Bombardment Recharger Repair

Some household batteries are employ-and-toss while others need a recharger to furnish their stored electricity. Those include household bombardment rechargers (AA, AAA, C, D batteries) and store tool rechargers. This Fix-It Guide on battery recharger repair tells how a battery recharger works, what often goes incorrect, how to identify a battery charger problem, and what parts and tools yous volition need for bombardment recharger repair. It then gives unproblematic step-by-stride instructions for how to restore full electric contact, how to test a DC output battery charger, how to test an Air conditioning output battery charger, and how to exam a battery pack. This guide as well refers to electrical cord repair.

How Does a Battery Recharger Work?

Battery Recharger Repair

Household battery chargers include a transformer and a excursion board–not much to work on unless you're an electric technician.

Batteries produce electric current from the chemic reaction between ii electrodes and an electrolyte. Battery rechargers convert 120V alternating current (AC) into small-voltage direct current (DC). The voltage ranges from 1.2V to 24V or more, depending on the battery and the charger.

Many cordless appliances are powered past a rechargeable nickel-cadmium (nicad) bombardment or bombardment pack consisting of as many as 20 cells. Each prison cell provides direct current at about 1.2 volts. Batter packs slip directly into the appliance or tool or have snap-on terminals. Some battery packs have congenital-in batteries that cannot be removed; they must be charged in the unit of measurement.

What Can Become Wrong with a Battery Charger?

Lots of things can happen to rechargeable batteries, none of them unsolvable. Rechargeable batteries lose their power. Electric contacts may not be making full contact. The charger may exist lacking. Batteries clothing out or become lacking.

Fix-It Tip

How long will rechargeable batteries last? Equally many every bit 1,000 recharges. To get the most from rechargeable batteries, read and follow the instructions that come with the recharger unit of measurement.

How Can I Identify a Battery Charger Problem?

  • If a cordless device (with congenital-in rechargeable battery) doesn't work, lacks ability, or does non run long enough, brand sure power is on at the outlet and that the outlet is not wired into a wall switch that has been turned off. Besides check the electrical cord and replace it if it is defective. Test the recharger unit of measurement (meet below) and replace as necessary.
  • If a cordless device or rechargeable batteries run for shorter and shorter periods betwixt rechargings, the nicad batteries are probably worn out. Inspect them for damage or leaks and supercede as needed. Test the recharger unit (run across below) and supersede if not working.
  • If there is no leakage visible, examination the bombardment pack and replace if necessary.

Fix-It Tip

Batteries, likewise, take Senior Moments as they begin to lose energy, and retention becomes a trouble. Read instructions that come with the recharger and batteries. Many nicad batteries require a full discharge earlier a recharge. Otherwise, the battery gets a smaller recharge each time until it cannot retain a charge. Fortunately, battery discharge units are relatively inexpensive. Camera stores have them for video camera batteries. Electronic stores offer them for other rechargeable batteries.

What Do I Need for Battery Charger Repair?

There really aren't any replacement parts bachelor for battery rechargers–except the rechargeable batteries themselves. You lot tin open up the rechargers and check for obvious damage, such as a disconnected electrical cord , and clean internal contacts, but that's about all. Here are the tools you'll need:

  • Screwdrivers
  • Small file
  • Electrical contact cleaner
  • Multimeter

What Are the Steps to Battery Charger Repair?

Restore full electric contact to battery charger:

  1. Unplug the recharger from the electrical receptacle.
  2. Use a small file, emery newspaper, or electrical contact cleaner to make clean the contacts betwixt the power handle and the charger.
  3. Move the power unit in and out of the charger several times to be certain it makes full contact.

Examination a DC output battery charger:

  1. Gear up a multimeter to the 25 DCV (straight current volts) scale.
  2. Plug in the recharger to the electrical receptacle (outlet).
  3. Touch the two multimeter probes to the advisable charger contacts (+ and -). If the meter reads zero volts, reverse the probes.
  4. The DCV output should be at or slightly higher up the charger's rated output. That is, a 9VDC charger should give a reading of about 10VDC.

Test an Air conditioning output battery charger:

  1. Set a multimeter to the 25 ACV scale.
  2. Touch the two multimeter probes to the 2 charger contacts. If there is no reading, the transformer is faulty. Bank check an electric supplier for a transformer of the same rating and size.

Test a battery pack:

  1. Completely accuse the battery pack.
  2. Set a multimeter on the DCV scale larger than the bombardment pack's rated output.
  3. Touch the red multimeter probe to the pack's + terminal and the black probe to the – last.
  4. Replace the battery pack if the reading is more than ane volt below the rated output (8VDC for a 9VDC pack).

Fix-Information technology Tip

Need to go rid of some old rechargeable batteries? Call your local solid waste management service for specifics because some locations don't allow rechargeable batteries to be included with household trash. The store from which you buy the replacement batteries may know about local regulations.