June 23rd, 2013

6/23/2013

 
How To Choose A Car Battery Charger


There’re numerous facts in this subject written on “Car Battery” that we might take the time to review carefully with attention so that you can acquire the most from it.


Exactly what is a car battery charger? It charges car batteries right? How complicated could it be? Believe it or maybe not, there are literally countless models of chargers to fill every situation. What's your circumstances? Your particular situation will regulate how you will select a battery charger for the car.

Battery Charger or Jump Starter?

The very first question to ask is in the event that you actually require a battery charger at all or are simply looking for an urgent situation jump starter to transport in your vehicle. Battery chargers an average of stay in the home or shop and therefore are plugged in to household current to be able to charge a battery and in some cases maintain its charge aswell. Jump Starters are actually batteries as you are able to carry with you in your vehicle and within an emergency use to jump start your low car battery. If you are considering a jump starter, this short article is not for you personally. I may have another article on how best to choose a jump starter.

Battery Size and Voltage:

Then you need to think about, in what vehicle will the battery be utilized; a car, boat, light truck, garden tractor, classic car, and so on? The vehicle will determine if the device will have to charge a sizable battery or perhaps a small one and when it must handle only 12 Volts or will have to also handle 6 Volt applications. Common low priced car battery chargers for home use an average of handle 12 Volts and perhaps will handle 6 Volts aswell. If that you don't need to have 6 Volts (some classic cars plus some tractor batteries), and do not think you ever will, you'll be able to save money in the event that you choose a 12 Volt charger. Nowadays, some of the greatest home chargers continue to be relatively inexpensive and can handle both 6 and 12 Volt applications.

Battery Chemistry:

And also you thought you left chemistry behind at school... I promise I shall make it simple! Most all car batteries are lead-acid batteries with lead plates within an acid bath. Where they differ in chemistry is whether or not they are standard lead-acid, AGM, Gel Cel, or Deep Cycle. You don't have to know what those chemistries mean, you simply need to know which sort they are. Not all chargers are made to handle the special needs of AGM, Gel Cel or Deep Cycle types. The majority are standard lead-acid. The specialty chemistries are available in applications created for other equipment besides cars.

Fully Automatic:

Battery chargers could be manual or automatic charging. Many are fully automatic meaning they can detect when it's fully charged and automatically switch to a trickle charge or float mode to safeguard it from overcharging. This is definitely an important feature that's available on many better quality home chargers.

Health and safety first:

There are many safety features on modern car battery chargers and the more you have the greater. Some safety features to consider include:

1) Reverse Polarity Warning - A charger can warn you when you have the wrong cable connected to the incorrect post. Usually this can cause sparking that could ignite gas round the battery and cause an explosion.

2) Float Mode - A completely automatic charger may have a trickle charge or float mode which detects when it's fully charged and backs off the charging amps in order not to harm the battery from overcharging. In some instances severe overcharging may cause overheating, damage and sometimes even explosions.

3) Spark Proof Clamps - Regardless of how careful you are sparking continues to be possible when connecting the charger clamps. Some devices have this safety feature that reduces and sometimes even prevents sparking at the bond.

4) Battery Tester - Many chargers can detect the healthiness of your battery. With time they can develop sulfate on the plates reducing their capability to accept a complete charge. Some devices can detect that it's unable to simply accept a full charge and alert one to the problem.

5) Battery Tending/Maintenance - Many chargers can handle providing maintenance or tending for the battery while connected. This is particularly useful for all those which are just used rarely or have been in storage for the main time like garden tractors, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and so on.

6) Clamp Amps - Clamps that connect with the posts have an amp rating. Usually that rating is 50 amps or even more. It shouldn't be less.

Other Desirable Features:

1) Microprocessor Get a grip on - Fundamentally a microprocessor is really a computer on a chip that may direct the whole charging process predicated on feedback from the charger and the battery it self. Many modern chargers are microprocessor controlled and people that are have significantly more options for conditioning or recovering batteries and also have much finer control within the charging process even improving charging performance.

2) Multi-Step Charging - Some chargers are capable to charge in multiple steps which provides them the flexibleness to more finely get a grip on the charging process. Steps can vary from just charging and float modes to as much as 7 steps as supplied by, for example, Genius Chargers:

Step one: Diagnostics
Checks the voltage to ensure connections are good and the battery is in a well balanced condition prior to starting the charge process.

2: Recovery
Initializes the Healing process, if needed, for deeply discharged or sulfated (desulfation) batteries by pulsing smaller amounts of current.

Step three: Soft Start
Begins Bulk charging process with a gentle (soft) charge.

Step four: Bulk
The majority charging process continues and returns 80% of the battery capacity. Indicated by the 25%, 50% and 75% CHARGE Light emitting diodes.

Step 5: Absorption
Brings the charge level to 90%. The charger will deliver smaller amounts of current to supply a safe, efficient charge and limit gassing.

Step 6: Trickle
The battery is fully charged and prepared to use. In this task, the charger is only going to deliver enough current since it is required. If more current becomes necessary, the charger will switch to Maintenance.

Step 7: Maintenance
Continuously monitors the voltage to find out if a maintenance charge should be initiated. If the terminal voltage falls below a particular value, the charger will begin the Maintenance cycle until voltage reaches the correct value after which discontinues the charge cycle. The cycle between Trickle and Maintenance is repeated indefinitely to help keep a full charge, without overcharging. The charger could be left connected indefinitely.

3) Multiple or Appropriate Charging Amp Rates: Many chargers will either have multiple charging amp rates based on whether you are charging a little battery, a sizable one, or you are maintaining or tending one. It's common to see at the very least 2 amp and 10 amp charging rates or even a medium 4-6 amp rate aswell. It's maybe not critical to possess large charging amp rates unless charging time is essential to you. A microprocessor controlled battery charger with a reduced amp rate will charge more slowly but, if the full time is maybe not unacceptable, will get the job done. Check the battery charger to ensure it matches the application so far as charge time and charging amp rate.

4) Simplicity of use: If it is important to you that the charger is simple to use then fully automatic with reduced adjustment is what you want. If you have several battery and each is really a different type, then you might need a little more difficult but, more capable charger with options for output voltage, charging rate, battery chemistry, and so on. Chargers could be heavy or light, large or small, bulky or convenient to carry. Look for handles on bigger chargers if you want it to become more portable.


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There you contain it. In this short article I have covered most of the features and specifications that you ought to consider whenever choosing a car battery charger. A great place to consider a charger is on Amazon.com where you can compare the features of they're most popular sellers and read the reviews of people who already made their choice. Happy hunting!

It is little aspects, such as this, which may aid you in your surf about “Car Battery”. So, have a break and decide which aspects would be great for you to take.



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