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When it comes to charging car batteries and storing them, a trickle charger is what comes to the mind of many people. Many people also recommend using trickle chargers to keep the batteries healthy. However, before you put your battery on trickle charging, it is worth knowing the concept of trickle charging.
In simple words, we can say that a trickle charger charges a car battery slowly. It usually charges a battery at a lower current than the self-discharging rate of the battery. With a steady and slow current flow, this charger is believed to increase the battery life and keep the battery healthy.
But does trickle charging actually improve the life of the battery? Does trickle charging reduce the battery life? Usually, many people have such questions in their minds. Well, in this article, we will discuss this topic, so keep reading.
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Does Trickle Charge Increase the Life of Car Battery?
In general, many people think that trickle charging is an excellent way to extend the life of their batteries. So, they put all their efforts into charging their batteries with a trickle charger. But the fact is that trickle chargers don’t make any large difference in the life of a battery. In general, we can say that trickle chargers do something to extend the battery life.
But this is not a significant one. In fact, some battery chargers don’t detect when the battery is fully charged, while others charge the battery without any limits. But that doesn’t mean that trickle charging is useless. But you need to know several things about trickle charging before you consider trickle charging your battery.
How To Use a Trickle Charger?
Trickle charging is a process that charges the battery by regulating its charging rate. It mainly focuses on preventing overcharging. The purpose of using a trickle charger is to charge the battery at a rate at which the self-discharge of the battery happens. If you charge the battery too fast or overcharge it, then it can damage the battery. Using a trickle charger is not that difficult.
Here are the steps to use a trickle charger properly.
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Make The Battery Ready for Charging
First, you will need to park your vehicle in a ventilated place, but there shouldn’t be a chance of rain. Actually, during the charging process, hydrogen gas will be produced. And it can cause an explosion if the battery is in an enclosed place. Before starting the process, ensure that the vehicle ignition is off and the key is not inserted.
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Make The Connections
Before you connect the trickle charger to the battery, you will need to find a place where you can ground the negative terminal of the charger. You can use a bare metal part on your frame or a big bolt attached to the chassis. Make sure that the place where you want to attach the negative terminal is free from grime, oil, and dirt.
The battery charger has two cables with alligator clips, one is red, and another one is black. You can connect the red cable of the charger to the positive terminal of the battery and the black cable of the charger to a metal part of the car. Before starting the charging process, ensure that the connection is strong during the charging process. Don’t touch the cables as it can cause a shock.
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Switch On the Trickle Charger
After connecting the cables, you can connect the trickle charger to the wall socket. Before switching on the charger, check the settings and ensure that the voltage and current settings are correct. Then switch on the charger and let the battery charge. Some battery chargers usually have an amp meter that determines the status of the battery.
If this meter shows a higher reading, then the battery is dead. If the reading is lower or zero, then the battery is fully charged. If the reading is not appropriate, then you can switch on the charger and make the connections again. If the connections are good and the charge is not charging the battery, then the battery might be dead.
Some trickle chargers can be used for months to charge the battery. But some other trickle chargers should be removed after one or two days when the battery is fully charged. These chargers usually use only one to two amps, so they don’t heat the battery very much.
Does Trickle Charging Reduce Battery Life?
This depends on the type of trickle charger you are using. If you have a trickle charger with a microprocessor and smart technology, then this will not harm the battery life. Such battery chargers are usually expensive but can be used for long periods without overcharging the battery. But if you have an old trickle charger, then you will need to disconnect the charger once the battery is fully charged.
Smart trickle chargers are usually capable of regulating the battery actively and include several safety features. They keep the battery safe while charging and prevent overcharging. On the other hand, conventional trickle chargers provide the same amount of current to the battery without monitoring the charge of the battery.
Although trickle chargers use a small amperage to charge the battery, this can affect the battery slowly. Once the battery is fully charged, the charger will overcharge the battery slowly. Because of overcharging, electrolysis will be created inside the battery, and the battery electrolyte will start to evaporate. Due to evaporation, the battery can get fully damaged. If the charge is not removed, then it will create excessive evaporation and explode the battery.
Trickle Charger Frequently Asked Questions:
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Can A Trickle Charger Charge a Dead Battery?
Yes, a trickle charger is capable of charging a dead battery if the battery has enough voltage to meet the threshold requirement of the charger. In this case, you may need to use a jumper cable for 5 to 10 minutes and increase the surface charge of the battery before charging the battery. When the battery has enough charge, the trickle charger can bring it back to life again.
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What Are Other Ways to Increase the Car Battery Life?
As we have discussed, trickle chargers can be used to increase the life of a car battery. But there are some other methods that one can follow to increase the battery life. For example, you can clean the battery corrosion regularly to improve its performance. Moreover, you will need to check the water level of the battery, park the car in the shade, use the electronic accessories of the car appropriately, and ensure that the battery is properly fixed in the car. This will help improve the life of a car battery.
Conclusion
Trickle charging is an effective way to charge the battery and increase its life. But you will need to get the right trickle charger for this purpose. Trickle chargers with smart technologies are the best ones to use. But old trickle chargers are not that efficient.
To know more about the concept of trickle charging, you can consider joining the EZ battery reconditioning program. This is an online program and a step-by-step guide to help you take care of your batteries in the proper way.
