Charging is the process of replenishing the battery energy in a controlled manner. To charge a battery, a DC power source with a voltage higher than the battery, along with a current regulation mechanism, is required. To ensure the efficient and safe charging of batteries, it is crucial to understand the various charging modes.
There are three common methods of charging a battery; constant voltage, constant current and a combination of constant voltage/constant current with or without a smart charging circuit. Constant voltage allows the full current of the charger to flow into the battery until the power supply reaches its pre-set voltage.
Understanding The Battery Charging Modes: Constant Current and Constant Voltage Modes Charging is the process of replenishing the battery energy in a controlled manner. To charge a battery, a DC power source with a voltage higher than the battery, along with a current regulation mechanism, is required.
There are four commonly used and popular charging methods: CC charging is a simple method that uses a small constant current to charge the battery during the whole charging process. CC charging stops whena predefined value is reached. This method is widely used for charging NiCd or NiMH batteries, as well as Li-ion batteries.
Even if there are no restrictions imposed by law, charging points functioning in mode 3 typically permit charging up to 32 A and 250 V in single-phase AC and up to 32 A and 480 V in three-phase AC. Mode 4 (Ultra-fast Charging): The DC charging feature is only available in this charging mode.
The charging process can be divided into three stages: constant current, constant voltage, and trickle charge. In stage one, known as constant current charging, a large amount of current is sent through the battery to charge it quickly. The voltage across the battery begins to rise during this stage as it fills up with electrical potential energy.