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Last Updated on January 3, 2025 by Swagatam (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/about/)
In this post I have explained how to build and use a 18V battery charger circuit for a cordless drill machine. The idea was requested
by Mr. Chibuzo.
Technical Specifications
1. Here is the issue. I don't have any cordless drill battery charger at all. But I have variable voltage car battery charger.
2. I did try to use it by sticking metal plates on the terminal of the battery pack but I found out that the battery pack became warm /
hot after a while, so I quickly disconnected it.
3. The battery is 18V nicd and I fear if it is not already dead/roasted I might destroy it by pushing in too much current at once using
the car battery charger.
4. I know you are a very good subject matter expert in this regard, am looking forward to you suggestion. Like I said earlier, am a
hobbyist with interest in many areas and I use these tools but getting them charged is an issue for me so am looking for a
permanent solution.
5. Finally am going to try my hands on as many of your projects I can possibly find parts to handle. Can I personally get across to
you if I have problem as I make effort to improve my knowledge of electronics using your platform. Am willing to be your student.
6. Thanks for such a large heart as to be willing to share what you know with total strangers. Again, am very sorry to trouble you.
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The Design
Whether it's a lead acid battery, a Ni-Cd or a Li-ion, this multipurpose battery charger shown below can be applied for any of these
for charging them efficiently and without worries:
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The salient features of this universal automatic battery charger are:
1) Constant voltage charging
2) Automatic cut-off when battery is fully charged.
3) Max current 5 amps, which means batteries up to 50AH can be charged with this charger normally.
4) Fully customizable (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2015/07/designing-customized-battery-charger.html) as per the battery
specs.
5) Low cost
6) No special parts required, all are standard and easily available.
7) LED indicators for cut-off and charging status monitoring.
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The entire procedure has been comprehensively discussed in this post which explains how to set or adjust an opamp 741 IC based
battery charger circuit for implementing an automatic cut-off (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2016/05/how-to-set-ic741-battery-
charger.html)
The above universal charger circuit is a constant voltage charger and a constant charger when it's implemented as a 5 amp charger,
however for lower current charging this circuit might require an additional charging LM338 constant current circuit (https://
www.homemade-circuits.com/2016/05/how-to-set-ic741-battery-charger.html) between the input supply and the above circuit.
Step by Step Setting Up Procedure
Initially keep the base/emitter of the BC547 shorted.
Rotate the P2 preset wiper to ground level.
Without any battery connected, switch ON the input power, and adjust the P1 preset until you get 14.2 V between the cathode of
D1 and the ground line.
Next, adjust the P2 preset, until the LED just illuminates.
That's all, the setting up procedure is complete.
Finally, remove the base/emitter short, your cordless battery charger circuit is now ready for the automatic charging and cut off..
How to Charge a 18V cordless drill battery with the shown universal charger circuit
Cordless drill battery can be mostly a Ni-Cd battery which is not as critical as the lead battery counterparts as far as the charging
parameters are concerned.
Quite like the Li-ion batts these too will allow you to charge then through a current which may be 1/10th of their AH rating or as high
as their specified AH rating.
For example if the drill battery is rated at 3AH, it could be charged at 3/10 = 0.3 amp or 300mA current rate, or any current within 3
amp but not exceeding this limit.
However at the full 1C charging rate the battery could get significantly warm, which must be taken care by an automatic temperature
controller circuit (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2011/12/make-simplest-temperature-indicator.html) or through fan cooling.
PCB Design for the above explained Cordless drill battery charger circuit
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(https://www.homemade-circuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pcb-3.png)
Track side view
Parts List
Resistors
All resistors are ¼ watt 5%
10K = 1no
1K = 1no
240 ohms = 1no
4k7 or 4.7K = 1no
10K preset = 1no at pin#3 of IC 741
10K pot = 1no connected with ADJ pin of IC LM338
Capacitors
10uF/25V = 1no
0.1uF/50V = 2nos
Semiconductors
BC547 = 1no
IC LM338= 1no
IC7812 = 1no
IC 741 or any similar opamp = 1no
1N4148 diode = 1no
1N5408 diode = 1no
6V and 3.3V Zener diodes = 1no each both can be ½ watt rated (can be replaced with 4.7V Zener for both)
How to Build
Power Supply Stage
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steady 12V from its output.
Discover related topics
12v 200ah Battery Charger Circuit
Charging a 12 Volt Battery
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Charging a 12 Volt Battery with 18 Volts
To make sure the 7812 and LM338 can manage heat dissipation efficiently add a heatsink to each.
Voltage Regulator LM338
In accordance with the circuit schematic, solder the LM338. To modify the charging voltage, use P1 (a 4.7k potentiometer) and R1 (a
240 ohm fixed resistor).
For stabilization of the regulator, solder a 10uF/25V capacitor (C2) at the output and a 0.1uF capacitor (C1) at the input.
For adjusting the output voltage to 19.5V to 20V which is a little higher than the battery voltage, customize P1.
Connection of the Battery
Connect the batterys positive terminal using D1 (1N5408). The reverse current flow from the battery to the charger is stopped by this
diode.
Make sure the negative terminal of the battery is firmly attached to the circuit ground.
Circuit for Op-Amp
The 741 IC should be placed on the PCB. To establish the cutoff voltage solder the P2 (10k potentiometer) and R3 (10k resistor) to
the voltage divider.
