The month of January is in full swing, the frosts are getting stronger. It's a difficult time for motorists. If the battery is dead, then starting the car in severe frost is not easy. You simply cannot do without a charger. I want to tell you about the Orion PW325 charger and do a short review. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this charger is produced in the city of Ryazan. They do exactly the same thing in St. Petersburg. On the official website of NPP OBORONPRIBOR LLC (Russia, Ryazan), they explain the fact that chargers are direct analogues of products produced in the city of St. Petersburg.
Let's start with the appearance of the box. The device is packaged in a cardboard box on which there is a sketch of the device itself:
On the side of the package there are brief characteristics of the charger:
And also the coordinates of the production site:
The device is pleasant to hold in your hands. The device body is very light, weighing less than a kilogram. This was achieved due to the fact that the device does not have a step-down power transformer, which, as a rule, is heavy due to the iron. The circuit is built using pulse technology:
On the front panel of the device there are controls and controls over the ongoing processes. The advantage of the Orion PW325 is that it has a smooth adjustment of the charging current, so you can set the correct current for a specific battery:
On the left side there is an ammeter, which has a scale with fairly large numbers:
There are two LEDs in the middle of the device. The first indicates that the device is connected to the network, the other indicates the presence of overheating:
On the back side there is a niche where you can hide the power cord and wires for charging the battery:
The mains cable and the wires for connecting the battery are quite long, one meter long. The cross-sectional area of the charging wires is approximately 4 square millimeters, which is quite enough. Standard alligator clips, which can be bought at any auto store:
Immediately behind the wires in the niche we will see a cooling fan. It turns on only when the charger overheats or if the charging current is more than 12 amperes:
At the bottom there are four square legs, through which four screws pass and fasten the body, consisting of two halves:
The charger is assembled on a modern electronic base, making the internal layout of the radio components quite spacious:
Temperature sensor:
Power transistors and diode assemblies are mounted on heat-conducting paste, and the mounting bolt is secured from unwinding with glue:
Charging current regulator:
This charger can be used not only for its intended purpose, for charging car batteries, but also used as a stabilized current source. The maximum current can be set to 18 amperes:
The batteries are charged with a stabilized current, which can be set using a regulator. The charging process can be viewed on the graph. From which it is clear that the current at the end of the charge, when it reaches 15 volts, begins to decrease, due to which intensive gas evolution of the battery does not occur. Based on this, we can conclude that the Orion PW325 charger is not a simple boiler, but a fairly well-thought-out device:
Can also be used as a pre-launch device:
I charged the batteries with this charger a couple of times. There are no complaints. The device does not heat up much, the fan turns on extremely rarely. Thanks to this h. u. practically no noise. If someone still has problems with the PW325 charger, the diagram I found on the Internet will help you figure it out:
I did not understand the diagram in detail, perhaps it is not entirely accurate and will differ from the original. There was no need for this yet.
Despite the fact that the manufacturer’s charging turned out to be quite reliable, you still need to read the instructions, which describe some subtleties, which, if not observed, can lead to failure of the device. For example, the sequence of connecting the clamps to the battery.
In order to understand in detail the rules for using the Orion charger, as well as other possibilities, the user manual will help us:
In conclusion, I would like to summarize. The main advantages of this charger are that it has an ammeter. There is also a well-thought-out charging algorithm that will not allow the battery to boil. A cooling system that turns on only when needed. In general, I liked the charger. Time will tell about its reliability.
A friend brought me a factory charger Orion PW325, it did not give any signs of life. Its prehistory is not known, it just doesn’t work, that’s all. I took it apart and saw black stripes on the board between the radiators; the fuse was blown. Well, everything was immediately clear, there was a short circuit.
The first thing I did was go online and look for a diagram; surprisingly, the diagram is quite popular, as is the number of repairs.
It turned out that this is a standard Tl494 circuit with a driver isolating transformer, the adjustment is through comparators on the LM324 op-amp, the current shunt is a simple copper jumper. The circuit has reverse polarity protection
Well, I unsolder the transistors and the Schottky rectifier diode, having first opened the ears of the radiators from the bottom of the board. I unsolder the reverse polarity protection transistors and start testing.
