Auto Battery Charger Tips
Some ideas about how to use and take care of your new auto battery charger...

It's simple to see why an auto battery charger is a handy item to own. Cars, lawn equipment and some toys have batteries and may need charging once in a while. Outdoor toys and lawn equipment especially need it due to infrequent use. Since some equipment does not have its own on-board generator it is up to the user to recharge to recharge the battery, especially after the unit has been sitting for long periods.

Many people don't realize how easy it is to have their own portable battery charger. The newer units are actually rather easy to operate and maintain. You can get models that are just basically on/off switch operated or with features as sophisticated as monitoring and self adjusting charging voltages.

Vehicle battery chargers of today are much more efficient than the old, cumbersome clunkers of the past. Almost all cars now use a 12 volt battery. Many newer models of auto battery chargers can be used without having another car and even without jumper cables. You can plug the battery charger into your cigarette lighter and within ten to fifteen minutes, the battery will be recharged enough to start. This style is especially useful for a woman or man who travels a lot and could possibly get stranded in a strange area; or for a person who has no idea of how to attach jumper cables to battery terminals.

If you buy a battery charger that needs to be attached directly to your car battery, you simply connect the red positive and black negative cables to the positive and negative posts on your battery before turning the charger on. Some chargers will start the car immediately; others will have a switch that you’ll need to flip On before using.

Most manufactures of battery chargers offer units designed for deep cycle charging, gel cell, standard or maintenance free batteries. These chargers can also be used on motorcycles and recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles.

Do a little research before you buy a battery charger for your car. Be sure to consider the size of your battery and how much the charger weighs. If you own a very small car, you’ll want to buy a smaller style charger, especially if you want to keep it in your trunk. These portable car battery chargers are very safe and not at risk for exploding as they use a lower current than the quick jolt that is used by jumper cables. The great thing is that they will give your car battery just enough "juice" to get it started in a safe, dependable way.

Once you buy your auto battery charger, it’s important to keep it clean. This will help prolong the life of the charger. You can keep it clean by vacuuming the outside of the case, gently blowing dust out of the vents with dry, clean air and by keeping all objects away from the inside of the auto battery charger.

For long-term storage, first clean the battery clips then store in a dry place not subject to sub-zero temperatures which could cause the cables and electrical cord insulation to become stiff and possibly crack when uncoiled. It would also be a good idea to cover it with a heavy cloth or thick plastic sheeting for longer term storage.