Choosing a charger for a car battery

Chargers (CHR) are designed for charging electric accumulators and battery packs. They are connected to an external power source, usually an AC network with a voltage of 220 V. To understand how to choose a car charger, it is necessary to know the principles of their operation and other features.

The battery is an important part of the car. It is used to start the engine and also powers the onboard network devices.

If the battery is completely discharged, it needs to be charged using a charger (CHR). Battery chargers differ in principle of operation and design. In addition, even within one category, you can find devices with different capabilities. It is important not to confuse them with jump starters, capable of delivering starting current with high voltage.

Main types of chargers

Chargers come in several types, the most popular of which are transformer and pulse CHR.

Transformer chargers

The main parts of a transformer charger for batteries are the transformer and the rectifier. Thanks to them, the CHR provides a constant current with a voltage of 14.4 volts. This value is best suited for discharged batteries. Transformer chargers are a very popular option that has already become known as classic. There is also a special type of CHR that is suitable for desulfation of the battery.

Pulse chargers

Pulse chargers are a newer type of equipment that differ from transformer CHR in some advantages:

• increased frequency;
• small weight and size of the device;
• protection against overheating, short circuit, and network fluctuations (a voltage stabilizer is built into the CHR).

When using a pulse charger, pulses are delivered to the battery, allowing you to quickly restore charge.

What to consider when choosing a charger?

To choose the right car charger, you need to understand its characteristics.

Charging Current

This is one of the most important parameters of the CHR. It determines whether the device is suitable for a particular battery. To understand what charging current will be optimal for the battery, you need to divide the battery capacity by 10.

For example, a battery with a capacity of 60 Ah will be suitable for a CHR with a charging current of 6 amperes. A lower current will not harm the battery but will make the charge recovery longer. Modern chargers have the function of adjusting the current magnitude. This allows you to adjust the voltage, making the CHR suitable for different batteries.

Voltage

Depending on the voltage, there are chargers with power of 12 V and 24 V.

The first are suitable for charging passenger car batteries, while the second – for trucks. It is best to choose a universal CHR, capable of switching between these modes.

Operating modes of the charger

Many CHR can charge batteries in two modes. In addition to the main one, they have the “Boost” mode. It maximizes the battery’s charging speed (up to 30%), delivering more current.

Frequent use of it will lead to a reduction in the operational life of the battery. Nevertheless, “Boost” will be useful if you need an urgent battery recharge. Professional CHR options can charge several batteries at once using adapters and cables.

Ability to work in automatic mode

The operation of many CHR needs to be adjusted manually. Such devices need to be started, turned off, and also adjust the output current parameters during charging.

Today, there are models on the market with automatic regulation of the charging process, which themselves change all indicators during operation with the charged battery, and turn off after its completion. This task is performed by a built-in microprocessor.

How to choose a charger for the battery?

You can make the right choice of CHR only by understanding the features of the car battery that needs to be charged.

Battery Type

Chargers can charge lead-acid batteries. However, besides this type, there are other types for which CHR will be useless:

• Calcium.

  These are batteries in which the electrodes are made of a lead-calcium alloy. In addition, aluminum, tin, and even silver are added to them.

• Hybrid. This type differs in the composition of the negative and positive electrodes. The negative ones contain potassium, and the positive ones are made of lead with antimony added. This extends the service life of the battery, as the electrolyte begins to evaporate more slowly.

  Moreover, this type of battery shows a 1.5–2 times lower degree of self-discharge.

Battery Capacity

This is a very important parameter that affects which CHR is suitable for charging the battery. The battery capacity value reflects the time it can deliver electricity. Capacity is measured in amp-hours (Ah), and for small batteries – in milliamp-hours (mAh). Do not confuse capacity with charge.

A few tips for choosing a car charger

Here are a few more useful tips that will help you choose the right car charger:

1. Choose a CHR that is suitable for your battery type.

   All information about the battery type is written on the battery itself.

2. Carefully study the equipment characteristics. It should meet your request. It is desirable to choose a device with a power margin.
3. Do not overpay for unnecessary additional functions. The “Boost” mode and charging of several batteries are most often used at car service stations.
4. Buy a device to measure the battery charge. It will help measure the capacity, resistance, and voltage of the batteries.
5. When using, first connect the CHR clamps to the battery, and then to the network.

   Note that you need to observe the polarity – the “plus” and “minus” poles are meant for the respective clamps.