How to choose starter chargers for a car battery?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Probably everyone who owns a car at least once was late for an important meeting or work, and the car refused to start. This is a signal that the battery of the iron "horse" died in an unequal battle. But you have to go.

Start-chargers will help here. This is the most optimal, reliable and at the same time quite civilized way.

What is this

This is equipment so that in the case of weak or dead batteries, you can start the engine. Also, these devices can charge batteries of a wide variety of capacities, the nominal voltage of which is either 12 V or 24 V.

Today there are three types of starter-charging devices.

These are household, professional systems and universal or combined. Most drivers use household appliances. They are inexpensive, and the simplest option can even be made by hand, if you understand a little electrical engineering and know the simplest laws of physics.

Household chargercar battery device

The simplest model can consist of simple components. This is often a transformer, diode bridge, voltage regulators. However, despite the apparent simplicity of design, these devices have some drawbacks at the circuit level.

One of the biggest and most serious shortcomings is the lack of foolproofing. So, these devices did not provide fuses that would protect users from possible errors. For example, you can reverse the battery poles or short the terminals. In addition, household chargers cannot charge the battery in the optimal mode for it.

Professional models

These are almost perfect systems for the most part.

Here, the manufacturer has already installed protective systems against short circuit, incorrect connection, accidental operating errors. Also, there are already functions for automatic adjustment of the charging current, reverse charge functions, and voltage stabilization functions. A professional starter-charger for a car battery must be equipped with alligator connectors. They allow you to connect the device to the battery as easily and conveniently as possible. There are start-up chargers where the connection is made via a wire. Here, such a connector can break or deteriorate at almost any time.

Therefore, professionals recommend only professional equipment for cars. Besides,that there are obvious advantages in the design, such start-up chargers are more powerful, which means that several batteries can be charged with one device.

Multipurpose equipment

Universal or combined devices for a car are modified welding machines. They are quite dangerous in relation to electronic car devices. In order for such a device to be able to charge the batteries, the output welding machines are equipped with a voltage divider. This is the combined equipment.

This ROM can be used for welding, and to switch it to battery mode or to start the engine, the device is equipped with a special toggle switch. The big and fat minus here is that many people forget about this toggle switch. As a result, the wiring in the car burns out. Experts do not recommend the use of such a start-charger for a car.

How to choose the right device, let's try to find out.

How to choose a ROM for a car

Let's try to find out which devices are optimal for use. The task that is set for this equipment is to provide the most optimal charging process at all stages. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the most stable voltage for each stage.

When a constant current is applied in all stages, the current that is generated by the ROM is also constant.

In this case, the battery will charge fairly quickly, but the battery life will be shortened. If the charger is used in constant voltage mode, then the battery will be charged quickly only at the beginning of the process. At the end - there is a slowdown, which is also not very good for the battery.

The best solution for today's challenges

Modern equipment uses the principle of combined systems. That is, at the first stage, the device outputs a stabilized current, and then outputs a stabilized voltage. This is the optimal solution for most modern car batteries.

Car starter charger: how to choose

When choosing charging and starting equipment, you must remember: the possibilities must be with a margin. This will increase the life of the device. Progress indicators are also desirable.

Car chargers can be of two different types. These are charging-starting devices and charging-pre-starting devices. The former can be used both as an autocharge and in starting mode - here they give off the maximum current. But the price of this equipment is slightly higher. As for the second type of devices, their capabilities may barely be enough to charge the battery. They cannot work as launch equipment. However, they can be connected to the battery without disconnecting the battery from the on-board network. Foreign car owners will love this.

Brands

Let's consider some popular devices among car enthusiasts. Some of them were participants in a test that produced oneeminent automotive publication.

Starter-Charger Power

This device is a compact body with a power button and a LED charge indicator. Also, the device is equipped with an LED flashlight, an input for recharging the internal battery, two USB outputs and a crocodile connector.

The device is completed with chargers for internal batteries, power wires with "crocodiles", various attachments.

The cost of this device was 5000 rubles. Its capacity is 12,000 mAh, the starting current is 200 A, the maximum possible is 400 A.

During the tests carried out on this device, it can be seen that the initial voltages at the power outputs are 12.64 V. When the load is connected, it works almost perfectly. As for the starting current, it is 152.5 A.

Voltage during frequent and numerous turns on of the device showed good results. What can be said? With this device it is quite possible to start the engine. The indicators are at a high level. It took 18 starts to fully discharge the device.

Fubag

If you need to purchase a universal start-charger, then devices from this manufacturer can be a good choice. In most cases, the company offers professional models to work with modern batteries and cars.

Models are designed for use with 12V and 24V batteries. There are also several charging modes depending on the model.

The Fubag starter charger is a professional model that will not only help you charge the battery without harm to it, but also start the engine quickly and as confidently as possible, even if the battery is completely discharged. This is a great choice.

Auto Electrics

This company introduces a series of devices with capacities from 9 to 200 mAh.

Models feature smooth charge adjustment. Battery charge currents - from 1 to 21A.

Starting-charger "Autoelectric" allows you to charge both in automatic and manual mode. To select the desired operating mode, there is a special switch. To control the process, an LED and digital indicator is provided.

In addition, the device starts the engine perfectly even at ultra-low air temperatures. A starting current of 120 A will cope with any problems. The devices are also equipped with modern means of protection against short circuit, incorrect connection, overload. The family of equipment from Autoelectric is an excellent choice of ROM for the motorist.