Powerful phone charger. How to choose the right car battery charger

An article about how to choose a charger for a car battery. Types of devices, important nuances of choice. At the end of the article there is a video about a simple DIY battery charger.

Types of chargers and their features

By charging method devices are divided into 3 categories:

Fixed current method

Such devices charge the battery to the limit and quite quickly. However, at the end of the procedure, the electrolyte tends to heat up excessively, and this reduces the life of the battery, causing accelerated aging.

Constant voltage method

In this case, the electrolyte maintains the required temperature and there is no need to control the charging process, since with this scheme the device maintains a given voltage level. The disadvantages include a decrease in voltage at the end of the process. This does not allow the battery to charge as much as possible.

Combined method

It combines the two options described above - at the beginning the process occurs at a fixed current value, and at the end it switches to voltage stabilization. This tandem makes this type of device the most effective and in demand.

By charging method z/u are divided into 2 categories:

Transformer type devices

They are unlikely to be encountered in everyday life, as they have impressive dimensions and equally impressive weight. Their purpose is to convert 220V current into direct current (12V).

Pulse

The principle of operation is similar to the previous version, however, this version is compact and light in weight. Therefore, they are ideal for household use.

Depending on the model, pulse chargers may have:

• end of charge indicator;
• indicator of incorrect connection (polarity reversal);
• short circuit protection function,
• automatic charging function;
• reverse polarity protection function, etc.

Transformer models are cheaper, but in addition to the disadvantages described above, they also require monitoring during operation. Therefore, the pulse option is preferable.

Depending on power source, z/u are divided into 3 categories.

Powered by electricity

If the car is located in a garage where electricity is supplied, then this option is the simplest, most convenient and reliable. In this case, the battery can be recharged while the car is not in use.

Powered by cigarette lighter

The disadvantages include the fact that with prolonged and/or intensive (in some models the speed is regulated) recharge, there is a risk of overloading the on-board network.

But in case of unforeseen situations, you can charge the battery at any time and anywhere.

Powered by solar energy

They are rarely used, since high-quality products are expensive, and cheap ones, as a rule, are ineffective and short-lived.

And of course, they need sunlight to work. The solar model may be useful as a supporting option. For example, for those who have a network charger, but often find themselves “far from the outlet.” For example, a fisherman, outdoor enthusiast or hunter would certainly find such a device useful.

According to purpose, the charger is divided into 2 types.

Charging-starting (or starting-charging)

They perform the function of not only recharging, but also starting the engine - they operate in two modes: automatic and maximum current delivery mode.

Some models are universal; with their help you can restore the operation of the internal combustion engine, charge your phone, laptop and other devices. You just need to have a set of plugs of the right size.

It is important to follow the operating rules and use the device for its intended purpose only after the terminals are disconnected from the on-board network.

Charging and pre-launch

They are used only to recharge the battery; starting the engine with their help is impossible. This is due to the fact that the devices are characterized by a low operating current. The advantage is that when using them there is no need to disconnect from the on-board network.

What to consider when choosing

Counterfeit

There are few products that can win the competition with chargers in terms of the number of counterfeits. Therefore, it is best to buy devices from official dealers or, at least, from retail outlets that enjoy a good reputation.

If you have decided on a specific brand, it is worth searching the Internet for information about the features of the brand and its copies. It may not be possible to identify a high-quality fake in this way, but it is quite possible to rid yourself of low-grade Asian consumer goods.

Possibilities

It’s better to get a charger with a small (precisely small, you shouldn’t be too zealous) current reserve. Such an acquisition has two advantages: the device will not have to work at the limit of its capabilities, and if the battery is replaced with a model with a larger capacity, there will be no need to change the charger.

Indication

There are LED and instrument. LED is not as accurate, but it is quite sufficient for household use.

Auto mode

If possible, preference should be given to the automated option. This will relieve the owner of the need to monitor the operation of the device and possible consequences.

Manufacturer country

Many domestic products are not inferior in their characteristics to their foreign counterparts, so it is worth taking a closer look at Russian products. Not only does it benefit in price, but the risk of buying a fake is almost zero. But even a domestic device that is inferior in quality is better than a fake prestigious brand.

Transmission

For a car with an automatic transmission, the best option would be a charging and pre-starting device, since it does not require necessarily disconnecting the power source from the on-board network.

Maintenance free batteries

Misconnection protection

In the case of the so-called polarity reversal, the function will help not only prevent damage to the battery, but also to the charger itself.

