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From: ih@udel.edu (Charlie Ih)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Car Battery Rechargers
Message-ID: <33177@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 11 Oct 90 19:26:31 GMT
References: <1990Oct4.222556.20668@athena.mit.edu> <63220@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> <32908@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
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In article <32908@nigel.ee.udel.edu> ih@udel.edu (Charlie Ih) writes:
>In article <63220@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> willie@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu
>(william hunt) writes:
>>erspert@athena.mit.edu (Ellen R. Spertus) writes:
>>
>>>I saw a car battery recharger for $60 in the Rand McNally map catalog.
>>>..it recharges the battery (enough to start) from a D battery...
>
>Actually this is technically feasible and may well be practical if it
>is properly designed.....
>after charging by the D cells, .... ..it can start your car.
>......
>The charging/booster circuits are widely used in UPS (Uninterruptible-
>Power-Supply). ...  This charging circuit can
>squeeze the last drop of charge out of your D-cell.

I would like to add a few comments to my original posting.  First I
want to apologize if I had spoiled the fun of the lively discussions
on this subject.

The new alkaline batteries can be stored over an extended period
(2 - 3 yrs) and still retain 80 - 90% of the charge.  I hope the
manufacture(s) who makes this devices also includes a simple voltmeter.
It can be uaed to monitor the car battery while being charged and to
check D cells to see if they need to be replaced.  Markings such as "Fully
Charged", "Good", "Weak", etc on the voltmeter would be nice so
that everybody could understand the meaning of the readings.
If someone have bought the unit, please let us know how well (or bad) it
works.  I believe if it is well designed and engineered, it should work
pretty good.