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Yes, a bench power supply can charge a lithium-ion battery if it provides genuine constant-current/constant-voltage (CC/CV) control and you set it to the exact limits specified for that cell or pack. A bare supply may not provide temperature monitoring, cell balancing, fault handling, or automatic charge termination, so a dedicated charger or approved multi-cell charging system is the safer choice for routine or unattended charging.
How CC/CV charging works
Li-ion charging normally has two regulated stages followed by a termination condition. The charger must use the cell or pack maker’s specified voltage and current limits; there is no single safe setting for every battery called “lithium-ion.”
Constant current: voltage rises
During the CC phase, the charger regulates current at the programmed level while battery voltage rises. The chosen current must stay within the cell or pack’s permitted charge rate.
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When the battery reaches its specified maximum charge voltage, the charger holds that voltage and current naturally falls. Charging then ends according to the charger’s termination logic, such as a taper-current threshold, timer, or another programmed condition. A power supply that merely reaches a voltage limit does not necessarily know when to stop charging.
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Texas Instruments illustrated a typical 4.2 V Li-ion charge curve in 2017 with CC covering roughly the first 67% and CV the remaining 33%. That is an illustrative curve, not a universal state-of-charge rule or a way to estimate how much charge remains in every battery.
Can you use a bench power supply?
A CVCC bench supply can be appropriate for supervised development, characterization, or fault finding when its controls and protections suit the battery specification. TDK recommends constant-current-control supplies or supplies with a CVCC function for battery charging, and cautions that some over-current protection behaviors do not provide the current regulation charging requires.
Before using a supply, verify that its current limit is genuinely regulated and predictable—not simply an over-current shutdown or foldback mode—and that its voltage and current accuracy meet the battery maker’s requirements. A bench supply does not inherently provide battery-temperature monitoring, automatic termination, or balancing. Do not assume it does unless its documentation explicitly confirms those functions.
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Set the supply from the battery specification
Do not choose settings from a generic online example. Check the cell datasheet, pack label, and BMS or charger documentation for the approved charge profile. GlobTek’s CC/CV guidance is for packs whose manufacturer specifies a 4.20 V maximum charge voltage; it explicitly requires adjustments for other chemistries and cell voltages.
- Identify the battery. Confirm its chemistry, cell count, approved maximum charge voltage, permitted charge current, and any temperature-sensing requirement. For a pack, use pack-maker instructions and BMS limits rather than inferring settings from a single-cell example.
- Check the supply’s operating mode. Confirm that it supports true CC and CV regulation and that its current-limit behavior is suitable for charging. Check its voltage accuracy, current-limit accuracy, output-enable behavior, and over-voltage protection.
- Set the specified limits before connecting. Set the voltage to the battery maker’s maximum charge voltage and set the current no higher than the permitted charge current. The correct values depend on the exact cell or pack; do not substitute a universal voltage, current, or C-rate.
- Connect with the output disabled. Verify polarity and secure connections, then enable the output while supervising the battery. Protect against reversed or shorted connections.
- Monitor the charge and stop appropriately. Observe voltage, current, and temperature if specified. A supply that lacks a suitable termination function requires a separate, battery-approved way to determine and end charging; reaching the voltage limit alone is not proof that charging has terminated safely.
Stop charging if the battery shows abnormal heat, swelling, odor, or unexpected voltage behavior. For packs with cells in series, use the specified pack charger and balancing method; a supply connected across the pack does not establish that each cell is within its permitted limit.
Choose the right charging equipment
| Option | Best fit | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CVCC bench DC supply | Supervised development, characterization, or fault finding | True constant-current operation; voltage and current accuracy; over-voltage protection; output-enable behavior; ripple; remote sensing; and whether over-current behavior regulates current rather than shutting down or folding back. |
| Dedicated single-cell charger module or IC | Repeatable charging, particularly when automatic control is needed | Supported chemistry and cell count; charge-current range; temperature input; termination method and timer; reverse-current blocking; thermal regulation; and input protection. |
| Multi-cell charger/BMS system | Series-cell packs that require pack-level protection and balancing | Approved pack charge profile; balancing strategy; per-cell sensing; and cutoff limits. Follow the pack maker’s specified charging method. |
What dedicated chargers add
Dedicated charger ICs can include control and fault-management functions that a bare power supply may lack. The feature set varies by device, so check the specific datasheet rather than assuming every charger has every protection.
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- Texas Instruments’ BQ25628 is a single-cell Li-ion/Li-polymer charger listed with a maximum charge current of 2 A. Its documented charging phases include trickle, pre-charge, CC, and CV, with automatic termination; listed protections and controls include battery-temperature monitoring, a safety timer, input and battery over-voltage/over-current protection, thermal regulation, thermal shutdown, and fault reporting.
- Monolithic Power Systems’ MP2606 is a single-cell Li-ion/Li-polymer charger with programmable CC/CV current from 85 mA to 1 A, charge termination, thermal protection, and reverse-current blocking.
- Analog Devices’ LTC4020 supports a programmable CC/CV algorithm and includes preconditioning and a termination timer.
These examples describe particular devices, not interchangeable parts or recommendations for a battery whose requirements have not been identified. Confirm compatibility, operating limits, and the complete protection scheme in the relevant device and battery documentation.
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During CV charging, current tapers as the charger holds the specified voltage. The battery is considered charged when the charger’s defined termination condition is met—not simply when voltage first reaches its limit. That condition may be a taper-current threshold, a timer, or another programmed state. A bench supply without termination logic cannot reliably declare the battery full on its own.
Do not leave a full Li-ion battery on continuous float or trickle charge. The European Maritime Safety Agency warns that this is unsuitable for Li-ion batteries because it can cause metallic-lithium plating and compromise safety.
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