Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger

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This charger will charge any 12V lead acid battery including flooded, gel and AGM. It is fully automatic and will charge at a rate up to about 4A until the battery voltage reaches a preset point at which it will switch to a very low current float charge. If the battery voltage drops again the charger will begin charging until the voltage once again reaches the cut off point. In this way it can be left connected to a battery indefinitely to maintain full charge without causing damage. An LED indicates when the battery is fully charged.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1, R3	2	330 Ohm 1/4W Resistor
R2	1	100 Ohm 1/4W Pot
R4, R5, R7, R8	4	82 Ohm 2W Resistor
R6	1	100 Ohm 1/4W Resistor
R9	1	1K 1/4W Resistor
C1	1	220uF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
D1	1	P600 Diode	Any 50V 5A or greater rectifier diode
D2	1	1N4004 Diode	1N4002, 1N4007
D3	1	5.6V Zener Diode
D4	1	LED (Red, Green or Yellow)
Q1	1	BT136 TRIAC
Q2	1	BRX49 SCR
T1	1	12V 4A Transformer	See Notes
F1	1	3A Fuse
S1	1	SPST Switch, 120VAC 5A
MISC	1	Wire, Board, Heatsink For U1, Case, Binding Posts or Alligator Clips For Output, Fuse Holder

Notes

R2 will have to be adjusted to set the proper finish charge voltage. Flooded and gel batteries are generally charged to 13.8V. If you are cycling the battery (AGM or gel) then 14.5V to 14.9V is generally recommended by battery manufacturers. To set up the charger, set the pot to midway, turn on the charger and then connect a battery to it's output. Monitor the charge with a voltmeter until the battery reaches the proper end voltage and then adjust the pot until the LED glows steadily. The charger has now been set. To charge multiple battery types you can mount the pot on the front of the case and have each position marked for the appropriate voltage.

Q1 will need a heatsink. If the circuit is mounted in a case then a small fan might be necessary and can generally be powered right off the output of D1.

T1 is a transformer with a primary voltage appropriate to your location (120V, 220V, etc.) and a secondary around 12V. Using a higher voltage secondary (16V-18V) will allow you to charge 16V batteries sometimes used in racing applications.

If the circuit is powered off, the battery should be disconnected from it's output otherwise the circuit will drain the battery slowly.

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Comments

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RAY pitts Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Monday, May 25, 2020 6:50:22 AM

TO SAVE UN PLUGGING TO STOP BATTERY DRAIN, PLACE SUITABLE DIODE IN FEED TO BATTERY

Tharanga Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Tuesday, September 18, 2018 11:47:03 AM

Posted - Sep 18 2018 : 11:36:55 AM Show Profile Reply with Quote I have made two 12V chargers using your circuit & both perfectly working. Thank you for the circuit diagram. Now I want to make a 24V charger. What are the values of components ?

Valeriy Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:17:28 AM

Thanks a lot for the electrical circuit. I have done it, but I had to replace a 2 pair of resistors at 82 Ohm 2W (parallel pair gives 41 Ohm 4 Watt) instead five ceramic type resistors in series at 8.2 Ohm 10 Watt. In this case, no fan is needed. Slightly warm. BRX49 could be replaced by mcr100-8 or P0102DA may be BT169 or 2N6565. See datasheet, compare. Ilike it. Very.

Muhammad ali arif Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Thursday, December 03, 2015 12:10:00 AM

I want to build this circuit urgently for my 12Volts 7 AH /18AH /35Ah Dry Cell batteries .i am a newbie ,sorry for my bad english. My Parts Specifications : 12V transformer 20 AMPS 35 AMPS BRIDGE KBPC3510 . TRIAC BT137 8AMPS SCR TNY616 16AMPS mounted on heat sink Can i use full wave rectification for this circuit ?? and what is the output power of this circuit according to my specifications. ?? can triac is triggered through the output of bridge rectifier ??

tuan Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Friday, November 20, 2015 10:50:29 AM

If I want to design this circuit for charging the battery 6v What must be corrected. Using solar power is 12v identity. Please help me complete this project.
(Editor's notes: Won't work from DC.)

anonymous Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Sunday, July 12, 2015 7:44:07 AM

the half wave rectifier will not give the required 13.8v charging voltage if it is feed by the 12v ac from T1.

