They keep going and going … batteries are in all kinds of devices: lead-acid batteries in cars, lithium ion batteries in laptop computers, nickel-cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries in portable CD players, MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras and other electronics. Batteries help make life on the go possible--until they run out of power and you need a battery charger.
Battery chargers restore batteries’ depleted energy, using either an alternating or direct current source. Commercial and industrial battery chargers permit standby power sources to remain ready when power is disrupted, just as automotive battery chargers keep standby vehicles ready to start at a moment’s notice.
Battery charger systems provide freedom to work anywhere without an electrical outlet. They permit battery-operated devices to run on batteries where an electric cord would be:
1. cumbersome, as with power drills;
2. dangerous, as with electric lawn mowers and trimmers; or
3. impossible, as with power wheelchairs.
Battery chargers also permit batteries to be used repeatedly in high-electrical-demand systems, saving users the cost of buying replacement batteries, and benefit the environment by having fewer batteries to dispose of and create toxic landfill.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Crank up with a car battery charger
Auto battery chargers are probably the first battery chargers people think of. As much as people depend on their cars, a dependable battery charger is a must when the battery has been depleted.
I recommend: Automotive Service Equipment sells Schumacher and Clore Automotive battery chargers. If your vehicle sits for long periods between drives,
Autogeek.net sells Deltran’s Battery Tender trickle charger to keep your battery fully charged in the interim.
Get a battery charger that configures itself to your batteries
Commercial battery charger manufacturers make custom battery chargers for special applications as needed, some of which can adjust programmatically to the kind of battery they're charging.
I recommend: Commercial battery charger manufacturer
Energy Storage Instruments (ESI) makes micro-controlled battery chargers that can be reprogrammed to adapt charge time and rate for new battery chemistries as they are developed.
Empower your special needs with a specialized battery charger
Just as battery makers make batteries to power specialized devices, battery charger manufacturers make specialized battery chargers to power the batteries.
I recommend: Electric Rider sells Soneil battery chargers for electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Advanced Charger Technology sells single-, six- and 12-bay chargers for batteries used in two-way radios and similar communications equipment.
Charge your batteries without a battery charger
Battery charging is no longer limited to separate charger units. While travel-sized battery chargers can recharge your batteries on the road, if you need to pack even lighter, batteries exist that plug directly into a power source.
I recommend: TerraPass makes AA batteries that are rechargeable from your computer’s USB port, making them ideal for powering MP3 or CD players and digital cameras.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Choose a three-state battery charger for deep-cycle battery charging and a trickle charger for crank batteries that is rechargeable another way, such as through a car's alternator system.
- Figure the current draw over time (amp hours) and divide by the number of hours you wish to spend charging to determine the amperage rating of the battery charger to buy. If this exceeds the recommended charge current for the battery, buy the highest ampere rating you can and allow extra time to charge the battery.
- Use a battery charger only with batteries of the correct voltage. A 12-volt auto battery charger can charge two 6-volt batteries wired in series, but not either battery separately.
- Do not mix battery types either when powering a device or recharging them. Nickel-cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries should never be placed in the same battery charger or used to power the same device.
The official source of Battery Chargers is the Battery Chargers page at Business.com
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