Smart Battery Charger

[lucatz]

Hi All,

Basing a smart charger project to learn on a LTC1325 and Arduino microcontroller...

Am I off the track?

Thank You
Luca

[Ed inMelb]

I make batteries and super caps, Carbon, graphite, graphine, Borine and other types including gravity batteries. All different battery chemistries require very specific charging regimes. I work out what that is, design a circuit and program an arduino or other microprocessor to tailor the charging. In my experience, you only need to know how to use mosfets and other transistors, shunts, inductors, etc. No need for the silicon you are suggesting. If you don't mind me asking, what is your purpose? To learn arduino or learn discrete chips? Most smart chargers are not very smart.

[lucatz]

Hi Ed,

Yes most chargers are rather non-intelligent. I saw my own charger charge a fully charged batt like it was dead. So decided there must be a better way and started looking around. My goal is more a project for myself and to share what I find along the way. Many years ago in college I had many classes in electronics and I am rekindling my passion for it albeit rusty. Today I work in a different field with no electronics  Arduino, and all aspects of the project is what I looking for but you do bring up a good point that it can be achieved differently. Will keep that in mind.

Thank You
Luca