The keys turned out to be dead, one case was split. The Schottky diode was intact, and the field devices from the re-production were also intact.
What was the reason for the breakdown is not clear. I assumed that a capacitor had dried out somewhere in the driver circuits, so I replaced everything at once. I installed new 13007 on the radiators using thermal paste, ordered 13007 and capacitors from China, here is a link to the transistors, and here is a link to the condensers. Everything is cheap
It's time to try it out, the old fashioned way. The lamp flashed sharply and went out, which means there are no problems with the power supply. I removed the lamp and started it directly, the power supply earned an output voltage of 14.2V.
I put all the parts in place, put the case back together and gave it to a friend for testing... Everything works as it should, the person is happy.
My opinion about this charger is not very good, the circuit is good but the assembly is crooked. Well, a few photos for memory
ATTENTION! Follow the order of connecting the charger (C.U.) to the battery. GOST IEC 60335-2-29-2012 clause 7.12
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE CONNECTION PROCEDURE MAY RESULT IN THE CHARGER FAILURE.
1. Connect the terminals of the charger. to the battery terminals, observing the polarity, red terminal to (+), black to (-).
2. After making sure that the LED lights up, insert the plug into the outlet.
3. Using the control knob, set the desired current strength.
ATTENTION!
The Orion Charger - 260/265/325 is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience or knowledge, unless they are supervised or instructed in the use of the device. person responsible for their safety. Children must be supervised to prevent them from playing with the device.
The main purpose of an automatic charger (hereinafter referred to as the charger) is to charge automobile and motorcycle 12 V batteries, including completely discharged ones (to zero), of any type and capacity in a fully automatic mode with the ability to manually adjust the strength of the charging current. Charging time depends on the battery capacity and its level of discharge.
The Orion - 260/265/325 charger controls and limits the voltage on the battery being charged, eliminating intense gas formation (boiling) and overcharging of the battery. Therefore, the Orion automatic charger can be used to charge modern maintenance-free batteries and does not require disconnecting the battery being charged from the vehicle’s on-board network.
In addition, it is possible to use the Orion charger and pre-start device as a multi-purpose DC source for powering automotive equipment, power tools, halogen lamps and other devices and instruments with a rated supply voltage of 12V DC. The technical characteristics of this automatic charger allow it to be used as a charging and pre-starting device to assist the battery when starting the engine. You can also use Z.U. in non-automatic mode for charging batteries of any electrochemical system with a maximum voltage at the end of the charge of no more than 15 V.
The charging and pre-launch device Orion - 260/265/325 is intended for indoor use only, the degree of protection against water is .
Before using the automatic charger, you must study this manual, as well as the rules for the care and use of the battery. Before connecting the device to the network, make sure that the insulation of the power cord is intact (no damage). Do not allow chemically active liquids (gasoline, acid, etc.) and water to come into contact with the housing of the charger. and network cable. When charging the battery, the device should be placed in a well-ventilated area. In this case, the released gases and acid aerosol should not reach the Z.U. and network wires.
..Structurally, the automatic charging and pre-launch device Orion - 260/265/325 is made in a plastic case with louvers for ventilation.
On the front panel of NPP Orion-265, NPP Orion-325, there are:
1 - Ammeter scale
2 - Power LED
3 - Overheating indication, LED with the designation - T C is an indicator of overheating protection activation
On the front panel of NPP Orion-260 there are:
1 - LED scale of the ammeter, the beginning of the LED lighting corresponds to the current value indicated on the scale
2 - Power LED
3 - Overheating indication, LED with the designation - 3/T is also an indicator of overheating protection activation
4 - Charging current regulator.
The power cord and output wires with clamps are stored in the rear compartment of the case.
The electronic circuit of the charger is a push-pull high-voltage, high-frequency pulse-width converter with a control circuit containing two feedback circuits for output current and voltage.
This design of the power section ensures high efficiency over a wide range of supply voltages, almost ideal output characteristics of the current generator and voltage generator, reliability, as well as high specific weight, size and power characteristics.
