Battery chargers are voltage transformers. They take 120 volt AC power and transform it to lower voltage DC power for battery charging. The voltage of the battery charger is set higher than the battery voltage. This is what causes current to flow. If the charger voltage is set too low it will take a long time to charge your battery. Many battery chargers are intentionally set at a low voltage which allows slow charging without over charging the battery. If the voltage is set too high, your battery will be charged and it will begin gassing as it is over charged. This is done intentionally during an equalization charge, but should be avoided at all other times.
A constant voltage battery charger really has two stages. The first stage, or bulk charging stage, occurs when the battery voltage is low and the charger delivers its maximum rated current to the battery. The current remains constant as the voltage rises. Once the voltage rises to the voltage setting of the charger the current starts decreasing. This is the second stage or absorption stage. Some battery chargers have a third stage that occurs once the current has decreased to a trickle charge and the battery is full. The charger reduces its voltage setting to a float voltage and a small current flows into the battery in order to maintain it at a full charge. Maximum Charge Rate
Charger Efficiency
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