Batteries die. If you have any electronic gadget in your house that runs on batteries, you will have likely noticed that they eventually wear out. Aside from that, they will stop working altogether until you replace them with fresh batteries. A motorbike that is taken out for a spin every day or at least frequently has a healthy alternator that keeps the battery souped up and functional from one drive to the next.
Now, if you have something that is rarely used, like a jet ski or a vintage car, you will already know that these vehicles eat up the battery even when they are at rest. A car that spends months languishing inside a garage is pretty much likely to sputter and stutter when you start it up after a prolonged period. And in many cases, it will not start at all if left on its own for too long. All vehicle batteries self-discharge quite slowly as time passes, whether you use them or not.
Frankly speaking, it is nearly impossible to start all the vehicles one owns and take them out on a drive every day because most people have busy schedules and thus the limited time at hand. But the battery, being a non-sentient creature, does not take into regard such feelings. It will drain and die unless something is done to preserve its juice. It is where trickle chargers come in.
A trickle charger in, simple terms, is a special kind of battery charger that is designed to reinvigorate a battery at a gradual rate. At a trickle, so, hence the name. What sweetens this deal, even more, is the fact that a trickle charger replenishes the vehicle battery at the rate of its rate of self-discharge. It thus, makes it ideal to leave the device attached to your battery for extended periods. In other cases, there might be a danger of overcharging and even explosions. But a trickle charger is relatively safer since it does not possess any potential for damage related to overcharging. Think of it this way. You have a charger for your mobile which replenishes 1% of the battery the very moment there is a decrease of 1%.
The advantage of using a trickle charger is that it keeps your vehicle ready for the road even when they are not in use. In addition to this, the battery also gets an increased lifespan and saves you the additional costs of buying a new one. For best results, it is recommended to invest in a trickle charger that has a self-regulating system. Besides, it should also automatically go into float mode once the battery is charged completely.
Dangers of Jump-charging a Battery
There is a question that many customers often ask. That is why they should buy a trickle charger against any traditional method of charging a car battery. A standard battery charger will fill your battery with juice fast enough, sure, but the process will also ultimately prove to be extremely harsh. Surely you don’t wish to use a charger that is unstable at best and may even lead to the battery overheating and exploding in your face. Some people try to jump-start their battery as well, especially in countries like India, where the concept of makeshift reigns supreme. About this, the lesser said the better. It is so because jump-starting your car’s battery is most definitely not a process you should subject it to. Also, of course, you can take your car around to the corner body shop and have a mechanic take it apart to handle the complete charging of your battery. But once again, why burn money?
Also, you need to understand one thing that many people looking to charge their battery or juice it up overlook or tend to brush under the carpet, is that fast is not good at all. In one of the abovementioned paragraphs, I have already mentioned it. But in case it doesn’t satisfy you let me explain the process in a bit more detailed manner.
Besides, a lead-acid battery maintains its power through the chemical reaction between the lead plates and the electrolytes present inside it. Therefore when the battery discharges, the chemical reaction will inevitably turn the metal in the plates into lead sulfate while the electrolyte will transform into diluted sulfuric acid. Keep this reaction in mind. Now, when the same battery is recharged, the reverse of this reaction will occur. It will convert lead sulfate into lead again. The metal will release sulfate into the electrolyte, following which the electrolyte will become concentrated sulfuric acid.
There are things that many people do wrong about this. They think by increasing the charging current, one can accelerate the chemical reaction in the battery as well. This, in turn, leads to the battery itself being charged extremely fast. However, you must understand one major issue here. Increasing the electric current so much will result in the off-gassing of the battery as well and quite tragically, result in the battery exploding. Many accidents have happened because of overeager people trying to bypass the normal rate of charging into something more quick and easy.
Why Should You Get One
Trickle chargers come to the rescue once more here. They are capable of detecting the charge level of the battery and replenishing it accordingly. When the battery is almost dead they increase the current and vice versa. It is a way to ensure that the charging efficiency is kept at the maximum extent at all times. As an added benefit, the generation and accumulation of gases inside the battery. These are the dangerous side effects of excessive charging that people can avoid safely and effectively.
Now in many cases trickle chargers are not as much a necessity as a luxury, but having said that it does not make them expensive. If you are someone who can afford to leave your car around with your mechanic for an entire day to have the battery fully charged, then that’s great. And then you should go ahead with it. But it is more likely that you belong to the majority of the urban population who have little time to spend on the body shop and need to use their vehicle every day. In that case, get a trickle charger. They are, as mentioned above, cost-effective. Aside from that, you would be getting your money’s worth in return.
Quite understandably, some people have questions like what is the difference between a battery maintainer and a trickle charger, or a trickle charger and a float charger due to the sudden availability of several such chargers in the market for digital appliances. You need to remember some basic facts in this case. The float charger supplies the battery with an electric current only when it is necessary and thus can be kept hooked to it for as long as you want. A trickle charger constantly outputs electric current at a low amperage. As you can see, the main difference is in the current output. But both the devices perform the same task of keeping the battery from dying.
When it comes to a battery maintainer, the only difference is that it supplies small amounts of current over extended periods to the battery to keep it charged when it falls below a specific amount. Unlike trickle chargers, battery maintainers automatically enter a standby mode when they are done fully charging the battery, and as such, there is no chance of overcharging. Now, don’t start assuming trickle chargers are worse or have so many disadvantages when compared to other devices. They have a host of benefits which the others don’t possess and don’t forget the two most important points. They are affordable, and they are available easily at your nearest electronics store.
Conclusion
a trickle charger is an essential tool for maintaining the health and longevity of your vehicle’s battery, particularly when it is not used regularly. By delivering a slow, steady charge, it helps prevent battery drain and ensures your vehicle is ready to go when needed. Its benefits, including preventing overcharging, extending battery life, and maintaining optimal performance, make it a convenient and cost-effective solution for anyone looking to avoid the hassle of a dead battery. Whether you own a car, motorcycle, or boat, a trickle charger is a valuable investment to keep your battery in top condition.
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