Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Off-Topic > The Lounge
Register Now
 Register Now
 


Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-23-2009, 04:24 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Question -- Question for battery and electric gurus! ---

It might be very simple, but...

Can I charge a li-ion battery (3.6V) or nimh battery with a voltage of less than what the battery puts out? IE maybe 1 volt or so?

It would probably take a lot longer, but is it possible?

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 05-24-2009, 05:02 PM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
No. Think of voltage as analogous to pressure. If you're pumping up a tire, the pump pressure has to be higher than the pressure inside the tire, otherwise the air comes out, no?

What are you planning to charge it with, a solar panel or something like that, that has a variable voltage? Then you put a diode in the circuit, so the current only flows when the panel's outputting a higher voltage than the battery.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2009, 08:39 PM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
^Ok along those lines I was thinking.

I was trying to power a single LED with a 2x2" solar panel but they seem to only output .5V
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2009, 01:08 AM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
You could stop by say Home Depot and buy one of the solar powered yard lights. I have a couple (won them as a door prize), but have never taken them apart to look at the electronics. Just assumed the panel was built to output higher than battery voltage in the sunlight.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2009, 09:53 AM   #5 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
You can use a lower voltage to charge a battery of a higher voltage, but you need a DC to DC converter to boost the lower voltage up. As you increase the voltage, you'll have less amperage, plus you take an efficiency loss at the dc to dc converter... But, you can do it.
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2009, 07:46 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
^Ohhh okay okay.

I think the simplest route would probably be a simple outdoor light though (and probably cheaper too ! )

Thank you guys so much! (hopefully this thread could someday answer others questions about the same thing )

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric car conversion: Project ForkenSwift MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 1041 07-28-2014 09:19 AM
Electric assist for SUV? Tony Raine EcoModding Central 8 10-15-2012 08:17 PM
Milwaukee Electric Car Club (Running EVent!) bennelson Events & Meet-ups 18 10-17-2011 11:04 AM
electric fan question round.boater EcoModding Central 27 11-30-2009 12:01 AM
Article: Electric Subaru Due in 2009, One Year Early MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 8 08-29-2009 12:19 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com