An ammeter is used to indicate the flowing charging current. To protect the power part from overheating, a microfan (in the NPP Orion-325 model) and an output current limiting circuit are used. This circuit automatically reduces the output current when the temperature inside the case rises above normal. At the same time, manual adjustment of the current strength does not allow you to set a current greater than that specified by the limiting circuit. When normal temperature conditions are restored, the manual adjustment range is restored.
....Remove the wires. Make sure that the product body has no mechanical damage and that the wire insulation is intact. To check the functionality of a car charger without a battery, you must connect the device to an alternating current network, the output terminals must be open.
Make sure the Network indicator is lit.
Set the current regulator to the extreme left position (minimum current). Close the output terminals or, for clarity, connect a 55-110 W car incandescent lamp to them. By rotating the current regulator and observing the ammeter scale, make sure that the current is regulated and the brightness of the lamp changes.
Attention! In the Orion-325 charger, the microfan turns on automatically when the temperature inside the case rises or the current increases above 12 A.
To check the operation of the fan, turn on the device, close the terminals and turn the current regulator to the right until the fan starts working.
Failure to follow the connection procedure may result in failure of the Orion charger or an explosion of gases emitted by the battery. Connecting and disconnecting the charger carried out in accordance with the requirements of GOST IEC 60335-2-29-2012 clause 7.12 - “The battery terminal not connected to the chassis should be connected to the charger first; the other connection must be made to the chassis away from the battery and fuel line; then the battery charger is connected to the mains supply. After charging, disconnect the battery charger from the power supply; then the charger is disconnected from the chassis; then with the battery.”
1. Connect the terminals Z.U. to the battery terminals, strictly observing the polarity. A plus corresponds to a red or light color of the clamp marking. Minus - black or dark color of the clamp markings.
2. Set the current regulator to the extreme left position (minimum current).
3. After making sure that the LED lights up, connect the automatic charger and pre-start device to the AC mains.
4. Current setting(interval I on the graph). Rotate the current regulator to set the required charge current.
The current strength is set smoothly by the regulator. Therefore, even with a discrete LED ammeter, you can set the desired current strength by remembering at which positions of the regulator the LEDs start to light and setting the regulator to an intermediate position.
The battery will be charged automatically using the current set by the adjustment knob (interval II on the graph). Upon reaching A.B. voltage equal to 15 V, the current is automatically reduced. At the same time, the charging current regulator does not allow you to set a current greater than that specified by the automation circuit.
Current reduction(interval III on the graph). The beginning of a decrease in the set current indicates that the battery has reached 75-95% charge. To fully recharge the battery, it may take another half an hour to several hours (depending on the type, capacity and technical condition of the battery).
.....Buffer mode(interval IV on the graph). During the recharging process, the Orion device goes into buffer mode, in which the self-discharge of the battery is compensated by the required charging current. (A spontaneous decrease in current at the beginning of the charge may indicate the presence of sulfation of the battery plates. By reducing the current, the charger automatically switches to the battery desulfation mode. Depending on the degree of damage to the plates, desulfation may require from several minutes to several hours. During the desulfation process the current will gradually automatically increase to the value set by the current regulator.
The duration of operation in buffer mode is unlimited; moreover, it is useful for not new batteries, since after several tens of hours most A.B. improve and restore their main characteristics - and.
Time intervals of work stages:
I - connection, setting the charging current (generally accepted recommendations are 0.1 of the battery capacity); II - charging process; III - final stage of charging; IV - buffer mode
Note:
The time intervals on the chart are schematic in nature.
5. When charging is complete, turn off the charger. from the mains and remove the clamps from the battery terminals. It is recommended to wipe the clamps and wires with a damp and then a dry cloth to remove any electrolyte that may have accumulated. It is advisable to lubricate the clamps with any auto-lubricant after this to protect against corrosion.
ATTENTION!!! Despite the fact that Z.U. does not require your participation in the AB charging process; it is unacceptable to leave the connected charger unattended, like any complex equipment, especially when powered from a garage electrical network.
The Orion automatic charging and pre-starting device is a source of stabilized DC voltage with limitation (stabilization) of the load current. Therefore, it can be used to power any 15 V voltage consumers with a total current consumption less than that set by a manual current regulator. In case of overload or emergency short circuit of the output wires, the device will switch to current stabilization mode.
