How do you know when you need a trickle charger? They are often regarded as battery chargers, but they are not.
In Fairbanks a trickle charger is our go-to for battery maintenance in winter. They provide a small charge to the battery over a span of hours rather than minutes. This relatively small input over a longer period of time optimizes the chemical potential of batteries.
When do I need to install a charger?
If you don’t drive every day
Cars that are not driven every day are great candidates for battery maintainers. If you work from home and commute 2-3 times a week, a charger will keep your battery in top shape.
Winter Storage
If you leave for a month or two during winter, the trickle charger is a great idea. You’ll walk off the plane to a car that starts.
Short Commute
If your commute is only a mile or two, include a trickle charger with your winter heater set-up.
Auto Start
If you use your auto-start rather than plugging in winter heaters, the trickle charger is a must. On and off idling drains a cold battery.
Snow Plow
If you plow snow, a trickle charger is a must. If you have a dedicated plow truck and it is not driven daily, the trickle charger is a no brainer. Plowing drains batteries in a way that alternators cannot account for. When finished plowing, plug it in for sure.
When do I NOT need supplemental battery charging?
If you garage your car when not driving it there is usually no need for a trickle charger.
New Battery, New Alternator
If your charging system is robust, and your commute is more than 10 minutes, a trickle charger is not necessary.
Which Small Charger do we recommend?
Any of the NOCO Genius family of chargers work very well. The NOCO Genius 1 is a solid, inexpensive charger with easy clips and installation.
Look for a charger with an automatic shut-off when the battery is fully charged.
Installation How-to
To install a trickle charger, first make sure the battery terminals have been cleaned. Any build up will prevent the trickle charger leads from working.
Once the battery is cleaned, check that the battery cable ends have a good connection.
Once the cable ends and been cleaned and securely attached to the battery terminals, clamp the trickle charger leads to the correct terminals.