When people charge their batteries in everyday life, they use a battery charger that is compatible with the battery to ensure that the battery can be charged safely and efficiently. Can you charge a battery with an unsuitable charger? Let’s take a look at the problem of charging a 36V battery with a 12V charger.
1. Can a 12V charger charge a 36V battery?
Generally speaking a 12V charger cannot charge a 36V battery. As a matter of fact, all electric currents have a kind of generality: that is, the direction of current always flows from high voltage to low voltage. Although the actual output voltage of some chargers may be higher than the manufacturer’s labelled output voltage, the maximum output voltage of a 12V charger will not exceed 20V, which is not enough to charge a 36V battery.
It is possible to partially charge a 36V battery with a 12V charger when the battery is completely drained. However, the maximum voltage can only charge the battery to a little higher than 12V, far from reaching the charging needs of 36V batteries.
2. What are the dangers of charging a 36V battery with a 12V charger?
2.1: Because the lower voltage charger can’t fully charge the 36V battery, in the long run, the 36V battery may be damaged, reducing its efficiency and life.
2.2: A 12V charger charging a 36V battery is likely to have abnormal heating during the charging process, which may cause the charger to be damaged if it is light. In severe cases, the charger will catch fire and fire will occur, etc.
2.3: Improper operation may even cause the 36V battery to discharge into the 12V charger, resulting in the risk of damage to both sides.
3. What is the alternative solution to this, which will fill the 36V battery?
3.1: The most direct and simple method is to buy a charger with 36V and above output voltage and directly fully charge the 36V battery. This is also the safest and most effective method.
3.2: You can also choose some universal chargers with adjustable output voltage, and note that its adjustable range must cover 36 V. This will also make it easier to charge batteries with other voltages in the future.
3.3: If the 36V battery is a battery pack with several small cells connected in series to get. You can separate it into multiple small cells, taking care that the voltage of each small cell does not exceed 12V. then use a 12V charger to fill up each of the split small cells. Then combine these split small batteries in series to get a 36V battery again.
In summary
In short, it is not recommended to use a low-voltage charger to charge high-voltage batteries, if the conditions allow, you can choose to buy a universal charger with a wide range of adjustment, in many cases, it will bring you great convenience.