Desulfation function

Allows you to restore a battery with lead sulfate formations on the plates.

Rated charge current

The rated current is the current that is 10% of the battery capacity. Having information about the battery (can be found in documents or on the product body), calculating the required charger power is not difficult.

For example, a 6A charger is suitable for most batteries with a capacity of 60-70 Ah that are equipped in passenger cars. But for a truck or jeep you will have to look for a more powerful device.

Battery type

If you have a lead acid battery (WET), it will need a special device. For batteries of other types, any charger is suitable, but their features should be taken into account.

Gel batteries (GEL) and electrolyte-coated batteries (AGM) are sensitive to temperature changes and overheating. They require a charger with a current control function and an extended temperature range.

But it’s best not to experiment and purchase a charger recommended by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

Some motorists rely on the alternator, considering the condition of the battery to be a secondary problem. However, having a charger can make a driver’s life much easier, because you never know how soon you will need help from the battery or when it will be completely discharged. And to do this, sometimes it is enough to leave the side lights on at night or park the car at the entrance for a while with the alarm on.

A car battery charger allows you to charge various types of batteries in a garage or at home. The purpose of this material is to help the car enthusiast choose a suitable charger for the car battery, so that instead of a good “charger” he does not buy a “pig in a poke”, relying on dubious reviews on the Internet.

Please note that at the end of the article there is Video instruction optional charger for car battery. It contains many interesting nuances that are not included in this article.

And so, before purchasing a charger for a car battery, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Rated operating voltage;
• Rated operating current;
• Acceptable battery type;
• Charging algorithm;
• Operating mode indication;
• Design features.

Depending on the type of electrolyte, the most common car batteries are of three types: GEL, AGM and WET.

1. AGM batteries use absorbed electrolyte: they contain a porous material inside that absorbs the electrolyte.
2. GEL batteries contain a gel-like electrolyte.
3. In a traditional WET solution, the electrolyte is a solution of distilled water and sulfuric acid. This type of battery is most often used in cars.

The charger must match your battery type. Of all the above, only classic WET batteries can be charged from any type of charger.

When purchasing, be sure to find out from the seller what types of batteries the device you like can work with. If you do not pay due attention to this characteristic of the charger, then in the process of working with it, the car battery may fail.

Characteristics of chargers for car batteries

We have already listed the main characteristics that a good charger for a car battery should have, and now let's look at them in more detail.

Rated current

It is very important to choose a charger that will match the charging current of the battery. The maximum charging current of a car battery should not exceed 10% of the battery's rated capacity. If the battery has a capacity of 100 A*h, then its maximum charging current is 10 A. Exceeding this value leads to the destruction of the lead electrodes of the battery, which sharply reduces its service life.

Rated voltage

If you need to charge several car batteries, you can purchase a “charger” with a higher output voltage. In this case, the batteries must have the same capacity. They are connected to the device in series: at the terminals of each of them the voltage will be equal to half the total. If the batteries are designed for 12 V, then the voltage supplied by the charger should be 24 V.

Charger operating modes

Our website has detailed instructions on how to properly charge a battery, so here we will only look at the basics.

There can be two operating modes of the charger: current stabilization and voltage stabilization.

1. When the voltage is stabilized, the current on the car battery changes during the charging process, while the charging voltage remains constant. As the charging process comes to an end, the current becomes less and less.
2. When the current is stabilized, the battery charges faster, but in order to avoid damage to the car battery, at the end of the charging phase it is necessary to slightly reduce the charging current.

Modern chargers allow you to charge car batteries in a combined (automatic) mode: first they supply the battery with a stable current, and then maintain a stable voltage at the terminals corresponding to the nominal nameplate voltage of the battery.

If at the final stage of charge restoration the rated current is supplied to the battery, the electrolyte in it begins to warm up. This leads to an increase in pressure in the battery housing, which can lead to its depressurization. The combined operating algorithm avoids this danger, significantly increasing battery life.

Charger operating mode indication

When purchasing a charger for a car battery, you should pay attention to how the operating mode indication system is designed.

Simple battery chargers are often equipped with LED indication: LEDs are installed on the device panel that display the charging process and also indicate the moment when the battery charge is fully restored and it must be disconnected from the device.

Often, chargers for car batteries also use a dial indicator.

This is a classic solution that has proven itself in practice. Using such a device is somewhat unusual at first: it takes time to learn how to read readings quickly and correctly. But such indicators are reliable, simple, accurate, and cheap, which has a positive effect on the price of the charger.

