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“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. “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. Ī 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. Designed for use on 120-volt 50-60Hz electrical systems, the G3500 includes both X-Connect battery clamps with integrated eyelet terminals, as well as a 5-year limited. Intuitive LED indicators provide visual state-of-charge feedback and diagnostic information, even when in maintenance mode. The G3500 features external mounting holes and a rubberized base that avoids surface slipping and scratches, while remaining impact, UV and water-resistant (IP65). It can remain safely connected 24/7, while its streamlined design makes it ultra-compact, portable, and incredibly lightweight. Guided by an onboard microcomputer, the G3500 monitors battery activity for safe and efficient charging, automatically minimizes energy consumption and provides redundant levels of safety protection, including spark-proof technology, as well as reverse polarity and overcharge protection. It charges 2x faster than ordinary battery chargers, can repair damaged batteries and is designed for use with micro-hybrid start-stop vehicles and CANBUS electrical systems. It can also effectively maintain automotive, marine, RV, power sport, lawn & garden and deep-cycle batteries. 5 Amp is designed to charge 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries up to 120Ah. NOCO Genius smart battery chargers are some of the safest and most advanced on the market.
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