subject: Choosing A Car Battery Charger [print this page] A car battery charger might not seem to be an essential purchase, but even while it is parked, your car battery is losing charge. Equipment such as alarms and immobilisers all use charge from the car battery, which can become discharged over time so that it doesn't have enough charge to actually start the engine.
Also, faults which prevent the battery from becoming charged normally while driving can result in that dreaded moment when the engine won't start. If it gets to this point, you will be glad that you bought a charger.
Car battery chargers have been greatly improved over the years, and a battery which was once beyond charging may now be capable of being charged back to normal. They can also 'float charge' meaning that once fully charged, a battery can be left connected to the charger which will keep it fully charged.
Car batteries are rated in Amp hours, and the charger should have a high enough rating to match the Amp hour rating of the car battery. If the charger has a lower rating, it could take a long time to charge the battery.
You should have a think about what you would like to see in a battery charger in terms of features. Some peole do not mind if the charging takes a few hours, but others want a rapid charge setting to get them started quicker.
Certain car battery chargers are portable, and may be left in the car at all times until needed. They do not need connecting to a supply of electricity for them to be able to start the engine or charge the battery. They can be recharged by conencting to the mains electrical supply.
When all is said and done, the right car battery charger for you depends on your personal circumstances and the features you require. If you drive a lot in remote areas, a portable charger which can start the engine immediately is probably a good choice.
If you don't need to rely on the car as much, and can wait a few hours for it to charge, a simple mains-powered charger should be fine.
