When batteries run out, we often buy new ones. But what if there are some special batteries for our favorite wall clocks, which are difficult to get? It is much easier to restore them than to look for new ones.

The process of restoring nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hybrid batteries is quite long and painstaking. But there is one simple and affordable way to recover. First, we need to assemble a charger-restorer circuit, and it consists of a mains transformer and a rectifier diode.

A diode connected in the forward direction cuts off the negative half-cycles of the AC sine wave, resulting in a kind of pulsating charging current.

Transformer. To carry out this operation, you will need a transformer with a secondary winding of 16-24 Volts with a rated current of 2-4 Amperes.

Diode - selected with a current of more than 5 Amps; powerful SCHOTTTKY diodes from computer power supplies are excellent. During operation, the diode overheats greatly, so it must be installed on a heat sink; additional cooling may be required (forced heat removal with a cooler).

The recovery process itself consists of two main cycles. First, take the battery (one nickel battery bank has a voltage of 1.2-1.3 Volts), disconnect all the banks.

The process is carried out WITH ONE CAN of battery. We connect the cathode of the semiconductor diode to the positive of the battery, and the free end of the transformer winding to the negative. BUT! The charging process in this way is short-term, with some interruptions. After connecting the charger and recovery device to the battery, the transformer is connected to a 220 Volt network for only 2-3 seconds, then turned off and taken a break for 10-15 seconds, then turned on again for 2-3 seconds. The cycle is repeated 15 times, after which they take a break for 5 minutes to allow the battery to cool down (during such charging, the battery may overheat, so it is advisable to place it in a vessel with water while charging). After 5 minutes, the transformer is turned on again, but this time we charge not 3, but 5 seconds - we repeat the process 3-5 times.

The recovery process is now complete, and you can now put the battery on a normal charge for 5-8 hours. The output current of standard chargers should be 1/10 of the battery capacity, for example - if the battery capacity is 1000 mA/h, then the charging current should be in the range of 90-110 mA.

A battery restored in this way can last another 4-6 months, after which it can be restored again in the same way, but each time the battery will last less and less.

We often miss good shots in the forest or at sea, we may be late or stumble in the dark because a simple battery from a camera, watch or flashlight suddenly runs out. It's hard to say exactly when the charge will be used up, unless this is a Duracell model with an indicator. But don't despair! Thanks to a few tips, you can avoid unpredictable situations and take the intended photographs from a digital camera, find out the exact time, illuminate the road, etc. In this article, we will tell you how to charge batteries at home without a charger, which will make life much easier in unpredictable situations.

Know that to charge alkaline batteries you can use a special charger that can relatively quickly restore a discharged item. But each charging session will reduce its operating life by approximately 1/3. In addition, leakage is possible.

Note! At home you can charge: alkaline (alkaline) AA batteries. Don't: salt. The possibility of leakage or even explosion cannot be ruled out!

Charging can be done using various methods. Therefore, you should not throw away an element as soon as it stops serving. A few recommendations - and he is back in action. The first method, using which you can charge AA batteries yourself without a charger. We connect the power supply to the network. Next, using the connection wires, we connect the used battery to the unit. Don't forget about polarity: plus is connected to plus, and minus is connected to minus. It’s quite easy to find where the “-\+” of a discharged object is: they are marked on the body.

Having connected the battery to the power source, wait until it warms up to fifty degrees and turn off the power. Next, wait a few minutes for the heated object to cool down. Otherwise, it may explode. Then, while the AA is still warm, it needs to be charged in a different way. It consists of the following: connect the power supply to electricity and disconnect it. This should take about 120 seconds. Next, we place the object to be charged in the “freezer” for 10 minutes, then take it out and wait 2-3 minutes for it to warm up. That's it, the charge is restored right at home without a charger! You can safely use it for the same computer mouse.

