The heart of the car is the engine. All drivers will probably agree with this. But in order to start this heart, and then control its work, powering all kinds of sensors and devices, there is a rechargeable battery. Why such a name? Because it stores and accumulates electric current and consists of several accumulators assembled into a battery. As long as the car battery is charged, there are no problems with starting the engine.
Instructions
Step 1
For the operation of the car, acidic storage batteries are most often used, i.e. those in which a solution of sulfuric acid in distilled water is used as an electrolyte. Therefore, the technical condition of the battery can be monitored using a hydrometer. It allows you to determine the density of the electrolyte. If it is high, the battery is charged, and if it is low, it is discharged.
For the same purpose, you can use a load plug, which shows the voltage of the entire battery or each individual "bank". According to its readings, you can determine whether the battery is charged or not, and how stable the voltage is.
As soon as it becomes clear that the battery needs recharging, the question arises: "How to do this?" Currently, buying a charger in a store is not a problem, but if you accidentally have an AC transformer on a shelf in your garage and gathering dust, reducing the voltage from 220V to 16V, then the issue can be solved without a store.
Step 2
In addition to the transformer, you will need:
• conventional wire rheostat for adjusting the charging current;
• ammeter to control the value of the charging current;
• rectifier device;
• switch, which is included in the circuit of the primary winding of the transformer;
• a light bulb included in the secondary circuit. As soon as voltage appears in the secondary winding of the transformer, it lights up.
Step 3
Make a rectifier yourself by assembling a rectifier bridge from diodes. Mount the entire device on a base made of dielectric material (textolite, plywood, non-melting non-conductive plastic). Fix the transformer on the base.
Step 4
From the same material, assemble a case in which you make many holes for cooling the transformer and rectifier.
On the front wall of the case, fix the control lamp, turn-on toggle switch, ammeter, rheostat.
It is advisable to equip the output wires from the rectifier with terminals of different diameters in order not to reverse the polarity when connected to the battery.
Step 5
After checking the fulfillment of these prerequisites, connect the charger plug to the mains, connect the terminals to the battery and use a rheostat to set the required charging current. Check its value according to the ammeter readings.
