CHARGER AND CHARGING APPARATUS

A reduction in breakdown voltage and mechanical deterioration of an electrode plate of a rechargeable battery are suppressed, and a charging time is shortened. There is provided a charger 10 which charges a rechargeable battery, comprising: a first output unit which outputs a first voltage; a second output unit which outputs a second voltage having a predetermined voltage value different from that of the first voltage; a charge control unit 16 which inputs the first voltage and the second voltage, alternately outputs these voltages, and supplies them to the rechargeable battery as charging voltages; a charged-amount detection unit 14 which measures a charged amount of the rechargeable battery; and an output control unit 15 which carries out control in such a manner that an output time of the first voltage and/or the second voltage in the charge control unit 15 is prolonged as the charged amount increases.