Trickle Charger Question

[bchahn61]

As an alternative to making a grid charger yourself, is it be possible to use a .750mA battery charger or something you can buy similar to the one below? You could connect the ends the same way as you would connect the DIY (black clipped on the ground bolt, positive on where it is supposed to go instead of using the piggyback connector). Put a box fan in your trunk and leave the hatch cracked for airflow. Let it charge. Not sure how long it should be left on..

I know this probably is not an option and could be dangerous or cause damage to the batteries/components/person. Thats why i'm asking first. Thanks for your help.

Amazon

Amazon

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by bchahn61

As an alternative to making a grid charger yourself, is it be possible to use a .750mA battery charger or something you can buy similar to the one below? You could connect the ends the same way as you would connect the DIY (black clipped on the ground bolt, positive on where it is supposed to go instead of using the piggyback connector). Put a box fan in your trunk and leave the hatch cracked for airflow. Let it charge. Not sure how long it should be left on..

I know this probably is not an option and could be dangerous or cause damage to the batteries/components/person. Thats why i'm asking first. Thanks for your help.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger: Automotive

That one won't work. That is a 12V charger and the battery pack get upwards of 175V when topped off.

[bchahn61]

Are there any commercially available alternatives as opposed to the diy/build your own? Thanks

[bryankwalton]

Originally Posted by bchahn61

Are there any commercially available alternatives as opposed to the diy/build your own? Thanks

You need to buy one from Mike Dabrowski (a member of this forum). His website is www.99mpg.com.

-Bryan

[diamondlarry]

Try these as they are the best out there: http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/gridcharger/

EDIT: Looks like Bryan types faster than me.

[bchahn61]

Thank you for your responses. It does not look like he has an available at this time. I will contact him and submit a deposit for one.

Thank you for telling me that a standard automotive 12V charger simply can't handle the charging of the batteries that can get upwards of 175V. Would it be possible to remove the individual sticks and charge them one at a time with a 12V charger? If so, for how long and at what charge rate should I charge them (I have a 2amp/10amp charger and could also pick up the .75mA charger for around 40 dollars).

If I removed the sticks form the pack for the purpose of charging, would the car still run as it is running now as long as I put the empty battery holder pack back in?

I am trying to refresh a pack that went bad. It was in an insight that mostly sat in a garage ( drove 1,200 miles) since January 2010. Not sure if it's possible but figured it would be worth looking into.

Thanks.

[JohnVirginia]

Hey bchahn61, I was asking on another post similar questions about using a 12V charger (mine is an old 6 amp) somehow modified to get a trickle charge into the IMA battery.

I look forward to responses to your question about charging individual sticks (stick being 6 cells in series and providing around 9 volts (20 sticks of 6 cells each all in series for 175 volts implies 175/120 = 1.5 volts each cell or 9 volts for a stick of 6). The individual cells are evidently welded together in a stick in order to handle the high amps (100 amps fuse on the battery pack).

Most of the regular people on the forum are evidently well versed in electronics and battery chemistry/operation and so are surely rolling their eyes at my posts, but I have already confessed to not being literate in engineering/electonics. I think it is just fun to learn and build up some understanding.

[bchahn61]

Originally Posted by JohnVirginia

Hey bchahn61, I was asking on another post similar questions about using a 12V charger (mine is an old 6 amp) somehow modified to get a trickle charge into the IMA battery.

I look forward to responses to your question about charging individual sticks (stick being 6 cells in series and providing around 9 volts (20 sticks of 6 cells each all in series for 175 volts implies 175/120 = 1.5 volts each cell or 9 volts for a stick of 6). The individual cells are evidently welded together in a stick in order to handle the high amps (100 amps fuse on the battery pack).

Most of the regular people on the forum are evidently well versed in electronics and battery chemistry/operation and so are surely rolling their eyes at my posts, but I have already confessed to not being literate in engineering/electonics. I think it is just fun to learn and build up some understanding.

Indeed. I hope to hear that it is possible to remove the sticks, hook them up one at a time to a 12v battery charger at X amps for X hours each for a reasonable recharge/recondition.

This is definitely something that I could do myself if it works. I hope that someone well versed in these matters can steer me in the right direction

[Eli]

No, you cannot hook the sticks up to a 12V charger. You will destroy them unless you know precisely what you are doing.

You need a charger that can specifically charge and discharge NiMH cells, like the SuperBrain 989.
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=6863

[bchahn61]

Originally Posted by Eli

No, you cannot hook the sticks up to a 12V charger. You will destroy them unless you know precisely what you are doing.

You need a charger that can specifically charge and discharge NiMH cells, like the SuperBrain 989.
MRC - BATTERY CHARGERS Series - SUPER BRAIN 989, Item: RB989, RC PRODUCTS/BATTERY CHARGERS

Thank you for your advice. Could you tell me how or direct me to another thread that outlines the process one you have one of these devices?