Switchless NiCd NiMH Battery Charger Circuit Diagram
Description This circuit may be used to replace the single current limiting resistor often found in dirt cheap battery chargers. The alternative shown here will eventually pay off because you no longer have to throw away your NiCds after three months or so of maltreatment in the original charger. The circuit diagram shows an LM317 in constant-current configuration but without the usual fixed or variable resistor at the ADJ pin to determine the amount of output current. Also, there is no switch with an array of different resistors to select the charge currents for three cell or battery types we wish to charge: AAA, AA and PP3 (6F22). When, for example, an empty AAA cell is connected, the voltage developed across R1 causes T1 to be biased via voltage dropper D1. Circuit Diagram This results in about 50 µA flowing from the LM317’s ADJ pin into the cell, activating the circuit into constant-current mode. D4 is included to prevent the battery being discharged when the charger is...