Apparatus and method for rapid bulk charging of a lead acid battery
First Claim
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1. A circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery comprising:
- power supply means for providing a regulated voltage and an unregulated voltage;
resistor means coupled between said regulated voltage and a positive terminal of said battery for providing a current path to float charge said battery;
switching means, coupled between said positive terminal of said battery and said unregulated voltage via a series resistor, for providing a current path to rapid bulk charge said battery in response to a control signal;
said switching means comprises a control input for receiving said control signal, said control input being coupled to said regulated voltage via a current limiting resistor; and
diode means coupled between said unregulated voltage and a series regulator of said circuit arrangement for enabling said power supply means to operate in a float charge mode or in a rapid bulk charge mode in accordance with a predetermined value of said battery voltage.
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Abstract
Apparatus to rapidly bulk charge a lead acid battery used in a "standby" power supply unit (PSU), or similar equipment containing said function, such as in an alarm panel system, fire panel (system) etc., without increasing the output capacity of the regulated PSU, significantly increasing its dissipation, size or cost, or causing an unacceptable recharge time of (often) several days. The apparatus comprises minimal additional components to provide a bulk charge of approximately 70% capacity to a 65 Ahr battery within 14 hours, while only drawing an average current of approximately 0.4 amp from the regulated PSU.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery comprising:
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power supply means for providing a regulated voltage and an unregulated voltage; resistor means coupled between said regulated voltage and a positive terminal of said battery for providing a current path to float charge said battery; switching means, coupled between said positive terminal of said battery and said unregulated voltage via a series resistor, for providing a current path to rapid bulk charge said battery in response to a control signal; said switching means comprises a control input for receiving said control signal, said control input being coupled to said regulated voltage via a current limiting resistor; and diode means coupled between said unregulated voltage and a series regulator of said circuit arrangement for enabling said power supply means to operate in a float charge mode or in a rapid bulk charge mode in accordance with a predetermined value of said battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery comprising:
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power supply means for providing a regulated voltage and an unregulated voltage; first diode means having a constant Vf connected in series with resistor means for increasing bulk charge capacity and providing a current path to float charge said battery, one end of said first diode means being coupled to said regulated voltage and one end of said resistor means being coupled to a positive terminal of said battery; switching means, coupled between said positive terminal of said battery and said unregulated voltage via a series resistor, for providing a current path to rapid bulk charge said battery in response to a control signal; said switching means comprises a control input for receiving said control signal, said control input being coupled to said regulated voltage via a current limiting resistor; and second diode means coupled between said unregulated voltage and a series regulator of said circuit arrangement for enabling said power supply means to operate in a float charge mode or in a rapid bulk charge mode in accordance with a predetermined value of said battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery, comprising:
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(a) charging means for charging a battery said charging means having a standby mode and a rapid bulk charge mode; (b) monitoring means coupled between an output of said battery and an output of said charging means for monitoring battery voltage output and providing a float charge to said battery when said charging means is in said standby mode; and (c) rapid bulk charge providing means coupled to said battery output for providing a rapid bulk charge to said battery when said monitoring means senses a predetermined battery voltage output, said rapid bulk charge providing means comprising a control input coupled to said monitoring means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a battery with means having a standby mode and a rapid bulk charge mode; (b) monitoring battery voltage output and providing a float charge to said battery when said charging means is in said standby mode with means coupled between an output of said battery and an output of said charging means; and (c) providing a rapid bulk charge to said battery when said monitoring means senses a predetermined battery voltage output, said rapid bulk charge providing means comprises a control input coupled to said monitoring means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A circuit arrangement for rapidly charging a battery, comprising:
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(a) a battery charging circuit having a standby mode and a rapid bulk charge mode; (b) a battery voltage monitoring circuit coupled between an output of a battery and an output of the battery charging circuit which monitors battery voltage output and provides a float charge to the battery when the battery charging circuit is in the standby mode; and (c) a rapid bulk charging circuit coupled to the battery output and having a control input coupled to the battery voltage monitoring circuit which provides a rapid bulk charge to the battery when the battery voltage monitoring circuit senses a predetermined battery voltage output.
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20. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a battery with a battery charging circuit having a standby mode and a rapid bulk charge mode; (b) monitoring battery voltage output and providing a float charge to the battery when the battery charging circuit is in the standby mode with a battery voltage monitoring circuit coupled between an output of a battery and an output of the battery charging circuit; and (c) providing a rapid bulk charge to the battery when the battery voltage monitoring circuit senses a predetermined battery voltage output with a rapid bulk charging circuit coupled to the battery output and having a control input coupled to the battery voltage monitoring circuit.
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Specification