Battery Charging per TU #9

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Team update #9 addresses charging robot batteries while connected to the robot.
"Running the control system while recharging the battery:
We do not recommend simultaneously charging the battery while using it to power thecontrol system.
Teams should only power the robot control system components from a battery. Using bench power supplies or a battery charger/battery combination (in an attempt to recharge the battery while running the system) is not recommended, and it may cause damage to components or unsafe conditions."

To insure that teams realize the gravity of this response it is important to know what takes place during charging. It is and always has been against sound engineering practice to charge a battery on the robot and in particular while connected to the robot control and electrical distro. Many modern chargers not only produce current in pulses that exceed the terminal voltage of the battery, they often perform battery tests while in the charge mode to determine state of charge and define charge current parameters. In addition, during the charging mode, batteries may vent some gas pressure and or in the event of a failed charger or defective battery, it may actually leak some of the sulpheric acid used in the battery. Connecting a bench supply to power the robot and charge the battery also can produce spikes and currents that are destructive to system components.
Please charge batteries off robot using approved 6 amp or less chargers. Take the time to replace the alligator clips on your battery charger with an Anderson battery connector as suggested in several threads here on CD.