Charging Station

[clutch93]

Look Familiar?

No it's not mine.

How do you guys have your chargers plugged in and arranged? I think most of us have plent of tools that require periodic battery charging, mine is a mess right now and I'd like to build some sort of "station" to mount each charger and have them plugged in, in a clean looking and safe way. Ideas?

 

[Wingnut65]

Good question. I just have a power strip and plug in the chargers as I need them. Usually I don't have more than two batteries charging at any one time.

I don't typically keep the chargers plugged because they are drawing electricity even when not actually charging a battery. I wasn't aware of the parasitic draw of power that they have, but that is why the transformer is always warm. A local radio station brought that up as a way of helping to cut their electric bills and I went and found 8 chargers plugged in at home with nothing attached. I know its not much of a power savings for me but its a start.

 

[december45]

Im getting ready to work on a charging area soon.... im looking for a receptical with a timer on it... one where you turn the dial and it stays on for 1 to 2 hour and shuts off.. so far ive found a couple where they shut of after 15 minutes, but havent looked to hard yet.

 

[lsrx101]

A shop I worked in had a charging station capable of charging batteries about 8-10 at a time. The charger was integrated into a bench and jumpers could be plugged into a strip on the top and connected to a battery as needed. Longer leads were available for charging in the car. There was a manual timer built in that went to about 2 hours.

I've always wanted to build something like this on a smaller scale. Maybe even a portable charging cart?

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Ive got to "finish" off the shop this year, I was going to do a long shelf, with one of those 8' long linear receptacles, that you would see above a bench in a shop. Theres a plug about every 12". Its more like a bar or strip. Something like this photo, but longer and a shelf under it to set the chargers on...

 

[Falcon67]

I stick with Craftsman C3 tools right or wrong - one charging station required. I would buy another tool if there was a use that demanded it, but so far I haven't had that issue. I also use the damned expensive Lithium batteries and they last a lot longer and spares hold the charge a long time.

 

[clutch93]

Good call on the energy savings Wingnut65. It's always nice to have a lower energy bill. I would like something like your example Busted Knuckles, that way everything has a home and you can just plug in whatever you're needing to charge and then plug in the strip.
The only thing in the garage that I keep plugged in to charge is my flashlight. So that I can just leave plugged in on it's own, everything else is so sporatic that I hate to leave them on the bench, but a little shelf that's orangized would look pretty slick I think.

 

[lsrx101]

Doh! I see now that we/re talking about chargers for cordless tools, not automobile batteries.

If all of your tools are the same voltage (mine certainly aren't) there are bank chargers that can hold 6-8 battery packs and can be mounted to a wall. We have one at work for our 18V drills, flashlights, sawzall, etc.

 

[lsrx101]

Duh! I see now that we/re talking about chargers for cordless tools, not automobile batteries.

If all of your tools are the same voltage (mine certainly aren't) there are bank chargers that can hold 6-8 battery packs and can be mounted to a wall. We have one at work for our 18V drills, flashlights, sawzall, etc.

 

[Plump]

Im getting ready to work on a charging area soon.... im looking for a receptical with a timer on it... one where you turn the dial and it stays on for 1 to 2 hour and shuts off.. so far ive found a couple where they shut of after 15 minutes, but havent looked to hard yet.

Exactly what I'm doing with a power strip and a quality timer. Especially with the cold, it's nice to have the batteries charge up every day so they're ready for me when needed but not draining power day after day, hour after hour.

 

[Robert 2006]

Add a outlet to your lighting circuit when your shop lighting is on your charging.

 

[scott37300]

I built one but don't have any pictures right now. I just took a 1x12 board about 2 feet long and put screws in to hold the chargers. Then I made my own "power strip" by wiring up some duplex outlets in some metal boxes and had an extension cord plug wired to them to plug them all in. Pretty simple and cheap. I ended up mounting it on the wall in my basement. I'll try to get some pictures sometime.

And here is a 7 day programable timer with 7 on/off settings per day that would work to charge batteries once a week for two hours or something. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E8VAIO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or here is another that has buttons for 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours timed delay. Just push the button and it will shut off after 2 hours. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002C54GH4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Either one can easily be wired up to control an outlet that your charger is plugged into.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I stick with Craftsman C3 tools right or wrong - one charging station required. I would buy another tool if there was a use that demanded it, but so far I haven't had that issue. I also use the damned expensive Lithium batteries and they last a lot longer and spares hold the charge a long time.

Yep, same here. Love the C3 line...

 

[fringeofinsanity]

I'm working on putting together a shelf or bank setup for all my chargers too. I remember seeing something someone here put together and it looked really well laid out, wish I could find it again.

my plan is to use some 1x12 and make a pitched setup and then be able to keep the excess wires tucked away. I like the idea of using a timer.

 

[matty d]

C3 is good stuff...no complaints from me...

 

[techie82]

here is another similar to the ones scott37300 found. this one will do 5, 15, 30 & 60 mins as well as 2, 4, 6 & 12 hours. also has a hold feature.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/electrical/timers/spring-wound/12-hour-125-277v-spdt-commercial-series-timer-w-hold-continuous-duty?utm_source=nextag&utm_medium=shp&utm_campaign=Spring-Wound-Timers-nextag&utm_term=B200615&infoParam.campaignId=WI

i used the Intermatic brand 15 minute dials in my last home - controlled the fart fans in the bathrooms with them. never had an issue the 5 years they were installed.

 

[Rickstir]

Lowe's has an outlet with a timer. I bought one but have not installed for the chicken house because it is too darn cold!

 

[czeto]

You don't need plugs, just wire nuts.

 

[Mustangmike]

You don't need plugs, just wire nuts.

I think i could get 2 more cables in there....

 

[GarageEnvy]

All he has to do is stack about 10 box extensions on there and put a cover plate on. Then it would be to code

 

[drmoonshine]

The outlet near my shop table I have two surge protectors for extra room.

 

[LEVE]

My computer outlets are getting a little out of hand...