More expensive models are equipped with a digital display system that allows more precise control of the battery charge recovery mode. Also, such chargers have a developed control system, with which you can change parameters such as charging current and output voltage over a wide range. Powerful professional chargers for car batteries have several independent outputs that operate autonomously, allowing you to work with a large number of different types of batteries (such devices are usually used in auto repair shops and service stations).

Design features of chargers

For modern electronics, the current trend is the miniaturization of all electronic components. New models of chargers are also small in size and weight. Puzzled by the question of how to choose a charger for a car battery, you might think that compact “chargers” are unreliable and should not be paid attention to, but this is not so.

The main task of any charger is to convert the alternating voltage of the electrical network (220 V) into a lower direct voltage (equal to the rated voltage of the car battery). Such a transformation cannot occur without losses.

Transformer is the main component of any voltage converter. Modern charger models are built using inverters. The heart of the inverter is a high-frequency transformer: due to the fact that it operates at a high frequency, its dimensions are significantly smaller than those of transformers operating at the mains frequency (50 Hz), which can significantly reduce energy losses. Voltage conversion at high frequencies is more profitable, since fewer turns are required in the transformer windings and its core heats up less. Therefore, modern chargers for car batteries are compact, very easy to use and save energy.

It is not uncommon for a vehicle owner to inadvertently forget to turn off the car radio or side lights. As a result of such an oversight, the car's battery may be completely discharged, making it impossible to start the engine. A correctly selected “charger” that delivers the optimal current value, has convenient control, and is suitable for a specific type of battery will help out in such a force majeure situation, quickly and safely restoring the charge of the car battery.

Video instruction: how to choose a charger for a car battery

In the modern world, tablet computers are gaining increasing popularity among computer users due to their small size, mobility and ease of use. Tablets, as a rule, have a fairly long battery life from a standard battery, which accordingly requires periodic recharging. Charging tablets, like other devices of this type, is carried out through a special charger connected to the mains. Quite often, power surges occur in electrical networks, which are one of the main reasons for the failure of the charger, as a result of which your tablet stops charging. If your tablet's charger has lost its functionality and you need to buy a new charger, then we offer you some tips and rules that need to be taken into account when choosing a new power supply.

The main and main criterion that you need to follow when buying a charger for a tablet is its technical characteristics, such as: current, power and voltage. These parameters can be viewed either on the old charger, or many manufacturers indicate them on the body of the tablet itself. It looks something like this, for example: output 15V-1.2A 18W, where V is the voltage, A is the current and W is the power of the tablet charger. Otherwise, if these parameters are not observed, your tablet may not work correctly, or if you use a charger with technical characteristics that do not correspond to the parameters recommended by the manufacturer, damage to the motherboard of your tablet may occur, with its subsequent, usually not cheap, repair. . It is also worth noting that, for example, using a higher-power charger inevitably leads to the fastest depletion of the tablet’s battery life.

When buying a new charger for a tablet, it is best to take the tablet with you and check on the spot when purchasing how the charger connector fits into the connector on the tablet. The connector must be inserted into the connector tightly enough and should not dangle, but at the same time it should not be inserted too tightly, as this may damage the tablet’s power connector. A loose connector that does not fit tightly enough into the connector will sooner or later lead to a short circuit, which can damage both the charger and the tablet itself.

Today you can buy a tablet charger in many stores, and if you need to buy a charger, then you can do it, including in our company. We always have a huge selection of chargers for tablets of all manufacturers and models, which will allow you to buy a charger for a tablet of almost any model from us. All tablet chargers presented by us are of a high degree of quality; our company’s specialists have extensive experience both in repairing a variety of computer equipment and in sales of accessories intended for it, which allows you to accurately determine the type and parameters of the charger that is optimal for your tablet models.

When buying a charger for a tablet, remember that not only the efficiency of the device, but often the performance of the tablet as a whole directly depends on how correctly the replacement for the standard power supply is selected.

Easy to use and a necessary accessory. Used almost every day. Most likely, you have several of them at home. What is this? Charger! For phone, tablet, reader, smart watch...

Types of chargers – mains, car and induction

AC charger is an accessory that allows you to charge devices using electric current directly from an outlet. This means that you can use it not only at home or at work, but wherever you have access to electricity. The USB cable detachable from the power supply allows you to charge the device using the USB port on your computer or laptop.

Car charger is an accessory that charges devices from the cigarette lighter socket in the car. Most often it consists of a power supply that connects directly to the cigarette lighter with a USB output on a cable that has a USB connector on one side and a micro-USB or USB type C on the other. As a rule, it only provides energy when the key is inserted into the ignition.

