PURPOSE: To charge a secondary cell to its almost full capacity in a short time by detecting a cell temperature through a temperature sensor built in or close proximity to the cell, and thereby controlling the charge.

CONSTITUTION: A secondary cell 1 is connected to first and second charging power sources 3, 4 through a switching circuit 2. However, an output current of the source 4 is lower than that of the source 3. A temperature sensor 5 obtains an output signal corresponding to the temperature of the cell 1, and supplies it to a temperature change rate detector 7, voltage comparators 10, 14 through a temperature converter 6. When arrival at a first set temperature is sensed by the comparator 10, a switch SW1 of the circuit 2 is opened through an OR circuit 12, and the cell 1 is auxiliarily charged by the source 4 through a switch SW2. When arrival of the temperature of the cell 1 at a second set temperature is sensed by the comparator 14, the switch SW2 of the circuit 2 is also opened through an OR circuit 15.