Giovanni Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Wednesday, April 15, 2015 8:35:59 PM

I built this circuit more than 20 years ago and I used two SCR and a bridge graetz. I can guarantee that near zero volts the Q1 was dying anyway and left again at the next half-wave, of course, if the circuit demanded it. Sometimes I used a Tr NPN instead of Q2, but I never used Zener diodes, resistors only calculated appropriately. A defect and a merit of the circuit: while the charge current is reduced, the components are heated and increases their conduction thereby reducing the V Gate (or VBE).

KRYOS Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Thursday, February 19, 2015 5:29:06 PM

hello I would like to ma information about the R2 component ... need to know if it is 100 Ohms or 100k Ohms eh ?? do not think this variable resistance of 100 Ohms here in Brazil I can use a 100k in place of that of 100 Ohms or some other

azim Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Wednesday, January 28, 2015 8:11:56 AM

HI can this charger modified to give the battery charging level (more than one green led and one red during charging process).the charger can use the solar modules .If yes pls send me the circuit diagram and component list.Also the price of this kit. thanks

anonymous Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:55:00 AM

Thank you for the great Circuit. LED goes off at about every 10 seconds. Is it the normal state of operation or do I need to adjust Pot to glow it continuously. ?

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RAY pitts	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Monday, May 25, 2020 6:50:22 AM
TO SAVE UN PLUGGING TO STOP BATTERY DRAIN, PLACE SUITABLE DIODE IN FEED TO BATTERY
Tharanga	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Tuesday, September 18, 2018 11:47:03 AM
Posted - Sep 18 2018 : 11:36:55 AM Show Profile Reply with Quote I have made two 12V chargers using your circuit & both perfectly working. Thank you for the circuit diagram. Now I want to make a 24V charger. What are the values of components ?
Valeriy	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:17:28 AM
Thanks a lot for the electrical circuit. I have done it, but I had to replace a 2 pair of resistors at 82 Ohm 2W (parallel pair gives 41 Ohm 4 Watt) instead five ceramic type resistors in series at 8.2 Ohm 10 Watt. In this case, no fan is needed. Slightly warm. BRX49 could be replaced by mcr100-8 or P0102DA may be BT169 or 2N6565. See datasheet, compare. Ilike it. Very.
Muhammad ali arif	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Thursday, December 03, 2015 12:10:00 AM
I want to build this circuit urgently for my 12Volts 7 AH /18AH /35Ah Dry Cell batteries .i am a newbie ,sorry for my bad english. My Parts Specifications : 12V transformer 20 AMPS 35 AMPS BRIDGE KBPC3510 . TRIAC BT137 8AMPS SCR TNY616 16AMPS mounted on heat sink Can i use full wave rectification for this circuit ?? and what is the output power of this circuit according to my specifications. ?? can triac is triggered through the output of bridge rectifier ??
tuan	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Friday, November 20, 2015 10:50:29 AM
If I want to design this circuit for charging the battery 6v What must be corrected. Using solar power is 12v identity. Please help me complete this project. (Editor's notes: Won't work from DC.)
anonymous	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Sunday, July 12, 2015 7:44:07 AM
the half wave rectifier will not give the required 13.8v charging voltage if it is feed by the 12v ac from T1.
Giovanni	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Wednesday, April 15, 2015 8:35:59 PM
I built this circuit more than 20 years ago and I used two SCR and a bridge graetz. I can guarantee that near zero volts the Q1 was dying anyway and left again at the next half-wave, of course, if the circuit demanded it. Sometimes I used a Tr NPN instead of Q2, but I never used Zener diodes, resistors only calculated appropriately. A defect and a merit of the circuit: while the charge current is reduced, the components are heated and increases their conduction thereby reducing the V Gate (or VBE).
KRYOS	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Thursday, February 19, 2015 5:29:06 PM
hello I would like to ma information about the R2 component ... need to know if it is 100 Ohms or 100k Ohms eh ?? do not think this variable resistance of 100 Ohms here in Brazil I can use a 100k in place of that of 100 Ohms or some other
azim	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Wednesday, January 28, 2015 8:11:56 AM
HI can this charger modified to give the battery charging level (more than one green led and one red during charging process).the charger can use the solar modules .If yes pls send me the circuit diagram and component list.Also the price of this kit. thanks
anonymous	Automatic 12V Lead Acid Battery Charger	Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:55:00 AM
Thank you for the great Circuit. LED goes off at about every 10 seconds. Is it the normal state of operation or do I need to adjust Pot to glow it continuously. ?