12v battery charger
Do you need a 12v battery charger in your arsenal of gadgets? Yes! See why …
Many of us are gadget freaks, with virtually every gadget known to man, from GPS systems in our cars to the robotic vacuum in our homes. Some have gained ‘must-have’ status, while others may not prove to be quite so useful. Others are eminently useful, practical and economical, yet fall below the radar on our wish list of ‘things to have’. Such a gadget is the 12v battery charger – except among the savvy householders.
If you have not considered this humble gadget, you may want to take a look at its many uses in everyday applications. Then, you decide whether or not the illustrious 12v battery charger shouldn’t have a place in your home or vehicle.
Perhaps you recall the last time your car battery went dead, leaving you stranded on some back road. Luckily, you had your cell phone and GPS system to contact and guide a tow truck to come to your aid. Naturally, the bill was enormous.
Perhaps your insurance covered this mishap, perhaps not. In either case, the situation was a hassle and you were probably delayed by at least a couple of hours. Ah, but had you the foresight to have a 12v battery charger in your car, you might have been on your way in a matter of minutes. Another factor to consider in this scenario is getting stuck in inclement weather. You could be stuck in a snowstorm, or broiling in the summer heat of the Mojave Desert.
This (albeit unromantic, uncool looking gadget (who puts this one on their birthday wish list?) is a sleeper. If you’ve got someone on your gift list who falls in that ‘has everything’ category, a 12v battery charger is a winner.
These units may be found at any auto parts store, at an economical price (generally ranging from $40-80 these days) and will last for many years. They are equipped with a charging unit, which tucks away neatly in a compartment right on the unit. When the charging dial indicates you need to charge it, you just plug it in to an ordinary 110-volt outlet for a few hours, at which point it’s fully charged and ready to go.
Most feature an emergency light as well, so if you find yourself changing a tire on a dark road, you’ve got ample light to do the job while other motorists can clearly see you and your vehicle on the shoulder of the road.
With a 12v battery charger in your car, a dead battery becomes a molehill rather than a potential mountain. You pull out your unit and attach the cables to your battery, then turn on the ignition. You’re off and on your way in minutes. There’s no need to try to flag down another motorist who, hopefully, has jumper cables. Your 12v battery charger renders you independent and quickly back on your way.
Now, considering the safety and convenience afforded by this handy, economical gadget, don’t you think that you – or someone on your gift list, might appreciate the simple virtues of the 12v battery charger?
Should I Purchase a 12 volt battery charger?
There used to be a time when you had to hook up batter cables, turn on the power and watch that the battery charger does not overcharge your battery. However with the introduction of the 12 volt battery charger back in the 50s, things have changed. Today, a lot of Marine, Military and Power Sports batteries require a 12 volt battery charger to operate. Furthermore the high efficiency to today’s lead acid battery types require that they be charged more efficiently and using certain charging techniques.
The battery charger is often considered the most important factors in the life of a battery. This is because it saves the life of your battery, gets it up and running and will help cut your down time. However, as with all things, using the proper charger is crucial to the life of the battery as well. In fact, using the right battery charger is so important that some manufacturers of batteries will not honor warranties if the proper charger is not used.
Most battery chargers use a microprocessor to ensure that overcharging does not take place while maintaining the right trickle charger. The wide range of uses for batteries also means that a 12 volt battery charger will have unique adjustable features that allow it to be used either for a 12v gel cell or a 12v solar cell. How though do you pick the right 12 volt battery charger? First and foremost, determine the type of battery that you will be charging. In most cases, one charger will work for all. However, some chargers are known to work better for certain cell types. Follow manufacturer recommendations to ensure your battery lasts long.
Another important consideration is the size of the battery. This is not physical size but rather, how many Amp hours the battery is able to store. A typical auto battery has about 50 amp hours and would take 10 amp hour 12 volt battery charger approximately 6 hours to recharge it to full capacity assuming the battery was completely dead. A Marine Deep Cycle Battery is rated at 100 amp hours and would thus take a 10-amp hour charger 11 hours to charge to full capacity a discharged cell. How do you calculate the charge time? Take the amp hour battery rating, divide it by the charger rating and then add 10 percent.
Another consideration to take note of is the desired outcome of the battery output. If you are going on use the charger on a trolling motor battery, then a fast and powerful charger will do the trick while a low current charger will work fine for batteries that will be used off season e.g. in a classic car or a motorcycle or an aircraft. Of course, a quality 12 volt battery charger is not cheap, but the same can be said of the batteries as well. Nevertheless, when used correctly, they can double or triple the life of your battery.
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