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Poor charging practice is responsible for
shortening the life of a battery more than any other cause.
Charging may be accomplished by various methods, but the
objective of driving current through the battery in the
opposite direction of discharge remains the same. The most
important aspect of charging is matching the charger to the
battery application. When choosing a charger, it is
necessary to consider the type of battery, the way in which
the battery will be discharged, the time available for
charge, the temperature extremes the battery will
experience, and the number of cells in the battery (output
voltage). It is important to consult the battery
manufacturer at the time of purchase to determine the
appropriate charging method.
In general, lead-acid batteries may be
recharged at any rate that does not produce excessive
gassing, overcharge, or high temperatures. Discharged
batteries may be recharged at a high current initially.
However, once the battery approaches its full charge the
current must be decreased to reduce gassing and excessive
overcharging.
A wide variety of schemes exist for charging
lead-acid batteries. Although a complete discussion of
various charging techniques is beyond the scope of this
Primer, a general description of the more common methods
follows.
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