To set the battery's cutoff voltage at about 20V, customize P2.
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The transistor (BC547) and LED for charging status indication should be controlled by the op-amp output.
LED indicator
Mount and solder the LED to the BC547's collector using a series resistor (R2, 4.7k). As soon as the battery is completely charged,
this LED is going to turn off to show the cutoff state.
Reference to Zener
Mount and solder a 400mW, 6V zener diode (Z1) to give the op-amp a steady reference voltage.
Calibration and Testing
Once the circuit is put together, use a multimeter to check the LM338's output voltage.
P1 and P2 may be gradually adjusted to establish the charging voltage and optimize the cutoff point, respectively.
Before attaching the battery make sure the circuit is working properly by first connecting a fake load, such as a 12V lightbulb.
Calculations
LM338 Output Voltage:
Vout = 1.25 * (1 + R1 / R2) + Iadj * R2
R1 = 240 ohms (a fixed resistor).
R2 is adjusted via P1 (4.7k potentiometer).
Iadj is typically very small and so can be neglected for simplicity.
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Approximation:
Vout ≈ 1.25 * (1 + 240 / P1_adjusted)
Zener Reference Voltage:
Vref = Z1
Z1 is the zener voltage (here, 6V).
Cutoff Voltage:
Vcutoff = Vref * (1 + R3 / P2)
Vref is set by the zener diode.
Adjust the P2 to set the desired cutoff voltage (e.g., 20V).
Charging Current:
Icharge = (Vout - Vbattery) / Rlimiting
Rlimiting is the resistor in series with the battery (if its used) to limit the current.
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About Swagatam
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Comments
Christopher Halgryn says
May 7, 2025 at 4:46 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-176014)
Mr.Swagatam,
Good day sir how are you keeping and it ha been a few months since I last received such valuable battery charging information fom you I appreciate that to this day
but, I need to charge my video camera lithium battery which is about 14.4V and it is a lithium ion battery.
In fact I have three but need to charge them PLEASE, provide me with a circuit I am desperate as my charger fir these batteries haveg one “dead” in other words it
does not charge so well anymore.
Once again Sir, please provide me the link where I may find a suitable charger even if the output voltage is a little higher than 14.4V in order to charge my batteries.
I think once apon a time you had a circuit for a 22v lithium charger not sure though but please do you best and advise me at your earliest convenience thank you in
advance.
Kind regards,
Dr.Christopher (Chris) Halgryn (Ex Swedish citizen)
Auckland.
New Zealand
REPLY
Swagatam says
May 7, 2025 at 5:09 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-176017)
Thank You Dr. Christopher, it is a pleasure to have such a dedicated reader like you in this website.
For charging your Li-ion battery, you can use the same circuit which is explained in the above article.
If you want to have a permanent cut off at the full charge level, you can simply replace the BC547 transistor with an SCR.
Alternatively, you can also try the following design which is even simpler, yet is fully equipped with a constant current and an automatic cut off features. Please let
me know if you have any further doubts regarding these circuits:
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REPLY
Christopher Halgryn says
May 8, 2025 at 5:47 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-176155)
Sir,
At last it is weekend time and I appreciate your welcome email meesage with gratitude.
I have started the pcb and list of components and soon I will manufacturing the PCB and then populate the board.
It is indeed a pleasure to receive such valuable electronic advice and everybody else should express their thanks too….to you Sir for your prompt replies and
valuable information how to construct and test, thank you for all that information on my and all the other enthusiasts behalf….thank you.
Respectfully,
Dr.Christopher (Chris) Halgryn
Auckland
New Zealand
REPLY
Swagatam says
May 8, 2025 at 7:32 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-176163)
You are most welcome Dr. Christopher,
I wish you all the best with the project. If you have any issues with the working of the circuit, please let me know, I will try to solve it ASAP…
REPLY
Randy says
January 2, 2025 at 8:56 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-167697)
How about designing a battery charger utilizing a solar panel? These panels produce DC.
REPLY
Coenraad Visagie says
October 14, 2024 at 1:25 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-163391)
Good day, relating to the above circuit, the diagram shows a 6V Zener. But in the Parts List, a combination of two Zener diodes are listed. The combination in series
would amount to a about 10V [6 + 3,3 or 4.7 + 4.7], is this to set the opamp switch voltage? And can you please indicate how this will affect the operation of the circuit
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Swagatam says
October 14, 2024 at 6:24 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-163418)
Hello, Thank you for your question,
Actually the second zener diode expressed as 3.3 V was supposed to be in series with the base of the BC547 transistor.
But since we already have an LED in series with the base so this specific zener diode can be eliminated.
So please ignore the 3.3V zener, only the 6V zener is relevant which can be replaced with a 4.7V zener diode also.
REPLY
T obrien says
October 2, 2024 at 6:03 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-162354)
Thank you for your help
REPLY
T Obrien says
October 2, 2024 at 4:41 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-162348)
How do Iobtain a kit to enable me to build the 18 volt battery charger or can I purchase a feast made board?
REPLY
Swagatam says
October 2, 2024 at 5:28 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/cordless-drill-battery-charger-circuit/#comment-162351)
I am sorry, the components cannot be procured from this site, you may have to buy it from an online part dealer.
If you have any problems building the circuit, please let me know!
REPLY
© 2025 · Swagatam Innovations
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