Buying battery chargers for your business can be confusing, particularly if it’s your first time doing so. The type of charger you need for a specific application depends on a wide range of factors and to ensure the charger works efficiently, you need to ensure you pay attention to the finer details. The following tips will help you choose the right battery charger for your needs.
Match Your Purpose
First thing you need to do is determine what you need the battery for. If you want to have a charger available for a car battery, you’re obviously going to need a very different charger than you would for AA batteries. Determine what you need it for and choose the right charger to suit.
Compatibility is Key
When buying a battery charger, you also want to make sure it is compatible with both the batteries themselves. Most chargers will come with batteries, particularly when you’re buying lithium-ion batteries, or other typical AA, AAA, C and D size batteries. For your vehicle though, make sure you read any specifications in the product description to ensure its compatibility with your battery.
Battery & Charge Type
When you’re buying a charger kit that also includes batteries, you need to consider the type of battery. There are both nickel cadmium (NiCd) and lithium batteries available. With NiCad batteries, you’ll have less battery life if you recharge the battery too soon, so be sure to use the full battery life before recharging. If you want to charge the battery at any time, choose a lithium battery. You can find the charger information on the battery label on the top or side of the battery.
The Right Charger Capacity
Generally speaking, your battery charger should have an Ah rating of at least 10% more than your battery. For example, if you have a 100Ah battery, you need a 10 Amp charger. And to avoid overcharging, maintain the charger size to within 20% of the overall capacity of your device. So, for a 100Ah battery, a 20-amp charger would be the limit.
The Voltage
Make sure your input voltage matches the supplied power grid voltage, otherwise you could end up with a damaged battery, charger, or other device. For your output voltage, the battery charger doesn’t go above the voltage of your battery. For example, a 12-volt charger is fine to charge two 6-volt batteries at the same time, but you can’t use the same charger to charge a single 6-volt battery.
Watch Your Budget
Do your research so you can set a budget in mind for the price you’re willing to pay for your battery charger. There are so many options available, and you’re bound to find a great price, for high quality, if you shop around.
Stick To Quality
When shopping for rechargeable batteries, stick to reputable sellers. A cheap battery and charger may not function as efficiently, which can be detrimental to your equipment. Avoid chargers that don’t indicate the end of charge (with a light or alarm) and avoid using trickle chargers that may overcharge your battery.
Pay attention to the tips above and you’ll have a better chance of buying quality battery chargers that last.
