1.1 Introduction
A battery charger is an indispensible device for battery users because battery is an essential element that powers any electronic products like UPS inverters system, photographic equipments, hand-held lamps (flashlight or torch), computer-memory standby, toys, novelties and automobiles, etc. The life span of a battery mostly used by automobile drivers can be maximized by avoiding over loading, overcharging, and inputting charge current higher than battery manufacture’s rated value (Bangaru, at al, 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Few modern electrical appliances receive their power directly from the Utilitygrid like National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) or Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), while a growing number of everyday electronic and electrical devices require electrical power from batteries in order to achieve greater mobility and convenience. Rechargeable batteries store electricity from the utility grid for later use and can be conveniently recharged when their energy has been drained.
According to Woodbank Communications Ltd in their 2005 battery chargers and charging methods review (Mpoweruk, 2021). battery charging involves three key functions: getting the charger into the battery (charging), optimizing the charging rate (stabilizing) and knowing when to stop (terminating). Appliances that use rechargeable batteries include everythingfrom low-power mobile cell phones to high-power industrial forklifts. The sales volume of suchproducts has increased dramatically in the past decade. Hundreds of millions of theseproducts are sold annually to businesses and consumers, with close to a billion in U.S and Nigeria. While designers of battery chargers often maximize the energy efficiency of their devices to ensure long operation times between charging. They often ignore how much energy is consumed in the process of converting ac electricity from the utility grid into dc electricity stored in the battery.
In this project design, significant energy savings are possible by reducing the conversion losses associated with charging batteries in battery-powered products. We could save a lot of electric power using new electronic technology in our charging system and then highlight several design strategies for improving the efficiency of other chargers.
We introduced a smart or intelligent battery charger that does not only recharge batteries but conserves AC electrical energy and as well save the battery life. Most battery chargers require human attention say Chu, Kim-Chiu the writer ‘development of intelligent battery charge' (1989), from the University of Hong Kong, but in this project, an automatic battery monitor is used to reduce human attention to about 85 per cent to eliminate overcharging of batteries.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation reveals that charger does not alter its output based on time or the charge on the battery. The circuit of a battery charger has the ability to convert voltages from one form to another (usually AC to DC voltages). This process is carried out through the use of some important components like: rectifiers, capacitor to filter and remove ripples from the AC source and a voltage regulator (IC).
However, this project is based on the construction of a 12volts simple battery charger with local materials to reduce cost. The proposed project design works on 12V batteries. There is resistance connected in the battery charger to limit the short circuit current.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to design and construct a battery charger that can be use to charge any kind of 12v rechargeable batteries including alkaline, NiCad or lead acid batteries. In achieving this aim the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To design a device that has the ability to indicate charging process, low battery and fully charge levels through LED indicators.
- To design a cheap, versatile and efficient lead acid car battery charger which will interest and appeal to the “cost-minded” customer.
After carrying out our project research on the targeted users, they have been able to devise a list of particular features that would be essential in the project, like designing battery charger to be universal. Using a standard AC power, ability to charge a typical 12 Volt lead-acid (automotive) battery. We used these requirements as guidelines to implementing our product as well as include additional features that we thought are important to the functionality.
1.5 Significant of the Study
The significant of this project is not just to recharge batteries but it works as a D. C power adapter for experimentation. It may, however, require an externalcapacitor to be connected across its output terminals in order to “smooth” the voltage sufficiently, which may be thought of as a DC voltage plus a “ripple” voltage added to it. The project is also significant because children will be attracted to charging their own batteries in their toys and possessions. Managing their own batteries is fun, and they know it helps the environment by not having to throw batteries away when they can recycle them.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of this project is to have a direct current battery charger of 12 Volts and 10 Amp maximum which can be suitable for car batteries and electric vehicles. Electric vehicles need high-rate chargers for public access.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
The project is limited to 12V batteries. It is not advisable to use it on rechargeable batteries above 12V. Also there is no internal resistance connected in the battery charger to limit the short circuit current.
1.8 Constraints of the Study
The biggest setback experienced during the course of this project is financial difficulties in funding the design of the project. Secondly, sourcing of materials and components used was not easy. Finding the rectifier diode and DC regulator for this charger was not an easy task. We had to destroy many electronic devices for solution. Some of the components we used for this project were very difficult to find. Furthermore, we received a severe electric shock while trying to plug in the workbench power supply to test our design and that made us to almost give up.
