“However, if you’ve got other types of battery-operated vehicles, such as an ATV, boat, jet ski, riding lawn mower, or golf cart, you might want to consider a 6/12 or a 12/24 volt charger. “If you are only looking to keep a car battery charged, opt for a 12-volt only model,” suggests Liston.“Sparks can not only damage both the charger and the battery but they can cause fires so this safety feature should be a must.”
“Whether you go with a trickle or a smart charger, I highly recommend looking for a model with spark-proof clamps,” Liston notes. Since you should always put safety first, the right clamps are essential.The higher-end models, usually referred to as advanced trickle chargers, can detect when a battery is fully charged and either stop or automatically switch over to ‘float’ mode to maintain the charge. “Because of this, they run the risk of overcharging and even causing an explosion. “The lower end models should not be ‘attached and forgotten’ as they will not stop charging when the battery has reached maximum capacity,” advises Liston. If you decide on a trickle car battery charger, Liston highly recommends an advanced model to ensure the safest operation possible.You’ll have the best of both worlds in one charger.”
Set it higher only when the occasion calls for speed.
You can set it lower when you have the time to wait and it won’t expend unnecessary, damaging heat. “Higher rated chargers can run around 20 amps and the emergency ‘get this thing started NOW’ type chargers can crank out 40 amps to get you on the road in a hot minute,” continues Liston. “Some smart chargers allow you to choose a recharge setting based on your circumstances. “Again, slower is better for the battery, but you might not have the luxury of waiting around that long and need it up and running in a hurry. “Trickle chargers are rated at below one amp so it may take a few days to fully charge a battery,” Liston says. Understandably, these are the more expensive option, but they are also the safest.”īe sure to check the amp rating on a potential car battery charger, as this will let you know how quickly it will charge your battery. “They can also detect if you’ve accidentally connected the cables to the wrong terminals, called ‘reverse polarity protection.’ A trickle charger will ruin a battery if connected incorrectly while a smart charger just won’t begin to charge at all. The standard versions have the automatic stop feature to avoid overcharging, damage, and explosions,” Liston points out.
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“Smart or multi-step chargers employ the use of a microprocessor to assess the battery and make automatic decisions about how to charge. If safety is top of mind, a smart charger might be a better choice.
“It’s actually better for the battery to charge slower than faster as a fast charge can generate a lot of heat and damage the battery.” “If you aren’t in a major rush to recharge, a trickle unit will serve you well,” explains Liston. While this might seem like a downfall, it can be an advantage in certain situations. “Trickle chargers are the most inexpensive,” Liston says, “but they are also the slowest.” Learning the pros, cons and capabilities of a car battery charger type is helpful in the decision-making process. “I don’t consider the float chargers to be actual ‘chargers,’ as they won’t resurrect a dead battery and are only used to maintain the charge.” “There are two basic types of car battery chargers: trickle and smart (also called multi-step) chargers,” shares Liston. Vicki Liston is the writer, producer and narrator of “On The Fly…DIY,” an award-winning home improvement and DIY show of unique project tutorials for the casual DIY’er. The primary consideration to determine is what type of car battery charger will best suit your needs. Choosing the right vehicle battery jumper or charger device depends on several factors unique to your situation. A car battery charger is one of those things you might not think about buying until you need it, but then you will wish you had the foresight to purchase one in advance.
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