Inductive charger is a modern solution that allows wireless charging of devices. The accessory consists of a power cable, as well as a platform on which you place the phone for charging. The charger plugs into an outlet, and when the phone is not in use, it can be placed on the wireless charging platform. When you pick up the phone again, charging will stop.

Inductive charging will work with your smartphone if it is adapted to this technology. The metal back panel prevents the use of induction, unlike the glass body. Wireless charging is only possible with certain models that meet this requirement. You will find information on this topic in the device specification.

Charger with Power Delivery technology– this is usually a device with a USB type C connector. Thanks to this, it can be used simultaneously to charge a phone or laptop if they have compatible USB C ports. Some charger models also have standard USB 2.0 ports and can be used to charge other mobile devices devices.

Charger parameters

Once upon a time, each phone manufacturer used solutions suitable only for its devices. Later, by general agreement among manufacturers, most moved to the micro-USB standard to limit the generation of e-waste. Thanks to a single standard, theoretically, a charger from one smartphone can charge any other. You can also use it to replenish energy in your e-reader or camera.

In practice, it is worth paying attention to the characteristics of the charger, such as charging voltage, expressed in volts (V) and current strength, expressed in amperes (A). As a rule, these parameters are selected so as to effectively and safely charge the device that came with the charger. The mere fact that a charger has an identical micro USB connector does not guarantee that it will reliably charge a phone or reader of another brand.

Yes, you will charge your smartphone faster with a charger with a current of 2A and a voltage of 5V than with a charger with a current of 1A and a voltage of 5V. However, remember that high charging rates reduce battery life.

In most cases, slow charging is more optimal. We are talking, of course, about Li-Ion batteries, which are used in most modern devices. We know, however, that sometimes we don't have enough time to connect our phone to the charger for two hours. Sporadic use of a powerful charger should not harm.

How long does it take to charge different devices?

Each charger supports its own levels amperage And voltage, resulting in longer or shorter charging times for devices. Much depends on the type of charger - whether it is a wall charger, a car charger, or a cable connected to the USB port of a laptop. Another variable is the battery capacity of the device being charged. When you add all these elements together, you can even predict the approximate charging time for your device.

Majority network chargers for mobile gadgets the voltage is 5V. The difference lies in the amperage, and the values ​​range from 1 to 2.1 A. The device with the highest amperage will charge faster. Remember, however, that high intensity may cause the battery to overheat. As a rule, both mobile devices and the chargers themselves have protection that turns off the current after the battery is fully charged, however, it is also worth remembering to turn off the phone after the energy level has been restored.

When car chargers the range is certainly wider: voltage from 3.6 to 20 Volts and current from 0.7A to 4.8A. Remember, however, that higher values ​​are typical for chargers designed to charge multiple devices at the same time. Thus, both the voltage and the current strength are “divided” into several ports - from 2 to 5. Which, however, allows for fairly fast charging.

Induction chargers allow you to use a voltage of 5-9 Volts and a current of 1-2A. In a word: they also provide relatively fast charging of devices.

Charging via USB(cable connected directly to the computer) is a slow option, but also the safest for your device. Of course, a lot depends on the USB standard: 2.0 provides a voltage of 5 Volts and a current of 0.5 A. In the case of USB 3.0 and 3.1, this is already 0.9 A. The latest USB-C standard provides a current of 0.5 A to 3 A.

Fast charging technologies

Increasingly, you can find information about support in the characteristics of smartphones fast charging technologies. Most often they concern models that have high-capacity batteries and charging them in the standard way would take too long. These technologies allow you to quickly “recharge” the battery within a few or tens of minutes so that it lasts for several more hours of operation.

Advantages fast charging technologies:

• ability to charge the device in a short time
• adaptation for equipment with large battery capacity

Flaws fast charging technologies:

• Batteries that “don’t like” high-intensity charging wear out faster
• possibility of excessive heating of the smartphone and battery

QuickCharge is a technology developed by Qualcomm. Operation requires both a charger that supports this standard and a device compatible with it. All versions of QuickCharge technology are backward compatible. Devices compatible with the technology do not have to be equipped with a Qualcomm processor, because it is not the processor that is responsible for supporting this solution, but primarily an external controller.

The solution is based on applying high voltage and current to the power supply, which increases the charging power - for example, a 5V, 1A charger provides only 5W (watts) of power during charging. A charger with a voltage of 5V and a current of 2A provides twice as much power - up to 10 Watts.

