1 Amp Smart Battery Charger


The A & A SMART BATTERY CHARGER is for GEL-CELLS or LEAD ACID batteries. The design is based on the Unitrode UC3906 battery charging chip. It has three distinct operating states. Initially the charging current is limited to a pre-set bulk value and when the battery voltage reaches a specific level the charger enters the absorption mode and tops off the battery with an elevated voltage. After top off, it enters the maintenance mode where it maintains the battery at a precision float level value.

1 Amp Smart Battery Charger Operation/Notes download (1AChargerOperation.pdf)

A very important feature of this charger is a precision temperature tracking voltage reference. This reference is specifically temperature compensated to track the temperature characteristics of lead-acid cells.

If a load is applied to the battery while the charger is connected, the charger will contribute its bulk current to the load. If the load discharges the battery sufficiently, the charger will repeat the three state process described above when the load is removed. This charger can be connected to the battery indefinitely, it will not overcharge your battery.

This Smart Battery Charger circuit presents a DC load of only 175 µA when the AC is off or not present. A very important feature which prevents the discharge of the battery by the charger if the AC input is interrupted for long periods of time.

Great for a large variety of everyday uses with 5-15 Ampere-Hour batteries. Excellent for larger batteries (automobile/marine type 80 - 120 Amper-Hour) which are not used very often.

The Trailer Boater or Sunday Sailor, who usually only use their boats on the weekends, can be assured of a fully charged battery if they have a SMART BATTERY CHARGER working 24 hours a day.

Repeater sites, burglar alarms, etc. can use this charger to maintain back-up battery systems. For items in long term storage such as trailer boats, motorcycles, wave riders, RV's, etc. all benefit by using this Smart Charger.

HF mobile and fixed station operators, QRP and backpackers have applied this Smart Charger in a number of different applications. SEE LINKS BELOW FOR A FEW EXAMPLES.

Elecraft K2 QRP operators have requested a charger that would work well with the 2.9 A-hr gel cell option that Elecraft offers. We responded with our Switchable QRP Version.

Many Ham Radio Operators maintain an Emergency Battery Backup System for use during power outages. Quite often Ham Radio is the only source of communication following a disaster. To be prepared, HAMs practice for these events during RACES exercises or the annual ARRL Field Day. Many HAMs depend on our 5 Amp or 1 Amp Smart Battery Chargers to maintain their Emergency Battery Backup System. See the SHORT TAKES review by Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR, ARRL Assistant Technical Editor in the MAR 2004 QST. For full details click here: (QST Article.pdf)

Our standard KIT is 115 VAC input, 12V @ 1 Amp Maximum output. If you build the KIT, you can set the BULK current to either 1/2 or 1 Amp output. Our standard assembly is 12V @ 1 Amp. The BULK current can be set it to 1/2 Amp if requested, at no additional charge. Assembled 6V @ 1 Amp or 1/2 Amp are also available, at no additional charge.

Although we commonly refer to a battery as a 12V battery, meaning a battery having 6 cells at 2.0V per cell (12.0V). The actual Lead-Acid battery voltage is closer to 2.3V per cell (13.8V).

Outdoor Model Railroaders (G-Gauge mostly) use our 18 V units to recharger their 18 V Gel Cell powered Electric Trains. Remote Control Airplane Modelers (RC Modelers) use our 6 V version to recharger their starter motor 6 V Gel Cell.

Other voltages available are: 4V, 8V, 14V, 18V, or 24V. See table below for price adder.

The complete charger weighs 3 pounds and measures 4" W x 6 1/2"D X 3"H. Input is a six foot BLACK zip cord with molded AC plug. Output is a five foot WHITE zip cord with mini RED/BLACK alligator clips (shown below with Anderson OPTION). Both input and output are rear panel fused.

Output cable options include - Output cord with larger alligator clips, or with .187 Faston, or with .250 Faston available, see price chart below or Charger Price List

This kit is 100% complete, there is nothing else to buy! The kit includes a prepunched, painted and silk-screened metal enclosure. All hardware, wire, cables, electronic components, and the circuit board are included.

SOLAR PANEL USE: Both our 1A and 5A Smart Battery Chargers have Auxiliary DC input capability via pads on the circuit board. This auxiliary input can be used with a solar panel. For details see Solar Panel Notes

Rear view of standard charger
Rear View Click Here

Rear view of 18V or 24V
Rear View Click Here

Read what some of our customers have to say: TESTIMONIALS

For the standard KIT, Order #150-KIT
$64.95

For assembled unit, Order #150-ASY
$84.95

KIT with Anderson Pigtail Option
specify AND-KIT, add $3
$67.95

ASY with Anderson Pigtail Option
specify AND-ASY, add $5
$89.95

Need a cable with .187 Fastons, Order #150-187, $9.95 (click for details)

Need a cable with .250 Fastons, Order #150-250, $9.95 (click for details)

Need a cable with larger Alligator Clips, Order #150-ALL, $12.95 (click for details)

Need an Anderson Extension cable, Order #150-AND, $10.95 (click for details)

Shipping via UPS insured to US 48, add $8.50

Shipping via Priority Mail to Alaska or Hawaii, add $10.50

California Residents please add 8.75 % sales tax

For other output voltage (4, 8, 14, 18 or 24) Add $ 5.00 per KIT or $ 10.00 per ASY

Foreign orders require special treatment, please contact us for details

For options, blank boards, cables and parts, see Charger Price List

For 230V 50/60 Hz options, see Charger Price List

We have always accepted checks, money orders, Visa or MasterCard directly (see ordering information)

We have now added
PayPal, American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa through (see PayPal information)



If you would like to see the Smart Charger being used with the Elecraft K2 internal battery,
see the write up by Don Wihelm, W3FPR

Since Don wrote this article, we have devised a way to make a switchable charger without having to cut any etch, see our Switchable QRP version of this Smart Battery Charger
Click Here: W3FPR WebPage


If you would like to see a review of the Smart Charger,
see the write up by David Farris, K5NT
Click Here:
eHam.net Reviews - A&A Engineering Smart Charger

A & A Engineering 2521 W. LaPalma, Unit K Anaheim CA 92801
Phone (714) 952-2114 FAX (714) 952-3280
www.a-aengineering.com

Home PageCharger Operation1A Charger5A Charger