To confirm your battery type, you may have to look at the side or top of the battery. It's important to ensure your charger is compatible with your battery type. You'll encounter various battery types in the current market, such as lead-acid, AGM, and gel. But if you purchase a different product than we tested, ensure they will automatically switch to maintenance mode. Most products on the market (including all that we tested) will detect the voltage and switch to maintenance mode on their own. We recommend you purchase a product that both charges and maintains. The maintainer function detects and counteracts the loss with a small amount of amperage to top up the battery without overcharging. Batteries, especially over time, lose their charge due to their natural chemical processes. Maintaining a battery refers to a low and steady trickle of electrical current to an already charged battery. Charging is usually done with higher amperage and is meant to charge the battery quickly and to full health. While most chargers on the market are also maintainers, you should know the difference in the modes.Ĭharging a battery refers to the process of charging a partially discharged battery to regain the battery's voltage. Before you decide which one to buy, here are some important factors to keep in mind.
Not all battery chargers and maintainers are created equal.
