Battery Charging

Battery charging takes place in stages: Bulk, Absorption, and Float.

Bulk Charge – This is the first stage of battery charging. Current is sent to the batteries at the maximum safe rate they will accept (the amount they will take) until the voltage rises to near (80-90%) at the full charge level. Voltages at this stage will typically range from 10.5 volts to 15 volts. There is no "correct" voltage amount for bulk charging, but there may be limits on the maximum current that the battery can take. Also you may need stronger wiring to take the stronger current.

Absorption Charge: This is the second 2nd stage of battery charging. The voltage remains at constant and the current gradually tapers away as the internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger puts out the maximum voltage. Voltages at this stage will be typically at around 14.2 to 15.5 volts.

Float Charge: This is the 3rd stage of battery charging. golf batteries,the charging voltage is will be reduced to a lower level (typically 12.8 to 13.2volts) this will reduce gassing and prolong the batteries life. This is often referred to as a trickle charge, since it's main purpose is to keep an already charged battery charged up. PWM, or "pulse width modulation" will accomplish the same thing. In PWM, the controller or charger senses tiny voltage pulses in the battery and sends very short charging cycles (pulses) to the battery. This may occur several hundred times per minute. It is called "pulse width" because the width of the pulses may vary from a few microseconds to many seconds. Note that for longer float service, such as backup UPS batteriespower systems that are seldom discharged, the float voltage should be kept around 13.02 to 13.20 volts.

Battery charging the correct charger

Battery Chargers: Most garages and internet charger suppliers and other consumer (auto) type battery chargers are bulk for charge only, and have not much voltage regulation. They are fine for a quick boost if you have flat batteries, but not to leave your batteries on for long periods. Among the regulated chargers, there are some voltage regulated ones, such as NUMAX battery chargers, numax battery chargerswhich keep a constant regulated voltage on your batteries. If these are set to the correct voltages for your batteries, they will keep the batteries charged up without any damage occurring. What taper charge really means is that as the battery gets charged up, the voltage goes up, so the amps out of the charger goes down. They charge OK, but a charger rated at 20 amps may only be supplying 5 amps when the batteries are 80% charged. There are many types of charger and it is important that you do a little research before you buy the correct one. Just ask yourself is it for a car or a golf buggy , should it be AGM or GEL, then you will get the correct charger