Hi this charger is only able to charge a battery. Without a battery there is no power support.

it depends how much current you need there are some better alternatives like an old laptop power supply up to 3 Amps. if you need more you can use a car battery and this charger . But keep in mind if you draw current from the battery you have to start the charging manually.

Werner

Edited By Werner Schleidt on 03/05/2023 16:51:20

It might have only rudimentary smoothing, so not delivering very straight volts, either.

If you need power something electrically delicate, even just an old transistor radio, use a proper PSU designed for electronics, not hefty great vehicle batteries.

In my experience, it will not produce a voltage unless it is connected to a good (chargeable) lead-acid battery. But it doesn't need to be a particularly big (or expensive) battery, just be sure that if you need 12 volts, you use a 12v battery, But that said, the charger is likely to produce about 13.5 volts – as this is what a battery needs to charge it – just like on a car with a modern alternator. I'm sure you can still get non-automatic chargers, which would work.

Cheers, Tim

As several have pointed out the PSU rescued from defunct desktop PCs can provide very usable power usually between 400 and 800W with good regulation at 3.3V, 5V and 12V

you can also buy quite cheaply larger PSUs designed for servers usually supplying between 40-150A at 12V – catch is they can’t easily be altered as jacking it up to 13.4 would make an ideal charger for lead acid batteries.

An "old" battery charger will be unregulated and smoothed / filtered. Just about OK for running brushed DC motors and possibly incandesent lamps but the voltage will be high at lower currents. No use at all for electronic equipment.

Robert.

As others have pointed out a modern charger/condition monitor, which is what this item is, will not operate as a power supply.

On the basis that you have a supply into which you can plug the charger, why not get an inverter or regular transformer? Incidentally what were you expecting to power up using the Aldi charger?

I’ve found the electronic chargers won’t charge a flat battery .

Ditto.

They seem to need to "see" at least 10.5v from a 12v battery to start charging. I have managed to get charging started by connecting another, good, battery in parallel with the flat one to raise the voltage that the charger sees to a point at which charging starts. The parallel good battery can then be disconnected. Whether or not a battery that has discharged below 10.5v will be of much use subsequently is another matter.

The Aldi / Lidl chargers work well – while they work. I have had a couple fail – one in warranty that was replaced & one just out of warranty that wasn't. The Accumate charger I bought 25 years ago is still working fine.

Nigel B.

As Anthony above suggests a computer power supply together with some coloured terminals make a good bench power supply. Also a more versatile one can be made out of an old type battery charger, fit a double pole change over switch, one way battery charger the other PSU. Fit a capacitor across the PSU output as a bit of smoothing, then a 5 amp three terminal adjustable regulator, break the positive output lead and insert an ammeter and you have a very useful workshop gadget. If you can get hold of disable buggy battery charge they are even bigger and better, 10 amp transformer, good case and ammeter. John.

i got one of them chargers, they work well for their intended use

Mine apparently does, check out the link.

Posted by Vic on 03/05/2023 22:17:54:

I’ve got one of these. It can charge all types of batteries including Lithium and can also be used as a 12v power supply.

NOCO Genius