A dead car battery can be a very big deal, with the potential to leave you stranded. The good news is you can avoid this with a dependable car battery charger. Batteries Plus has a large selection of car and truck battery chargers to choose from, including trickle chargers, battery maintainers and even portable battery chargers.
When choosing the best battery charger for your car or truck, there are a number of things to consider. First, think about how you plan to use it. If you’re looking for an emergency solution to carry with you while traveling, a portable jump starter may be your best fit. For vehicles that will be in storage for extended periods of time, a trickle charger or battery maintainer is a much better match.
Next, identify what kind of battery you have. Most cars and trucks use either a lead acid or AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery (although a small percentage use gel or lithium batteries). When selecting a charger, be sure that the model you choose is compatible with your battery’s chemistry.
To determine how long it will take to charge your auto battery, first identify your battery’s capacity in amp hours. An amp hour (Ah) measures how much amperage a battery can provide per hour. This information should be easy to find on the manufacturer’s website.
Once you have this info, you can use it to determine your battery’s charging time by dividing the battery’s amp hour capacity by your charger’s amp hours. For example, a 70 Ah car battery using a 7.5 amp charger will take roughly 9 to 10 hours to fully charge.
Overcharging can damage your battery and potentially shorten its overall lifecycle.
Maintaining a proper charge is key to your battery’s health. If you have a vehicle that you store over the winter or just an old car that you don’t drive very often, a charger will help you keep it charged up and ready to go. Here are a few of the different battery chargers available.
If your vehicle can accept higher rates of charge consider picking up a “heavy duty” charger. These chargers produce 10 amps or more allowing you to charge your vehicle quicker and feature a host of other options such as multiple charging voltages and amp rates. Pick up a heavy duty charger for your 4 door sedan, SUV or pick-up truck today.
Battery maintainers are automatic chargers that actively monitor your battery once they’ve been connected. A maintainer will cut off power when your battery reaches a full charge and begin recharging again once it drops below an ideal voltage. This eliminates the dangers of both under and overcharging your battery, making it perfect for users looking for a simple set-it-and-forget-it option that doesn’t require additional monitoring.
A portable car battery, otherwise known as a jump pack or jump starter, contains a sealed battery attached to a set of heavy-duty jumper cables. Portable chargers are easy to transport and provide enough amperage to jump start a dead battery. Many portable chargers also contain additional features such as:
An average car battery lasts roughly three to five years. As it ages, your battery gradually loses its capacity to hold a charge. If you haven’t replaced your battery in several years or are consistently having trouble starting your car, a car battery charger may not be enough to revive your battery.
Fortunately, Batteries Plus offers free car battery testing, to help you determine if your battery is on its last legs. If you do need a replacement, our experts can help you find the best car battery for your needs and budget. We even offer car battery replacement service on most model vehicles too. Find the Batteries Plus location nearest you.
You'll find a lot more information about car battery chargers (and batteries, too) within our blogs.
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Winter weather can be unpredictable. Make sure you're ready for the unexpected with a car emergency supply kit. Batteries Plus Bulbs has the jump starters, flashlights, flares and everything else you need to stay safe when the weather turns bad.
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