Imhotep's Lab Interactive FAQ

Hi

I will like to know about, what kind of batteries are possible to be charged with this circuit. And which ones are potentially dangerous to use.

In the forum about "batteries and stuff" there is a lot of stuff about lead-acid batteries...
It is also said about NiMH from the laptop are not possible to charge.
And I guess, using a Li-Ion would end in dangerous explosions...

Is then only possible to use the lead-acid ones, or the alkalines??? is it because high volts spikes only reacts with acid stuff???
In the "projects" "imhotep-bedini fan" it is said: "...These fans can be used for many different applications including but not limited too : charging capacitors, and recharging non-rechargable batteries ie; alkaline, carbon zinc..."

So, It is "carbon zinc" possible...? do they have acid too?? What about all those other types (NiCd, NiMH, NiM...) so common in the mobiles phones, etc....


Thank you all, you curious-minds, for sharing your time and ideas
Wangha

In my experience, most types of battery can be charged, both rechargeable and non rechargeable.

Lead acid, NiCad and Nimh all respond well, Zinc carbon batteries only seem to get a very light charge (about 5%).

some types of batteries are prone to explosion so there is always a danger involved so take precautions by placing the charging battery in an area where it wont cause any damage if it fails.

All our experiments and failures should be reported so that others can learn.

I have destroyed every Li ion battery I have tried to charge. There is some circuitry inside these batteries that gets destroyed however i have got some charge into an individual cell but eventually it too failed. I don't know why so that is why i will continue to experiment till i find out.

Sealed type lead acid like what are found in UPS units and emergency lighting will charge on a small fan charger that has a very small output but are destroyed by more powerful radiant chargers. Other types of lead acid all respond very well.

All the elements used to produce electricity in a battery remain in the battery even when it is dead. What we are doing is attempting to reverse the chemical process so that the battery can be used again. It does not matter what the chemicals are, acid or alkaline.

Most mobile phone batteries are of the Li Ion type so there is a need for research in this area.

The reason most people use lead acid is because they are robust, they respond very well, they increase in capacity, their speed of charge increases and most significantly there is an over unity effect.

Hi Mr.Brown

I have been reading about Li Ion batteries. Seems every Li Ion battery must have a "security circuit" (basically a thermic fuse) embedded in the battery itself before it is commercialized or included in any product. This is mandatory for battery producers, since the Li Ion cells are easy to explode when overcharging or sort-circuiting.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery#Safety
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Safety

Lithium-ion batteries can rupture, ignite, or explode when exposed to high temperature environments, for example in an area that is prone to prolonged direct sunlight.[53] Short-circuiting a Li-ion battery can cause it to ignite or explode, and as such, any attempt to open or modify a Li-ion battery's casing or circuitry is dangerous. Li-ion batteries contain safety devices that protect the cells inside from abuse, and, if damaged, can cause the battery to ignite or explode.
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So I guess its not a nice idea try high V pulses on a naked Li Ion cell... except if you are trying make some explosive device... In that case (which I dont recommend)
I will recommend a wide open place with no people around and very long cables to the cell (far away in a protected place).

Best regards and careful experimenting 8)
Wangha

From my recent experience.
NiMH definitely easier to charge and recover. With charging power definitely much better than 1 day charger.


I manage to increase some gel lead acid battery. A working battery would easily charged to 15v in 3 hour.

NiCD could also be charged.

For zinc carbon, it is a mixed result. 1.5V battery would increase voltage but not it's ampere rating. 9V battery would make a cracked sound in a couple of seond with 0.5 Volt voltage increase. I have two, and both of them make a cracked sound and get very hot, maybe because the charging voltage is 15V (input 11.5). After charging the voltage would increase around 15% and then voltage became 110% after a couple of days.

It seems zinc carbon would increase in voltage storage but without the increase of amp.

The reason battery can explode is the generation of hydrogen during charging. If hydrogen become collected and you do it in a place without wind, it can easily pop.

When charging batteries, I try to mach the input power to the charging circuit to the output capacity of the battery at a c10 to c20 charge rate.

I have found that these radiant chargers convert the energy input to charge in the battery at near 1 to 1.

When the battery is fully charged any further input starts to produce heat.

If your charging battery is getting hot then either your input is too high or it is overcharging too long.

The Big exception is zinc carbon batteries. Their capacity is less than 10 or 20% of a new cel

Mick

Anyone can say if this kind of battery can be charged?


Like a made a bedini motor, use 2 9V batterys, but they dont seen to charge, run for about 6h and start to stop and a need to pull the motor again, but few minutes after, they stop again

Source: a Alkaline battery
(this one can be charged too? Fully charged?)

If i use a 12V/1A as a source, i can explode this batterys or is safe to charge them with this current?

My experience is that this type of battery can be charged; however they do not have the capacity of a new battery.

If a non rechargeable battery is charged the capacity is less than a rechargeable type. I have not got any figures as to what capacity to expect or why two similar cells will have a different capacity but i suspect it depends upon many factors. The age of the cell, how far it was discharged and the rate of discharge and how long it has been discharged etc.

All batteries have a finite life, this life also depends upon the above factors. It may be that this battery of yours is not recoverable.

You must take care when charging any battery, they all have a potential to explode. the potential to explode is increased with the increase of input power and voltage. We cannot measure the current of radiant energy, only the volts. If your battery is getting warm then it is either fully charged or you are putting in too much power. If the battery leaks or swells it is about to explode. Ideally your charger would be matched to your battery, that is the power consumed by your charger would be 5% of the amp hour rating of your battery.

Hope this answers your question