliances.

Main types

There are different classifications of battery chargers. All of them are based on various parameters and device properties. Depending on how they work, there are 2 types:

In addition, chargers are usually divided according to the speed of operation. . Based on this criterion, the following types are distinguished:

Impulse devices

These devices are designed to charge household appliances of small dimensions. They are equipped with an electronic timer that can operate for 4 hours in fast charge mode. During such a period, almost any discharged battery is gaining its capacity.

After this time, the device switches to pulse charging mode. Energy is supplied to the output elements of the device to maintain the charge level.

The advantages of such models are as follows:

1. Low cost.
2. Technical simplicity.
3. Ease of use.

Typically, manufacturers set the timer based on the fact that the battery is completely discharged. If it was partially discharged, then there is a risk of damage to the battery by excess current. This feature does not apply to branded batteries. mobile phones, tablets and other digital devices, unless they are charged using universal devices.

The most advanced in their series are types of chargers with microprocessors. They do not allow recharging the battery, so they can be used to work with any devices, even if they are not completely discharged, but partially. The disadvantages of such models include a very high price.

It is highly undesirable to replace a proprietary device from a telephone or PDA with a universal one, since they may have differences in the structure of electrical connectors. When connecting any household appliance to the charger, the charger itself is first connected to the network, and then a phone or other device is connected to it.

Car accessories

All devices for charging car batteries are usually divided into several groups. Based on the existing classification, there are:

When choosing a charger for cars, you should consider some features of its operation. If possible, then it is better to give preference to the charging-starting option. Having at hand such a device and an electrical outlet, you can always start the car without waiting for the battery to be fully charged.

When buying a charger, it is better to choose a model that exceeds the battery requirements by about 10%. For those who are not strong in electrical engineering, an automatic model is more suitable - although it costs a little more, it will help to avoid unnecessary difficulties.

It is better to buy a device in trusted stores, giving preference to reliable manufacturers. Before using the device, be sure to read the instructions.

During operation, the battery fails, the cause of which is the discharge of the battery. To restore the capacity of the battery, chargers are used, which should be in the arsenal of every motorist, as well as wires for lighting. A wide range of such devices is offered by the Carvilleshop auto parts store, on the website of which you can get acquainted with both the characteristics of specific devices and current prices. To choose the most suitable charging model, you need to know the features and characteristics of all types on the market today.

Types of batteries.

Lead (acid) batteries are considered common for passenger cars. Such current sources need systematic and regular recharging. Much less common are alkaline batteries, which are based on nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), lithium-ion (Li-On) or nickel-metal (Ni-Mh) plates.

Basically, chargers operate on the same principle. Their main purpose is to reduce the mains voltage of 220 V to 12 V.

Types of battery chargers.

It is customary to separate two main types of the described devices:

1. Charging-starting, charging units that restore the capacity of batteries. By means of long wires they are connected to the battery, they can be used directly in the car.
2. Charging, functioning in stages. Initially, capacity is restored, as in the example described above. Next, the engine is started, while the battery is completely discharged.

Today, the market offers all kinds of modifications of devices that are designed to charge batteries. When choosing the optimal model, experts recommend taking into account the qualifications and experience of the driver.

For beginners in the automotive business, it is better to select automatic chargers, the cycle of which is automatically regulated. Such units turn off on their own when the battery is fully restored.

If we talk about a five-stage charger, it performs the following manipulations. Charging up to 80% takes place, after which a full charge up to 100% is carried out using a step-down current. Subsequently, the charge level is maintained within 95-100%, diagnostics are performed, and the pulsed mode prevents battery sulfation.

Eight-stage devices have even more functionality. The battery is charged up to 80%, until the full recharge, a reducing current is used. The battery is checked for the ability to hold a given charge, its performance is diagnosed, and sulfation is eliminated. Preventive charging at rates of 95-100%, preventing electrolyte separation when the battery is fully charged.

There are stationary converters of multifunctional type. They are designed to charge all types of batteries.