Plasma cutting power sources and welding machines

A battery charger is a device used to put energy into a secondary cell or rechargeable battery by forcing an electric current through it.
The charging protocol depends on the size and type of the battery being charged, on its discharge level and on the current we want to deliver to it. Slow charges are made with low currents that usually do not exceed approximately 1/10th of the capacity of the battery and may take several hours to complete a charge. Slow charges are preferable for a longer battery life, preventing the battery from overheating. Fast charges are made with higher currents, approximately 1/5th of the capacity of the capacity of the battery and can restore most capacity within minutes or less than an hour, but generally require monitoring of the battery to protect it from overcharge and the charging time is controlled by a timer.
The battery charging time can also vary according to ambient conditions and state of the battery. Battery chargers may be manual, or may include controls for time and charging voltage.