Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: NGuggemos on November 01, 2011, 09:25:01 PM
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Hi guys! How would you connect a charger port such as this http://shop.razor.com/Charger_Port/ (http://shop.razor.com/Charger_Port/) to two SLA batteries in series?
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Hi,
Hi guys! How would you connect a charger port such as this http://shop.razor.com/Charger_Port/ (http://shop.razor.com/Charger_Port/) to two SLA batteries in series?
2 batteries in series is still a battery, just with twice the voltage, so red to the positive terminal and black to the negative/ground. The connected terminals of the two batteries should be seen as a "hidden" connection (just like the 5 hidden connections in between the 2V cells of a 12V battery).
When charging 2 batteries in series, there's a couple of things that should be adhered to:
Make sure that the batteries are from the same production batch if at all possible and at least that they are equal in capacity (not just according to the markings/specs, but measured) and equalized into obedience if not.
Never draw power from just one of the batteries, as that will throw the equality overboard.
Make sure you give them an equalizing charge at least every third to fifth charge or so (depending on use pattern).
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So just connect the charging ports wires directly to the positive and negative terminal on the battery? Thanks for the help!
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Hi,
So just connect the charging ports wires directly to the positive and negative terminal on the battery?
Yes, only way to charge, unless you include a charger circuit between this "port" (connector) and the battery, but you need a charger made for a "24V" battery.
It's not the best way to charge, but with a correctly adjusted charger and good connections it will work.
It seems to be a 3 pole connector...
(http://shop.razor.com/images/P/dirtquad_charger_port_lg-01.jpg)
And you might wanna connect the remaining contact (fused!) to the connection point of the two batteries (the 12V point), to make it easier to balance and/or check the batteries - you could get an extra connector and some 4mm jacks and make a measuring lead to make life easier.
However, do consider using 3-pin XLR connectors...
(http://www.swamp.net.au/images/productimages/Large/YS137N_YS136N.jpg)
(http://www.ajs.co.uk/WebRoot/BT4/Shops/BT4316/MediaGallery/resized/701-110_and_701-109.png)
(The female socket should be used at the battery side of things, to make it harder to short circuit the battery)
They have a click-lock rather than the dreadful screw-lock on the one you linked to and they have proved their ruggedness in pro-audio, where they usually see a lot of physical abuse.
Whichever you use, fuse the line(s).
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Ok thank you for your help. I will definitely go with something similar to the second picture.