To make it easier to start the engine, connect the Orion - 260/265/325 charger to the AB, set the maximum current with the adjustment knob. Thus, revive the battery for 5-30 minutes, and then, without turning off the charger. from A.B., start the engine. Enlivened by the pre-launch charge A.B. is capable of delivering significantly more current in the first seconds of starter operation. This allows you to easily remove thickened oil, create good mixture formation and a spark (in an ignition diesel engine) by quickly cranking, and in most cases do without an expensive starting device, and reducing the cranking time will reduce the load on the battery, extending its life. If unsuccessful, repeat the procedure. The manufacturer recommends using more powerful models for this purpose (NPP Orion-320, 325, 415, Vympel-30, Vympel-40) or several Z.U. connected in parallel.
Failure to follow the connection order may lead to the output of the charger. out of service. A non-automatic mode is a charging mode in which the voltage on the battery at the end of the charge is less than the voltage that the charger can create.
1 Make sure that the voltage on A.B. at the end of the charge (indicated in the battery passport) less than 15 V.
2 Connect the terminals of the charger. to the A.B. terminals, strictly observing the polarity. A plus corresponds to a red or light color of the clamp marking. Minus - black or dark color of the clamp markings.
3 Set the current control to the far left position (minimum current).
4 After making sure that the LED lights up, connect the charger. to the AC mains.
5 Z.U. operates in stable current generator mode. In this mode, it is necessary to set the charging current with the regulator, corresponding to the type and capacity of the battery being charged, and control the degree of charge using generally accepted methods (by voltage, by time and current, by electrolyte density, and so on).
Opening hours Z.U. in any of the above modes unlimited.
Z.U. has reverse polarity protection. It can be implemented in different versions. Option 1: Internal electronic circuit (no capsule on the output wire). Option 2: Fuse in capsule on output wire. ATTENTION!!! Incorrect connection leads to the blowing of the fuse located in the capsule on the output wire. The fuse is a copper conductor with a diameter of 0.3 mm for the NPP Orion-260, 265 models and a diameter of 0.5 mm for the NPP Orion-325 model. It is unacceptable to install a larger diameter conductor or connect several conductors in parallel. When replacing a burnt-out conductor, use only soldering. Twisting or other mechanical fastening will not provide the necessary contact resistance, and therefore normal operation of the charger.
1. Remove traces of corrosion and lubricate the alligator clips.
2. Clean the blinds from dust by blowing them out.
More complex work related to disassembling the charger case, for example, replacing the power cord if it is damaged, should be performed by the charger manufacturer. or its agent or similarly qualified person.
Standard service life of Z.U. 5 years.
The warranty period for the device is 12 months from the date of sale. During the warranty period, the manufacturer repairs the product free of charge. Without presenting a warranty card, in case of mechanical damage, as well as if the malfunction is caused by improper operation, claims regarding the quality of the device’s operation will not be accepted and warranty repairs will not be performed. In the event of a malfunction, subject to all requirements, repair (exchange) of the device is carried out at the point of sale.
The most important reasons for purchasing a charger is preparing the car for the harsh winter climate of Russia. The weather often brings surprises, and many cars don't handle them very well.
Every self-respecting car enthusiast should have this device in their arsenal, just like a spare tire or a set of keys.
Let's consider a typical domestic electronics product that copes with its declared functions quite successfully, as evidenced by many positive reviews. Charger "Orion PW325" - we will talk about it.
Even the most responsible car owner, who conscientiously operates his car and always does everything on time, may experience the need for this device.
When the car is moving, the battery is charged from the generator, but this may not be enough for it to function properly.
Short trips cannot provide a full battery charge, while the use of newfangled gadgets also increases energy consumption. The situation gets worse when you consider that most cars now sleep in the open air.
All this can lead to the fact that at the most inopportune moment, when you are late, you look for your car under the snowdrifts for half an hour and finally find that it will not start.
The ideal solution would be to purchase an Orion PW325 charger. The user instructions indicate the possibility of using it for preventive purposes or as a starting device.
Preventative action is when you check and recharge your car battery from time to time and maintain a sufficient charge level.
