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Battery chargers are used to restore the state of charge in a battery by sending a controlled voltage through it. In recent years, thanks to the growing demand for handheld and remote devices, there has been a surge in the rechargeable battery and battery charger markets. This surge has led to more efficient, better engineered battery chargers and batteries, as well as new technologies that have increased battery duration while decreasing charging time.



Many older and inexpensive chargers merely force a current through a battery; they do not include any metering devices for automatic shutoff, and can therefore damage the battery. Among these devices are rapid chargers, some of which will overcharge a battery if not properly monitored. Although potentially damaging to batteries, these chargers are still effective when used correctly. The recent influx of cell phones, iPods and other wireless devices, however, has been accompanied by a wide assortment of new chargers, battery solutions and charger controls. Included in the latest additions to battery technology are lithium-ion batteries, smart chargers, advanced sensors and NiCd batteries.



In order to estimate the time required to charge a battery, you need to know both the charge rate of the charger and the capacity of the battery. For a completely uncharged battery, divide the capacity of the battery by the rate of the charger to find the time (add up to 20% more time for charger inefficiency). For partially charged batteries, you need to know the current amount of charge to make a proper estimate of the charge time required. Most modern battery chargers (or charger interfaces) include some sort of control device, normally a computer chip, which regulates the amount of charge being sent to the battery. These control chips receive information from various sensors, and adjust the current accordingly.



Most wireless devices use either Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium Ion or Small Sealed Lead (Pb) batteries, which can (and should) be recycled after use through various online resources. One of the industry’s representatives in this area is the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA), which assists in collection programs for NiCd batteries.