When your car battery is losing its charge, and you don’t have the means to purchase another one, an automotive battery charger can get the job done. This is also extremely useful if you want to extend the life of your car battery, or if your motor isn’t properly charging the battery after use. An automotive battery charger is a device that’s capable of charging the average car battery, so that you can continue safe and reliable use. Battery chargers are much cheaper than purchasing new batteries themselves, making them a more economic and environmentally friendly option.
But before you purchase an automotive battery charger, you should determine the quality of your battery. Most cars use shallow cycle battery types, which deliver a large burst of electricity when your car is started, in order to facilitate the energy necessary for your motor to start. Typically the average engine will then automatically charge the battery, anytime your vehicle is running. But sometimes this process can have trouble, or a battery can slowly lose it’s charge over time. If this is the case a charger may be necessary.
To determine the quality of your battery, you should use a voltmeter or multimeter. These are electrical devices that are used to measure the voltage that a battery can put out. The typical shallow cycle car battery should be carrying a charge of 12-12.9 volts. Anything under 10 indicates a battery that should be changed or charged in a different way. If you find a reading of under 10 volts, you may want to think about purchasing an automotive battery charger.
The average charger can cost anywhere between $40-$80 which is still much cheaper than purchasing a battery outright. Automotive specific stores will have plenty of options, but make sure that any given charger is guaranteed to work with the type of battery that you have. Also, if you don’t want to purchase a charger, many auto shops offer rentals, so that you can use the charger for a day or two and then return it. This is useful if you only need to keep your battery fully charged for a few days, before actually purchasing a new car battery.
You can also find automotive battery chargers online, if the prices seem a little inflated in your area. Some of the best websites are Amazon.com, Buy.com and Sears.com. All are large outlet stores that have a wide variety of options at the cheapest prices you’ll find anywhere. Either a 12 or 6 volt charger will work fine, just make sure that any model is intended for use with an automobile. Otherwise you could end up purchasing a charger that doesn’t work the way that you would want.
But remember that this isn’t a permanent solution, and that any battery will lose it’s charge over time. An automotive battery charger is a good way to keep your vehicle running until you can get a new battery, but aren’t reliable ways to work long term. You’ll still need a new battery eventually. But a charger can help you squeeze out the maximum life from a battery until you do make the change.