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Car battery technology has come a long way, but it’s still essential to maintain your car battery to ensure it has a long life and continues to run smoothly. Owning a car battery charger can allow you to top up your battery’s capacity as needed, so you’ll never find yourself with a dead car and can avoid jumpstarting it.
But you must choose a good-quality product—not just any charger will do. So, what should you look for, and why does it matter? We’re sharing all that and more.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Car Battery Charger?
You need to know what to look for to ensure you end up with a high-performing car battery charger. Batteries vary in size and outcome, so here’s how to identify the right product for your vehicle.
1. Identify the Battery Type
First, you’ll need to identify which cell type your car uses. Is it lithium, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM), flooded/wet, GEL, maintenance-free Calcium, or Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB)? Find out by checking the label on the side or top of the battery.
If you want to use the charger for other cell types as well, such as those used in ATVs or small motorcycles, consider a single charger with multi-amp and profile settings. Or, consider purchasing a solution with expansion options. For example, several EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Stations can be expanded with the EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) to charge various battery sizes while monitoring the charge.
For EV vehicles that use lithium or other speciality deep-cycle batteries, you must ensure the charger you choose is made specifically for your cell type. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro, for example, was created for instances like this, especially last-mile EV charging. You can pair the EcoFlow DELTA Pro with solar panels for an eco-friendly option.
2. Identify the Battery Size
Next, you’ll need to find your battery’s rating/size. This can be a bit confusing, so hold on. We’ll explain.
Regular car batteries (Flooded or Calcium) use something called Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) or Reserve Capacity (RC), while other special batteries like Lithium, AGM, and GEL use a “C” rating.
We’ll need to know the cell’s Ampere hours (Ah) to choose the proper charger, which measures its electrical capacity. However, the Ah is not usually displayed for CCA or RC-rated batteries, so we’ll have to do some conversions to get there. You can multiply the RC rating by 0.6 to get the Ah rating.
So, if the RC = 90, the Ah would be 54.
You can learn a lot about batteries that include the Ah and a C rating. Divide the C-rating number into the Ah to find the amps. The C rating can function as time; that way, you know how many amps the cell can discharge and for how long until it dies.
For example, if the battery is 100Ah rated at C20, you’d know it can discharge five amps for 20 hours before it dies.
3. Determine Your Charging Need/Desired Outcome
Do you need to charge a dead battery to total capacity, or do you want to top up your battery to maintain it? Your answer will determine the kind of charger you need.
If you have a car that you don’t drive often but want to ensure it’s ready to go at the drop of a hat, you’ll likely want a charger for maintenance, called trickle charging.
On the other hand, if you need to bring a dead cell back to full capacity, you’ll want a standard charger.
4. Choose the Right Size Charger
When browsing options and making your buying decision, look for a charger about 10-20% of the battery’s Ah rating. If your Ah rating is 100, your charger will need a minimum of 10 amps. While you might think bigger is better, avoid purchasing a product over 30% of the total capacity so the cell doesn’t get overcharged.
Standard amperage outputs for chargers include 2A, 10A, 50A, etc.
Do you plan to keep the device at home, or is it something you want to take with you? A bulkier product would be fine if it is primarily stationary. However, if you need it to be portable, consider the space in your car and whether or not you can easily carry it.
Why Is It Important To Buy a Good Quality Car Battery Charger?
Now that you’ve identified the appropriate size and type of charger solution you’ll need, it’s critical you also understand why finding a high-quality option is so important. As we mentioned earlier, not any old product will do.
Investing in a well-made product will help you save money, extend your battery’s life, prevent charging issues, and keep the battery working efficiently.
Keep Your Battery Maintained
A good charger maintains a consistent and regulated voltage for stable charging throughout. It also keeps the appropriate temperature so that the charging process is always safe and efficient.
Some models may include automatic charge cycling to prevent sulfation (when lead sulfate crystals build up on a lead-acid cell) or even advanced desulfation features to restore a damaged battery.
Prevent Over- or Under-Charging
Overcharging or undercharging your battery is a common mistake that can harm your vehicle’s health in the long term. Undercharging can be frustrating and require additional time that you might not have while overcharging can be detrimental. Good chargers will include built-in safety features to prevent this and protect the vehicle and its battery.
Automatic shut-offs prevent accidental overcharging if you’re not supervising the entire process, while spark-proof technology ensures safe connections to the battery terminal.
Extend Battery Life
Most vehicle batteries last 3-5 years, and electric batteries can last up to 20 years. A good charger makes all the difference if you want to maximise your car cell’s lifespan. Rechargers will maintain an optimal charge, even if your car isn’t driven often.
They can also protect against sulfation, as mentioned above, which happens when a battery doesn’t get charged frequently enough and can contribute to premature battery death.
More Functionality
Well-designed and manufactured chargers can offer more functionality and greater value. Some have charge timers to prevent overcharging. Others, like the EcoFlow Smart Auto Battery Charger, can monitor the charging process to ensure it never fully depletes.
Using EcoFlow Portable Power Stations will give you an entire world of additional functionality. From charging your devices and some appliances to whole-home backup, you can do far more than just keep your car cell topped up.
Saves Money
When you can recharge your car battery at home using your own device, you’ll save significant money in the long run. You’ll spend less on battery replacements, won’t have to pay for emergency services required if your car battery dies, and ensure a vehicle that runs efficiently. A portable power station can also help by limiting the energy you pull from your home’s electricity to top up the battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
To determine what size car battery charger you’ll need, first determine the battery’s capacity, measured in ampere-hours (Ah). Then, look for a charger about 20-20% of the Ah rating, avoiding anything 30% or more than its rating to prevent overcharging.
Final Thoughts
Matching your car charger with your specific battery requirements is critical to creating a safe and effective recharge. Consider things like battery type and size, desired outcome (top-up vs. full charge), and potential future battery needs when purchasing.
Choosing something versatile like EcoFlow Inverter Generators will satisfy this need while allowing for multiple other uses, making it a sound investment.