How to choose a starter charger?

Before you buy a start-charger, be sure to study the parameters of your car's battery. Its voltage and capacity determine what type of charger is worth buying, what power will be sufficient and what amperage will start the engine without damaging the battery. The choice of such devices should be taken responsibly so as not to spend money on unnecessary equipment.

Choose the type: starter, charger or start-charger

In order to revive a car with a dead battery, you can simply ask for a “light”. By connecting power wires to the battery of the donor car, in a few minutes you will be able to start the engine of your car.

It is even easier to buy a starting device — it will not charge the battery, but provide the current necessary for the starter to start the engine 1-2 times. Inside such a device there is a battery that allows you to start the car in an open field, in a parking lot or garage where there is no electricity. The energy supply is not infinite — after 1-2 starts of the motor, such a starting device must be charged by connecting it to a household network. There are models on the market that are powered from the outlet to start the motor, but their mobility is limited.

If you need to leave the car without a battery for the night or for a day, then in this case it is useful to have a charger on hand. It will not only restore the capacity of the battery, but also extend its life by another 1-2 years. It can also be used for long-term downtime of the car, because after 3-4 months of parking, the battery is discharged. To return it to its nominal characteristics, it is enough to disconnect it from the on-board network and connect the charger. For a full charge, the average battery will require from 12 hours to a day, the chargers are powered exclusively from the household network, so you can use “charging” in the garage or at home.

There are also combined options on the market, the so-called start-chargers, which are capable of both charging the battery and, if necessary, starting the engine. They are versatile and cost less than two separate devices. In addition to standard features, some models boast a "cigarette lighter" socket through which you can power automotive equipment, or a banal flashlight, which will come in handy in the garage.

Electrical characteristics of the device

As you know, batteries come not only with a voltage of 12 V, which are used in cars, but with a voltage of 6 V and 24 V, used in motorcycles and trucks. The same voltage must be provided by the charging ( 6 V, 12 V, 24 V) or starting (6 V, 12 V, 24 V) device. In this regard, you can even find a universal option, where you can select the required voltage with a switch.

To select a charger, it is enough to take into account the capacity of the battery. It is expressed in ampere-hours (Ah), this parameter means the time during which the battery can deliver a current of 1 ampere to the load. To restore the maximum battery capacity, you will need a charger capable of delivering a certain current strength for a conditionally minimum period of time — the current strength during charging. But in pursuit of charging speed, you should not choose devices capable of delivering 60-70 A, the maximum current strength of 10-15 A is considered optimal. current is reduced (some chargers do this automatically).

Often there are charges that do not allow you to adjust the current strength, but offer accelerated or normal charging modes. Accelerated is produced by a higher current, which allows charging in a short time. However, it is not recommended to use this mode frequently, as it significantly reduces battery life. Normal mode is produced with less current, but takes a long time. This option contributes to a more complete dissolution of sulfate on the plates, which has a positive effect on battery capacity.

The starting current, which characterizes the ability of the battery to deliver maximum current for 30 seconds, also depends on the capacity of the battery. The 500-700 A indicated on the battery sticker should not be taken as the main criterion, because they are given here with a large margin. In fact, to start a car engine, the starter requires approximately 250-300 A — the starting device must provide no less current.

The specified electrical characteristics of the charger and starter are also valid for the starter-charger, which must necessarily meet all the necessary parameters. At the same time, start-charging devices may be partially inferior in current strength or maximum starting current to specialized models, but commercially available models fully meet the average needs.

Control devices and useful functions

For detailed information on the charging process, it is advisable to choose devices with a built-in ammeter or voltmeter.

Most models provide battery desulfation. During operation, insoluble lead crystals appear on the internal parts of the battery, which can lead to a short circuit inside the battery cans. To get rid of this plaque and increase the life of the battery, these crystals are destroyed by the action of current.

The chemical constituents of the battery itself play an important role in the rate at which a battery is charged. Cars most commonly use lead-acid or gel. The former are more common, most chargers are designed to work with them. But not all models are suitable for charging a gel battery.