faunt@dustbin.cisco.com (Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269) (08/13/90)
I want to charge and maintain a charge on a gel-cell from an automotive electrical system. I think that one way to do this is to hook up a low-voltage-drop voltage regulator IC in constant-current mode for the maximum charging current (about 1.6 A in this case). This will limit the current to the gel-cel to the maximum allowed bulk-charge current if the gel-cel is deeply discharged, but allow the gel-cel to be charged at a pretty high rate until it gets pretty full, and then taper off. Do some of the battery experts have comments or pointers to more information about this application? Mostly this battery will be charged from an AC charger, but I would like to be able to charge and maintain the charge in an automobile, also. thanx, doug faunt@cisco.com -- faunt@cisco.com 415-688-8269