A battery charger is a device used to put energy into a secondary cell or rechargeable battery by forcing an electric current through it.

The charge current depends upon the technology and capacity of the battery being charged. For example, the current that should be applied to recharge a 12 V car battery will be very different from the current for a mobile phone battery.

When do I need to perform an equalization charge?

Equalizing should be performed when a battery is first purchased (called a freshening charge) and on a regular basis as needed. How often this might occur with your battery will vary depending on your application. You will need to monitor your battery voltage and specific gravity to determine when equalization is needed. For example, it is time to equalize if the measured specific gravity values are below manufacturer’s recommended values after charging (recommended value for Trojan deep-cycle batteries is 1.277 +/- .007 at 80o F). Equalizing is also required if the specific gravity value of any individual cell varies 30 points or more. Reduced performance can also be an indicator that equalizing is necessary. Equalization should also be performed when individual battery voltages in a battery pack range greater than 0.15 volts for 6 volt batteries or 0.30 volts for 12 volt batteries.

What type of charger should I buy?

An automatic charger offers the greatest convenience. Just plug the battery into the charger and the charger does the rest. Manual chargers, although equally effective at charging batteries, require a greater level of attention. Generally speaking, automatic chargers are priced higher than manual chargers.

What size charger should I buy?

A properly sized charger takes into account battery capacity and the time interval between charges. In applications where cycling is infrequent, such as weekend RV users, or infrequent or seasonal trolling motor usage, a charger with an output current rating between 10 and 13% of the battery’s rated 20-hour capacity will suffice. In applications where battery recharge must be accomplished within 8 to 10 hours, a three stage, automatic charger, rated at 20% of the battery capacity, may be required.

World Wide Battery chargers are micro-processor controlled for fast, accurate charging of vehicle or boat batteries in deep cycle or maintenance applications. Worldwide battery chargers are compact, lightweight and easy to install. These chargers feature multi-stage, power factor corrected charging meaning that they require less AC input power than traditional chargers to operate at its peak efficiency. This results in more AC power available for connected AC loads on vessel or vehicle.

For more sizes or questions about battery chargers batteries, call us at (317) 845-1330 or visit our Contact Us page.