Main rules:

1. The charge is not feasible if you arrange the + and - in a different way. On the contrary, the battery will drain even faster.
2. It is permissible to charge the object at home 1-2 times.
3. Using the method described above, you can only charge simple AA alkaline batteries.
4. The charge can be carried out in any ambient temperature conditions.

Another charging method is the conventional heating method. But it is fraught with consequences (explosion). In this way, you can restore, again, small alkaline batteries at home. You can also charge them in a simpler way - place discharged objects in hot water, but for no more than 20 seconds, otherwise sad results are possible. Another simple way is to flatten or reduce the volume of the element with your own hands. This way you can charge various AA batteries. There is an example when a person, after the charge of a cast-ion battery had expired, simply took it out and stomped on it, after which the charge indicator showed one hundred percent.

You can also restore the charge without a charger this way: we make 2 holes with an awl near each carbon rod with a depth of three-quarters of the height of the element itself. We pour liquid into them and seal them, covering them with resin or plasticine. You can pour not just liquid, but an eight to ten percent solution of hydrochloric acid or double vinegar. Pour the solution several times to ensure sufficient saturation. This method allows you to charge up to seventy to eighty percent of the initial capacity.

Video instructions for restoring Duracell using a phone charger

Another way to charge the product: open the cell cover with a knife. If the zinc cylinder, the object's rod and the carbon powder are intact, then immerse the object in the salt solution. Its ratio is as follows: 2 tablespoons of table salt per several glasses of liquid. Next, boil the solution together with the element for about ten to fifteen minutes. Then we return the gaskets responsible for sealing to their place and cover them with wax or plasticine.

Alternative charging method

Of course, the chemical processes occurring in galvanic cells during their operation are, as a rule, irreversible, but, nevertheless, restoring at least part of their capacity is very tempting. The essence of my “know-how” is that when the charging voltage is 3...4 times higher than required, an “avalanche” charging process occurs, even for elements that are completely discharged.

Fig.1. Schematic diagram No. 1 of the charger

The transformer can be used from old radio equipment. The charging current in this mode is quite large (up to 550 mA for AA batteries). Naturally, for more “respectable” batteries it is even greater. Even salt batteries can be charged in this way. Batteries that say “ALKALINE” are written on them do not charge well, and sometimes even fail. During the experiments, we were able to restore several “finger-type” batteries. For them, as for quite expensive phone batteries, it is first better to pre-charge in normal mode and then discharge through a 2.5..3.5 V x 0.35 A light bulb. If after this the battery is not restored, you can try the “avalanche” process. When this does not help, all that remains is to open the battery (consisting of several elements), find the faulty element and replace it. After this, try charging first in the usual way, then in the “avalanche” way.

You can try charging with asymmetrical current, but with increased voltage. In this way, even the so-called “square” batteries, the “grandmother” of which was “KBS-1”, are charged. For them, the charging voltage must be increased to 28 V.

Charging time for batteries is approximately 30...40 minutes, i.e. significantly less than usual. Charged batteries are best used to power low-power equipment (radios, etc.). The player quickly absorbs the “reserve of electricity”, and the batteries only last for 2...3 cassettes. Reanimated batteries, as a rule, are no longer subject to “normal” charging and are charged only by “avalanche” charging. Batteries usually last for 10...15 charges, rechargeable batteries - for 30...50, after which they become completely uncharged and can be thrown away with a clear conscience. This usually manifests itself in the fact that when the battery is connected to the charger, the current does not exceed 50...70 mA.

When charging (especially “square” batteries), you need to monitor their temperature (you can just “touch it”). If the temperature exceeds 50°C, you must immediately disconnect the battery. Charging can be continued after the element has cooled, then its operating time will increase. Charging is considered complete when the current decreases to approximately 100 mA. VARTA batteries show good results after charging; "DAEWOO". I have been powering my receiver for a long time only with such batteries, and their capacity is enough for 3...6 hours of continuous operation. Batteries for flashlights (D-0.26) and various “tablet” batteries for watches and games do not tolerate avalanche charging well. They swell and fail.

