Method and apparatus for testing and charging a power source

• US 20060208696A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Makhija, Surender K.
• Application Number:
  US11/437,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/110
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A method of charging batteries, having the steps of entering information corresponding to a battery to be charged into a battery charger; performing a first heavy load test before performing a micro-load test on the battery; and determining a condition of the battery to determine whether the battery can be charged based upon the heavy load test. This method provides a way to safely and efficiently test the battery.

Claims

1. A method of charging batteries, comprising the steps of:

entering information corresponding to a battery to be charged into a battery charger;

performing a first heavy load test on the battery before performing a micro-load test on the battery; and

determining a condition of the battery to determine whether the battery can be charged based upon the heavy load test.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating a maximum charge time for the battery based on the first heavy load test.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging the battery up to the maximum charge time based on the first heavy load test.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

charging the battery for one minute; and

recording charging voltage.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of discarding the battery if recorded charging voltage is less than 1 volt.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

charging the battery for nine minutes; and

recording charging current every minute.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of discarding the battery if the charging current at the end of nine minutes is less than 3 amps.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

charging the battery up to the maximum charge time; and

applying a second heavy load test on the battery to determine whether the battery accepts charge.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second heavy load test comprises:

applying a first heavy load for a first preset time;

waiting a second preset time;

applying a second heavy load for a third preset time; and

determining the condition of the battery.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a cold cranking amps (“

CCA”

) value by applying the micro-load test to the battery;

determining the condition of the battery based upon the CCA value; and

completing charging of the battery.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of discarding the battery if the CCA value is less than or equal to 70% of a rated CCA value.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a second heavy load test before the micro-load test.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if clamps are connected to the battery.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heavy load test comprises:

applying a first load to the battery and releasing the first load after a first prescribed time;

measuring a first battery voltage after the first prescribed time;

measuring a bounce back voltage at a second prescribed time after the first prescribed time;

applying a second load to the battery and releasing the second load after a third prescribed time; and

measuring a second battery voltage after the third prescribed time.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of determining whether a bounce back voltage is less than or greater than 12.6 volts.

16. A battery charger, comprising:

means for entering information corresponding to a battery to be charged into a battery charger;

means for performing a first heavy load test on the battery before means for performing a micro-load test on the battery; and

means for determining a condition of the battery to determine whether the battery can be charged based upon the heavy load test.

17. The battery charger of claim 16, further comprising means for calculating a maximum charge time for the battery based on the first heavy load test.

18. The battery charger of claim 17, further comprising means for charging the battery up to the maximum charge time based on the first heavy load test.

19. The battery charger of claim 18, further comprising:

means for charging the battery up to the maximum charge time; and

means for applying a second heavy load test on the battery to determine whether the battery accepts charge.

20. The battery charger of claim 19, wherein the second heavy load test comprises:

means for applying a first heavy load for a first preset time;

means for waiting a second preset time;

means for applying a second heavy for a third preset time; and

means for determining the condition of the battery.

21. The battery charger of claim 19, further comprising:

means for measuring a cold cranking amps (“

CCA”

) value by applying the micro-load test to the battery;

means for determining the condition of the battery based upon the CCA value;

means for completing charging of the battery.

22. The battery charger of claim 16, further comprising means for performing a second heavy load test before the micro-load test.