Possible use of ALDI car battery charger as a bench power supply

I have just acquired this 6v/12v battery charger from ALDI which is being sold as a fully automatic micro processor controlled charger suitable for use with conventional car and motor cycle batteries and also incorporates a trickle charger function. Does anyone know if this might find alternative uses as a bench power supply? Maximum current is given as 5A but is said to be NOT suitable for recharging lithium batteries. One is always a little wary these days in using electronic gear outside of their design envelop but I would be interested to hear other people’s opinions.

Hi this charger is only able to charge a battery. Without a battery there is no power support.

it depends how much current you need there are some better alternatives like an old laptop power supply up to 3 Amps. if you need more you can use a car battery and this charger . But keep in mind if you draw current from the battery you have to start the charging manually.

Werner

Edited By Werner Schleidt on 03/05/2023 16:51:20

Not on it's own. These chargers tends to check if a battery is present before they deliver any power, and they will also regulate the current depending on the battery voltage.

It might have only rudimentary smoothing, so not delivering very straight volts, either.

If you need power something electrically delicate, even just an old transistor radio, use a proper PSU designed for electronics, not hefty great vehicle batteries.

No, this is NOT suitable as a bench power supply. Firstly if it is fully automatic you will find it will switch from constant voltage to constant current depending on load. With some loads it could osillate between the two. It might not even provide any output unless there is at least a small external voltage applied (battery sensing).

A used quality bench supply (Farnell, Weir, Thurlby / TTI) is not that exppansive and much more useful.

Robert.

In my experience, it will not produce a voltage unless it is connected to a good (chargeable) lead-acid battery. But it doesn't need to be a particularly big (or expensive) battery, just be sure that if you need 12 volts, you use a 12v battery, But that said, the charger is likely to produce about 13.5 volts - as this is what a battery needs to charge it - just like on a car with a modern alternator. I'm sure you can still get non-automatic chargers, which would work.

Cheers, Tim

Probably possible, but not as straightforward as an older style "stupid" battery charger.

Hate to say it, but if you have to ask, you probably shouldn't do it - the internal smarts aren't your friend.

there are better low-cost bench power substitutes - e.g. older PC powersupplies

Look for an old battery charger at a car boot, put a cap across the output and it should work. Modern smart chargers no use for this App ! Noel.

An "old" battery charger will be unregulated and smoothed / filtered. Just about OK for running brushed DC motors and possibly incandesent lamps but the voltage will be high at lower currents. No use at all for electronic equipment.

Robert.

I’ve got one of these. It can charge all types of batteries including Lithium and can also be used as a 12v power supply.

NOCO Genius

As others have pointed out a modern charger/condition monitor, which is what this item is, will not operate as a power supply.

On the basis that you have a supply into which you can plug the charger, why not get an inverter or regular transformer? Incidentally what were you expecting to power up using the Aldi charger?

This is a bench power supply I made from an old computer PSU.

Hi - Thanks for all the replies. It confirms my original views on the strictly limited use of the device to its intended purpose. What it does mean is that it will release my somewhat ancient convential battery charger complete with ammeter for upgrading into a bench psu, perhaps even to the point of providing a new enclosure.

Hi,If you convert your old charger into a power supply, I would make sure it still works as a charger.

I’ve found the electronic chargers won’t charge a flat battery .

Maurice

I’ve found the electronic chargers won’t charge a flat battery .

Ditto.

They seem to need to "see" at least 10.5v from a 12v battery to start charging. I have managed to get charging started by connecting another, good, battery in parallel with the flat one to raise the voltage that the charger sees to a point at which charging starts. The parallel good battery can then be disconnected. Whether or not a battery that has discharged below 10.5v will be of much use subsequently is another matter.

The Aldi / Lidl chargers work well - while they work. I have had a couple fail - one in warranty that was replaced & one just out of warranty that wasn't. The Accumate charger I bought 25 years ago is still working fine.

Nigel B.

I needed a 12V supply years ago and got a box for a kids train set from ebay

The older ones were made pretty bulletproof

As Anthony above suggests a computer power supply together with some coloured terminals make a good bench power supply. Also a more versatile one can be made out of an old type battery charger, fit a double pole change over switch, one way battery charger the other PSU. Fit a capacitor across the PSU output as a bit of smoothing, then a 5 amp three terminal adjustable regulator, break the positive output lead and insert an ammeter and you have a very useful workshop gadget. If you can get hold of disable buggy battery charge they are even bigger and better, 10 amp transformer, good case and ammeter. John.

These are 'intelligent' chargers that detect battery condition and vary the output to achieve longer battery life and even recover over-discharged or sulphated batteries (to some extent).

I would worry the non-linear output would not be suitable for many purposes.

A traditional charger based around a transformer or a 12V supply 'module' built into a suitable box (what I used and described by 'Stub Mandrel' in issue 325 of MEW) would be a better alternative.

Neil