A trickle charger is the simplest method to stop your battery from getting discharged. Yet, with this kind of charge, a battery constantly undergoes a number of substantial risks that may entail irreversible damage. To avoid battery-related troubles, conscious users opt for a smart charger characterized by an enhanced level of safety.
Why Look for the Best Smart Battery Charger
A smart charger has stronger and more elaborated specs aimed to shield your battery from all hazards peculiar to trickle charging. Firstly, best smart battery charger is able to keep track of a battery condition and provide safe and efficient charging on this basis. Secondly, there is no risk of overcharging because a smart charger is programmed to shift to another mode after a battery gains 100% charge. Finally, a smart charger has the ability to halt sulfation which takes place in all lead-acid batteries during self-discharge. Instead, it produces micropulses that break sulfate crystals which commonly keep impairing a battery until its death.
These are the three principal advantages of smart battery charger which are all implemented in a smart charging program ensuring smooth and safe operation.
The process of charging is never even while a battery is getting its energy back. Depending on the voltage and amperage supplied to a battery, there are seven modes changing the conditions of the charge.
Desulfation
This stage is applied only to dead batteries at risk of deterioration due to sulfate crystals formed inside the battery chemistry. A smart charger produces lots of micropulses to disunite crystals and save the right chemical composition of a battery.
Soft Charge
This mode is suited to batteries with zero charge. A smart charger supplies a very low current as an increased current directed to a discharged battery which is not 10-20% charged can bring unfixable damage.
Bulk Charge
It is a long charging mode occurring till 80% of charge is accumulated. At this point, a battery absorbs energy rapidly without being exposed to risk of damage. You can start a vehicle once a battery has completed this stage.
Absorption
This stage takes about 10 hours to reach 90-95% charge. Now, the amperage is substantially reduced, whereas the voltage is still strong.
Analysis
One of the main smart battery charger advantages is constant monitoring and assessment of a battery condition during operation. A 3-minute test is conducted at this stage to make sure there is no charge leakage. If this problem is detected, a battery is no longer seen operating and needs replacement.
Reconditioning
After the short analysis, a smart charger begins reconditioning a battery by raising the voltage. This helps stop acid stratification which can provoke sulfation if it is not stopped in proper time.
Float Mode
After gaining full charge, a battery has to be maintained at 13.6 volts. This voltage is ideal to keep batteries fully charged and simultaneously prevent them from overcharging. With a smart charger, a battery can safely remain in float mode for 10 days without the risk of getting excessively heated or exploding.
