In addition to a set of wrenches, a jack, screwdrivers, a hammer and penetrating fluid, there is other equipment without which no workshop, from the home shed to the largest professional workshop, would be complete. and that’s a good car battery charger.
Now, while we all know that a car’s battery powers its electrical systems (everything from the lights to the ignition to the starter), what happens when the battery dies? In normal operation, of course, the car’s alternator keeps the battery charged, but if that system fails or the car has simply been sitting still for an extended period, the battery is depleted and essentially useless. and that’s when the car becomes useless in sympathy.
Reading: Car battery charger reviews australia
That’s where a battery charger comes in. By connecting the charger to the car battery (on-site, if necessary), you can return the battery to a fully charged state where you can get the car running again.
>
this works in exactly the same way as plugging your phone into the charger overnight to recharge the battery. So what are the best car battery chargers for your needs?
The first thing to establish is what voltage your car battery operates at. in most cases it will be 12 volts, but on some trucks it may be 24 volts.
in older cars (including early holdens and early vws (to name just two) you might be dealing with a six volt system so either buy a charger that accommodates that voltage or find a charger that will can switch between voltages.
if you don’t need these alternative voltages, a simple small 12v battery charger will be cheaper to buy.
See also: 40 Car Dealer Review Examples to copy and paste
The next step is to determine what upload rate you need. a two amp rate will happily charge a small battery, but somewhere closer to eight amps is better for fast charging a full size battery in a few hours.
Ten amps or more is good for large, deep-cycle, and truck batteries. but even a two amp charger will work with these, it just takes longer.
Old battery chargers were the type that manually switched where you manually connected and disconnected them to prevent overcharging.
Currently, in the best brands and models of chargers, there is a computer control of the charging function, so you can leave them connected and even on.
Generally, the time taken to charge a battery from flat to full is determined by the amperage.
The really smart ones offer all kinds of overheat and overload protection and can practically be left in the car full time when you’re not driving. modern calcium battery technology (where the plates are about one percent calcium to reduce gas production) also helps in this department.
The best chargers will also charge the battery in stages where the charger first gives the battery enough amps to return its charge.
The second step involves slowing down the charger to protect the battery (much like an ev charge point slows down for the last 20 percent or so).
See also: No7 Skincare Reviews: Worth Checking Out? | ClothedUp
most car batteries run on 12 volts.
and the third stage is to reduce the charge to a small trickle of milliamps to keep the battery at 100% capacity.
Don’t forget about modern solar-powered chargers, either. These are a great way to keep a battery charged at all times by acting as a trickle charger, and since they are powered by sunlight, they are a zero emission solution to battery maintenance.
and while the solar panel element makes them bulkier, they’re still portable, so they can go camping with you to extend the life of your fridge battery.
CTEK Multi XS 7000 battery charger.
A good battery charger often has a feature that “reconditions” the battery by lightly cycling once it is fully charged.
Some also have a ‘maintenance’ setting where you leave the battery permanently connected to the charger (when you’re not driving the car of course) and this will continue to charge the battery and cycle it slightly. both ctek and suaoki are recognized brands that offer this level of technology.
You’ll pay more for this type of higher-end charger, but if it saves you from a dead battery or even having to replace a battery (even one for a small car), it pays for itself pretty quickly.
See also: UVA Primary Care Riverside in Charlottesville, VA
