A Switched-Mode 3-Stage Battery Charger

Battery chargers are widely used in the Gaza Strip as part of common energy backup systems. Locally manufactured chargers are based on bulk iron-core transformers and likely to be a single stage, which has no control on the charging current. State of art chargers operate in switched mode utilizing ferrite-core transformers and able to control the charging current and voltage. In this work, an attempt to introduce this technology to beginners through designing and implementing a professional and viable 15A charger for 12V batteries. PIC18F4550 microcontroller controls the device functions and it has an excellent degree of protection. The implemented prototype is on duty for several months and it is planned to be incorporated within a hybrid battery charger.