How Long Does Float Charging Take?
2 Answers
Float charging is a power supply (discharge) operation mode for battery packs, where the system connects the battery pack in parallel with the power line to the load circuit. Below is an introduction to float charging: 1. Characteristics: The battery pack serves as the backup power source for the DC power system. The feature of the float charging circuit is that the battery pack is connected in parallel with the power line to the load circuit. Under normal operating conditions, the charging device connected to the DC bus, in addition to supplying power to the conventional load, also provides float charging current to the battery pack. This operation mode is called full float charging. 2. Power supply mode: Float charging can be divided into two types: half float charging and full float charging. When float charging is performed for part of the time (when the load is heavy), and the battery pack supplies power alone for the other part of the time (when the load is light), this operation mode is called half float charging, or periodic float charging.
As a technician who has worked in garages for many years, I believe float charging is not inherently a time-limited operation. It is a continuous maintenance charging state designed to keep the battery at full charge level and prevent losses caused by self-discharge. For automotive lead-acid batteries, when using a smart charger, the float charge voltage typically adjusts between 13.2 to 13.8 volts, automatically varying based on ambient temperature. This means that as long as the battery is in good health, float charging can continue indefinitely - for instance, I always keep float charging active during winter when vehicles are parked for weeks until the next drive. However, if the battery is aging or the charger is too outdated, it may cause overheating or reduced lifespan, making regular battery condition checks crucial. In summary, the key point about float charging is that it's an automatic, continuous protection process rather than a timed charging phase. Understanding this can help you avoid detours and prevent the annoyance of battery discharge caused by premature power cutoff.