The starting device is useful when you need to start the engine when the car is idle for a long time or when the temperature drops sharply, since in cold weather it is quite difficult to set the crankshaft in motion on cold oil, and not every car can be “lighted” or, even worse, started “with a pusher” . This is more suitable for Russian cars of the last century. Modern models can no longer help with this.
The starting charger is a pulse adjustable current stabilizer, for example, "Orion PW325", the diagram of which is shown below - TL 494. In connection with this, the device has small dimensions and weighs only 1 kilogram.
This circuit is simple, but at the same time has high efficiency and combines a number of other useful characteristics. If you have knowledge in the field of electronics, the diagram will help identify any malfunctions of the device.
The manufacturer's official documentation states that these circuits are patented and classified.
But on the Russian-language Internet you can find everything, including handwritten and printed circuit diagrams of the Orion PW325 and other models.
The Orion PW325 car charger is primarily used to charge the batteries of passenger cars and some trucks, as well as motorcycles.
This device can recharge even batteries that are discharged to zero. In automatic mode, it provides boiling control and prevents overcharging. In this case, it is not necessary to remove the battery from the car's network.
The Orion PW325 charger (owner reviews positively characterize the additional technical features of the device) is a source of direct current for devices with low electricity consumption or for recharging them.
These can be power tools, car radios, lamps and many other devices corresponding to consumption parameters.
The Orion PW325 charger can also be used as a pre-launch mechanism.
The manufacturer offers us an expanded range of similar charger models. They all work on the same principle, the only difference is in adjusting the charging current, and they add minor functions that seem to be needed, but in general you can do without them.
Each model has its own current supply range. For earlier models it is in a fairly low range, and their cost is lower. Those with a higher charging current level are more expensive, but still not so expensive compared to their competitors.
Some models can only work with 6 Volt batteries for some types of garden equipment), others with 12 Volt batteries, like the Orion PW325. The instructions allow it to be used for passenger cars and selectively trucks. There are also those designed for 24 Volts - these are SUVs, buses, large special equipment.
So before purchasing, be sure to read the instructions or consult with a sales consultant to determine which unit is best for you.
You can opt for a universal device that can service different types of batteries. This option is suitable for owners of cars and additional vehicles (motor boats, snowmobiles, mini-tractors), the same models are suitable for car services.
If you have one car, then it is enough to choose a device with parameters similar in characteristics to your battery. If there are several vehicles, then it is better to purchase with wider settings.
The maximum current consumption of the device should be three times higher than the battery capacity. If your battery has a capacity of 60 A/h, then you should choose a device with a starting current of at least 180 A/h.
The Orion PW325 charger operates from a standard 220 V network and can be connected to any electrical outlet that is at hand.
The device has two wires with terminals “+” and “-”, which must be connected to the terminals of the battery being charged.
About the Orion PW325 charger, customer reviews indicate the use of two operating modes: automatic and manual.
The latter provides for charging the battery with constant voltage. Here you independently rotate the current regulator and determine which parameter you need to set.
It is necessary to monitor the operation of the device to prevent boiling of electrolytes. The session can take quite a long time, it depends on the initial state of the battery (15-17 hours). Therefore, take this factor into account immediately.
In automatic mode, everything is, of course, simpler. The device, despite its simplicity, will determine the charge level itself and bring it to the required level in several stages. Overcharging is excluded and boiling is not allowed. Once fully charged, the process will stop automatically.
Before you start using it, you must make sure that the device is working correctly. After plugging in the power cord, the “Network” indicator light should light up. You need to install the current lever and turn it to the left all the way, to the minimum.
Then you can proceed directly to the charging itself: connect the charger clamps to the battery terminals in accordance with their polarity. Typically, red or light-colored wires are designated as a plus, and black or dark-colored wires as a minus.
After the LED lights up, smoothly set the required current value. To correctly determine it for your battery, you need to select the position at which the LEDs start to light up and set the regulator to an intermediate position.
Once the battery reaches 15 A, the current will automatically decrease. In this case, you will not be able to set the regulator to a higher value, as provided by the circuit.
Using the device for other purposes will lead to its malfunction or breakdown, as evidenced by numerous reviews of the Orion PW325 charger.
