MadMechanic
- Aug 28, 2012
- 48
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 48
Hello All,
I have a general question about battery charging. I am messing around with small scale power generation (as some of you may have seen in previous threads) and I have a question about battery charging.
Originally I was aiming to generate enough power to charge any USB device with only my generator. USB standard power is 5V, 1A. So far I have had success charging a cell phone at 5V 300mA with no problem. I have tried larger loads, but it seems my generator is maxing out around 350mA when I increase rpm. I have not yet tried my ipod touch which should draw anywhere from 500mA to 1A.
I have plenty of voltage out of this.... easily in excess of 50V at low rpm, but the amperage seems limited, even though the motor I am using in reverse as a generator is rated at 1.7A.
The question is If I were to add a 12V rechargeable battery to the system as the primary phone charging source, could I (trickle-charge) the battery from the generator? Being that the generator's amperage is lower than the load on the battery....would the battery recharge at 350mA when not loaded?
Would I be safe to assume that as long as the battery has (non-loaded) resistance lower than the pull of 350mA that as long as my voltages were even or greater the battery would slowly recharge? Thanks,
I have a general question about battery charging. I am messing around with small scale power generation (as some of you may have seen in previous threads) and I have a question about battery charging.
Originally I was aiming to generate enough power to charge any USB device with only my generator. USB standard power is 5V, 1A. So far I have had success charging a cell phone at 5V 300mA with no problem. I have tried larger loads, but it seems my generator is maxing out around 350mA when I increase rpm. I have not yet tried my ipod touch which should draw anywhere from 500mA to 1A.
I have plenty of voltage out of this.... easily in excess of 50V at low rpm, but the amperage seems limited, even though the motor I am using in reverse as a generator is rated at 1.7A.
The question is If I were to add a 12V rechargeable battery to the system as the primary phone charging source, could I (trickle-charge) the battery from the generator? Being that the generator's amperage is lower than the load on the battery....would the battery recharge at 350mA when not loaded?
Would I be safe to assume that as long as the battery has (non-loaded) resistance lower than the pull of 350mA that as long as my voltages were even or greater the battery would slowly recharge? Thanks,