The battery of your car is something you should maintain well. Especially when it comes to the battery of an old-timer. This is because it stands still for the cold period of the year, which means that the battery becomes increasingly weaker due to self-discharge. When the battery is discharged too deeply, this causes damage to the battery. This is of course something you want to avoid, since a new battery can be quite expensive. A car battery charger or trickle charger can be very useful here.
What is the difference between a battery charger and a trickle charger?
A battery charger or trickle charger charges your battery until it is full. They often do this fully automatically. A battery charger is often used to charge the battery in one go. A trickle charger, on the other hand, is used to keep the battery up to date. The trickle charger notices when the battery reaches 95% and switches itself on. The trickle charger then charges the battery again to 100% and switches itself off again. Some battery chargers also have this function. This is called maintenance charging. These battery chargers often have several charging phases and work fully automatically.
Reconditioning function battery charger
Some battery chargers have even more functions. There are also battery chargers with a reconditioning function. This function ensures that batteries which are too deeply discharged are restored as well as possible. In addition, battery chargers can sometimes also charge several types of batteries. Most battery chargers can charge lead acid, AGM and gel batteries, but some can also charge lithium batteries. This is ideal if you want to charge your lithium battery as well as your car battery.
Which battery charger should you use?
Using a battery charger or trickle charger is simple, but there are a few points you should pay attention to. First of all, make sure you have the right voltage. Most car batteries are 12V, but old-timer batteries are often 6V. Secondly, you need the right charging current. It is important to have a battery charger with a charging power between 15 and 25% of the usable capacity of the battery. A too high charging current can damage the battery and a too low charging current can take too long.
Connecting the charger
First connect the black negative cable of the battery charger to the negative pole of the car battery. Then do the same with the red plus lead. Then switch on the battery charger. Set the battery charger to the correct position and the battery charger will automatically start the charging program. After you see that the battery is full, you can remove the battery charger. You can also leave the battery charger or trickle charger on to maintain the battery, so you can be sure that your battery stays in top condition!
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