Today's video is dedicated to interesting ways to extend the life of a dead battery. What to do if they shrank and you need to restore them so that they last for some more time. The proposed method is not new, but it will differ from what we are used to seeing and hearing. Told by the author of the channel Homemade and gadget +.

Place the container with its nose down and up and fill it with water 3-5 mm below the top level of the battery. This is necessary so that there is no short circuit between plus and minus through the water. Fill with water, ordinary water, literally two minutes after it was heated to a boil. Leave in this position for 10-15 minutes until the water cools to room temperature.
The water has cooled down. We take it out and check it with a tester. The device shows that the batteries are almost restored to their original charge.

It can be seen that the flashlight shines brighter than before the service extension, and the fan has also restored its operation.
This method was tested only on alkaline batteries.

Restoring salt batteries

In this video I will share my method of restoring salt AA batteries. To do this, we need the batteries themselves, electrical tape, a marker, scissors, a testing device, a syringe and a working solution. First, let's check for functionality. As you can see, they are generally dead. Let's see what the device shows. We take them out and start restoring their operation.

Important information. Only salt batteries are suitable for this experiment. They must be intact on the outside, there should be no leaks or discharge. Batteries of other types, that is, alkaline, alkaline or rechargeable, are not suitable for this method. This is dangerous to your health.
So, we take a salt battery, find the connecting seam and make 4 marks at an angle of 90 degrees to the seam at a distance of 1 centimeter from the edge. In these places we make holes with a 4-mm drill. We drill very carefully so as not to damage the shell, we drill only the outer shell, no more.

After making holes for the batteries, place them in one container with the plus side on top. Fill with working solution so that the level covers the top drilling. We use 6 percent food grade vinegar as a solution. Fill it out carefully. Leave the batteries in this state for 10-15 minutes. The temperature of the solution should be room temperature. We wait 15 minutes and proceed further. After the batteries have been soaked in the solution, carefully lay them out and place them to dry, seam side down, so that the excess is absorbed onto a napkin. Leave in this state for 10 minutes. Next, cover the hole with regular electrical tape.

The final stage of our charge restoration experiment has arrived. We check with the device. We insert them into the flashlight and try to turn it on. The light is on. The experience was a success. Let me remind you that this method of extending operation is only suitable for salt batteries.

The life of a modern person is very closely connected with a variety of electrical things: be it a portable radio, telephone, flashlight, navigator, camera, and much more! The main thing they all have in common is that they require power sources to function: various batteries and accumulators.

Video version of the article:

Let's talk about some ways to revive dead batteries!

They naturally often sit down, which in turn can deprive us of the chance to use them. And not just in ordinary and calm situations, when we can solve the problem by recharging from the mains or buying a new battery, but also when you are, for example, on a hike or find yourself in a situation where your life is in danger!

Revitalization of AA batteries.

1 wayprobably known to many, it involves impacting the battery (throw it against the wall, gently tap it with a hammer!) This can return some charge, because in this way the oxides that have formed in the battery are destroyed and it will last for some time. From childhood experience, we can note a more radical effect, crushing the battery (with a multi-tool, if any) in its different parts (someone even uses their teeth and simply bites the battery, which of course we do not recommend).

2 . Piercing the battery in different ways in different places, so that the puncture sites do not touch the internal rod. You can pierce randomly, you can make a couple of punctures along the rod at some distance from it, or pierce across the plus and minus, this will have its own effect on internal processes Air will connect to the battery and form an additional electrode.

3. You can also boil our batteries in boiling water (several minutes).

4. There is also another option: make holes and fill them with water, from a syringe or something else, so that the water does not leak out; cover the holes with electrical tape or whatever is at hand.

Revitalizing coin cell batteries

1. Recharging from a AA battery, we will need two wires and a working AA battery, we will connect (with wires) the plus to the plus, and the minus to the minus of our batteries, and keep them like this for some time.