Will a 72V Charger Damage a 48V Battery?
2 Answers
No. The DC voltage of a 72V charger is much higher than the withstand voltage of a 48V battery, meaning the 48V battery cannot handle the voltage from the 72V charger and may be damaged or even destroyed. Abnormal battery overheating: Due to the excessive voltage, prolonged high-current charging will occur, leading to abnormal battery overheating and even thermal runaway, which can cause the battery to swell or result in more severe accidents. Swelling: For lead-acid batteries, one standard voltage unit is 2V. If the standard voltage exceeds 3V or even 4V, the lead-acid battery may swell or even explode.
I've worked in the automotive repair industry for many years and encountered many similar situations. Using a 72V charger on a 48V battery will definitely damage it because the voltage is too high. Forced charging will cause a sharp increase in internal battery pressure, rapid decomposition of the electrolyte, leading to battery swelling and failure in mild cases, or fire and explosion in severe cases. I once repaired a case for a customer where the owner took this shortcut, resulting in the vehicle breaking down mid-journey and the battery being completely burned out, costing over a thousand dollars in repairs. Remember, label matching is crucial—always check that the charger's rated voltage matches the battery voltage before charging. For safety, don't risk using mismatched equipment to avoid unnecessary expenses. During regular maintenance, I also remind everyone to verify specifications—this habit can save a lot of trouble and extend battery life by several years.