As technology developed, it came to the point that the voltage could vary from 3.6 to 20 Volts, and the maximum power was increased to 18 Watts.

Quick Charge technology also takes into account the characteristic features of lithium batteries. This type of battery works well when it charges quickly at the beginning and then gradually reduces the charging current.

Adaptive Fast Charging works on a similar principle to Quick Charge. The charger provides the device with a current of higher voltage and strength. Thanks to this, the battery is charged in a shorter time.

The main idea of ​​this technology is to provide as much power as possible to the battery in the shortest possible time. This makes it enough to connect the charger for 10 minutes to top up the energy for the next few hours.

The charger adjusts settings to the device's needs and charging time and reduces power over time. Thanks to this, charging may take less or longer, but in each of these situations safety is ensured.

SuperCharge is a technology that has appeared in some Huawei devices. The point is that the charging process is controlled by the charger - thanks to this, the controller in the phone can be much simpler.

The charger provides the smartphone with a standard voltage of 5V and very high current - up to 4.5A. Because charging is managed by the charger, the phone does not generate excessive heat.

Along with the increase in functionality and performance of mobile phones, the requirements for batteries are also increasing. A typical battery can power the device for 2-3 days, but if operation involves activity on social networks, the use of multimedia and frequent conversations, then you can expect discharge in the coming hours. Moreover, carrying a charger with you is not always convenient - it’s not only about the need to find the treasured outlet, but also about attachment to it as such. The optimal solution to the problem may be a portable battery for mobile phones, also called a Power Bank. Such accessories also cause some trouble, but with them the user still gains some autonomy.

Selection by capacity

When first getting acquainted with the characteristics of external chargers, an inexperienced user may be fascinated by the huge capacity of such devices. For example, there are models with a capacity of 10,400 mAh. It would seem that such an arsenal would be enough for 5 sessions of replenishing the energy of a mobile phone whose battery contains 2,000 mAh. In reality, everything is not so simple. The fact is that a portable phone battery has a nominal voltage of 3.7 W. In turn, mobile devices are charged at 5 V. This difference leads to a loss in energy potential of up to 30%. And this is in the best case, since cheap Chinese models provide no more than half of the declared volume.

But you still have to rely on official data - everything depends only on the brand of the manufacturer, based on whose reliability a discount should be made in the actual amount of energy. By the way, if a portable battery for a phone is purchased for the purpose of emergency maintenance of the device for a short period of time, then there is no need for a large capacity and you can limit yourself to a compact, but high-quality and reliable accessory.

Selection by current strength

For most users of mobile devices that are dependent on a power source, the charging speed indicator is also important. This characteristic is determined by the current strength, which is measured in Amperes (A). Typically phones and smartphones charge at 1A, while more demanding tablets require 2A. You should be guided by these indicators when choosing, by the way, it can be supplied with two outputs - 1A and 2A. As a rule, such models also have a decent volume - at least 7,800 mAh. Such devices, of course, are more expensive, so you may think about using an external battery with one output to service different devices. But such a solution is inconvenient and risky, since the discrepancy in current strength is harmful to the phone. And this is not to mention that the charging process itself will take longer in the case of a tablet.

Buying a Power Bank without a battery

For the most economical ones, we recommend purchasing a separate Power Bank case and battery. This option is beneficial for the reason that you can initially be confident in the reliability and characteristics of the battery. In turn, the Power Bank will act only as a shell for the battery, ensuring interaction with the phone. True, there are also disadvantages to such a solution. The fact is that the portable battery for the phone in this case will operate on a weak outgoing current. Therefore, it will take more time to charge. On the other hand, the owner will have the opportunity to change the battery to another one, while maintaining the main Power Bank.

Manufacturers and prices

The importance of the quality of the charger has been noted more than once. In many ways, the reliability, durability and performance properties of external power supplies are determined by the manufacturer. As experts note, Korean models from LG and Samsung are the most trusted. Usually the sellers themselves do not hide the affiliation of the batteries with these brands. If the label does not indicate the manufacturer at all or if a little-known company appears in it, then it is better to refuse the purchase. It is also worth mentioning manufacturers specializing in the development of such devices. You can safely choose a portable external battery from the Melkco, YooBao or Momax lines. As for prices, they are quite affordable for the average user of a modern phone. Models with a capacity of 10,000 mAh or more usually cost 1.5-2 thousand rubles. By purchasing the 5,000 mAh option, you can even spend 1 thousand rubles. And these prices, by the way, refer to branded models.