Gel Cell with power supply

[Cat Daddy]

Anyone know if a gel cell can be used in series with a power supply?
One cat told me it could but I don't remember how ---- series or in parallel. And I think he said a 35 amp pwr supply would be copasetic.
My MF600 qso's have been reported as maybe having a power or voltage problem....Even with a relatively new 33 amp/hour gel cell which will conservatively give me about 25 to 30 minutes talk time at about 400 watts----at 12 volts.

 

[Cheech]

You wire them in series and you will have 24 volts in paralell 12 but the battery will overcharge if you have no method of controlling it.

 

[Cat Daddy]

Yep That's what I need to do. Thanks guys.

 

[Mitsurugi]

You will overcharge the battery because a powersupply
will never stop trying to charge the battery when it is on.

Most powersupplies will trip the protection even when
hooked to a battery when they exceed their rated output.

I think?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Actually most times the battery never comes up to full charge.Once the battery voltage equals the power supply voltage current flow into the battery will stop.Most power supplies are 13.8 volts and to fully charge a "12 volt" battery you need about 14.2-14.4 volts.Most 12 volt batteries can be left on a float charge of 13.8 volts indefinately but will only attain about 80% of full capacity.

 

[Cheech]

A fully charged 12 volt batery is actualy at 13.1 volts. 13.8 is the charge voltage for gell cells becouse anything higher will cause them to gas.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Ooops my bad.I was talking about lead acid wet cells such as marine type deep dischage types.Didn't see the gel cell part.I agree constant charge at 13.8 or more can kill a gel cell.Also the max charge current should not exceed 1/10 of the amp hr rating,ie. a 10 amp/hr.gel cell should not be charged at a rate of any more than 1 amp max.

 

[Cheech]

yep yep and even if it was a marine deep cycle the chance of it gassing would be high and thats not to safe indoors!

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Definately agree with the indoors part.I never charge a lead acid wet cell indoors.The gas is explosive and can be quite corrosive as well.

 

[Cheech]

Ow yeah alot of people dont understand thats why battery post corrode its also not good to inhale becouse its hydrogen and it messes with your nerves and other things or so Im told.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

They give off hydrogen but also sulphur-dioxide,the rotten egg smelling gas.When sulphur-dioxide recombines with water in the air it reforms sulphuric acid.

 

[Cheech]

Yep also know as acid rain. eeeh :shock: