All car owners face such a problem as a discharged battery. To restore the battery charge, special devices are required - chargers and start-up devices. You simply cannot do without such an electrical device. Today their choice is quite large. To settle on the best car charging model for yourself, you need to understand how to choose the right battery.
Content
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What is the device for?
- Types and main properties
- Selection Tips
What is the device for?
The most common problem is a dead battery in the winter. This usually happens when, for some reason, there is not enough power to turn the starter. This is due to the fact that the generator does not fully charge the battery, since the interior should be heated more often. In addition, at subzero temperatures, the oil becomes more viscous, as a result, the efficiency of the battery decreases. And the risk of discharge at the most inopportune moment increases.
If the battery has served more than three years, then the best way to protect yourself is to buy a battery charger.
Types and main properties
Many people think that a device is not needed to charge the battery, since the generator is running. However, it puts additional stress on the vehicle's on-board system. The generator does not have time to service all the devices, so it starts taking energy from the battery. As a result, the battery is discharged.
There are times when car owners do not turn off dimensions or music, as a result, the car will not start the next morning. That's when you need a charger.
Today there are such types of batteries:
- alkaline;
- acidic.
The former are divided into lithium-ion, nickel-metal-hydride and nickel-cadmium. The latter are the most unfortunate, as they require the battery to be completely discharged before recharging.
Acid (lead) ones work in a systematic recharging mode - the more often, the better.
All battery chargers work according to the same principle: they reduce the mains voltage to the nominal value, then rectify the current and charge the device. All that is required is to secure the charging terminals and plug in the plug.
Charging methods:
- Constant pressure. This method has a drawback - at first the charging is very fast, and at the end it is too slow.
- D.C. As a result of rapid charging, the battery will wear out quickly.
- The combined method is optimal. Almost all modern equipment works according to this principle.
Selection Tips
Since there are many goods of Chinese origin in our time, it is worth giving preference to a domestic manufacturer. It is worth buying a charger with a large current reserve, this will prevent the device from operating at maximum speed. It is better to stop at the choice of an automatic device, this will give the possibility of a combined charge.
With regard to the display, this is a choice in accordance with the personal preferences of the motorist. Discrete - cheap, however, it does not give great accuracy, but it will be quite enough for a simple driver. More accurate indication costs more. It is worth noting that the models of the domestic manufacturer produce fairly high-quality car chargers for the battery. They can quite successfully compete with foreign counterparts.
You can buy the simplest version of the device, it is important that an ammeter of at least 5 amperes is present on it.
Types of starters
In situations where it is not desirable to disconnect the battery from the mains, pre-starting devices are selected. But their specificity lies in the fact that the engine will not start immediately when such a device is connected. Therefore, if you need to simultaneously charge the battery and start the engine, it is recommended to choose a starter-charger.
They are of three types:
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Professional - designed for mains voltages of 12 and 24 V. Able to run cars and commercial vehicles. - Household - used in garages. And they work with a 3-12 V machine network. Able to run motorcycles and cars.
- Combined - not designed for everyday use.
When choosing a starting device, you should also take into account the purpose, technical criteria of the battery and the equipment of the ZPU. By purpose, they are divided into stationary and autonomous. The stationary view is suitable if the car is in the garage and there is electricity there. The starter will be needed when the car "spends the night" on the street. Stand-alone devices have a built-in battery, so no mains connection is required for charging.
It is important to consider the output voltage of the starter. It is best to take with a margin that can work in the range from 6 to 24 V.
The next thing you should pay attention to when choosing a device is the current strength with which the device will act when the motor is started. For example, if the battery has a mark of 70 A / h, then the current strength of the purchased ROM should not be lower, but ideally should exceed this value.
When choosing ROM by equipment you must first carry out a visual examination: the case must be well fixed, there should be no doubt about the operation of toggle switches and switches. It is advisable to require the seller to provide a quality certificate and find out what the warranty for the product is.
Next, you need to inspect the wires for the quality of the section. If it turns out to be of poor quality, then the cables will quickly melt. Copper clamps should not be less than 3 mm, otherwise they will burn in the area near the terminals.
Before using any charger, you need to carefully read the instructions and make sure that the selected charger is suitable for the battery. If the device is chosen correctly and, moreover, is of high quality, it will significantly extend the life of the battery and save the budget.
