How many amps should a battery charger show

How many amps should a battery charger show

Let me start with a disclaimer: BatteryStuff.com does not sell inexpensive, off-the-shelf battery chargers often found at retail outlets and certain other online stores. We cater specifically to microprocessor-controlled chargers, also known as smart chargers. All the chargers we stock are reviewed, tested and selected based on function, reliability and durability.

This type of battery charger is designed to charge lead acid and other types of batteries based on computer-generated algorithms. Simply put, the charger collects information from the battery and adjusts the charge current and voltage based on this information. This allows the battery to be charged quickly, correctly, and completely when using a smart charger. All the chargers we sell can remain connected to a battery indefinitely and will not overcharge or damage it.

Simple steps to select the right battery charger for your needs.

Step 1: Choosing a Charger Based on Battery Type

Whether your battery is maintenance free, wet cell (flooded), AGM (absorbed glass mat), gel cell or VRLA (valve-regulated lead acid), one charger should work for all types except for gel cell. However, some of our gel cell chargers will work well with the other battery types.

Step 2: Determining Battery Size

How many amps should a battery charger show

We don’t mean physical size, but how many amp hours your battery stores. For example, a typical full-size auto battery is about 50 amp hours, so you would choose a 10 amp charger that would take about 6 hours to recharge it if the battery were completely dead. Another instance would be a marine deep cycle battery rated at 100 amp hours. It would take a 10 amp charger about 11 hours to recharge a dead battery to near 100% full charge. To calculate your total charge time for a battery, a good rule of thumb is to take the amp hour rating of the battery and divide by the charger rating (amps) and then add about 10% for the extra time to totally top off the battery.

Some folks wanting quick recharge should look for a charger with more amps, such as a golf cart charger. If you’re not in a hurry, you can select a smaller charger. The most important thing is to make sure you have enough charger power to do the job you require in the time you allocate.

Step 3: Choosing a Battery Charger Based on Desired Outcome

How many amps should a battery charger show

Some folks require a charger to keep their motorcycle, classic car, or aircraft battery charged during the offseason. In these cases, a simple low current charger will work fine. Others require a fast and powerful charger to quickly restore a trolling motor battery or a wheelchair battery set. Other types of chargers and the reasons you might need them: 

  • MULTI VOLTAGE Input chargers for use when visiting a foreign country
  • Waterproof chargers for those times when you’re out in the elements
  • Chargers that double as power supplies for RV use
  • Multi-bank chargers for charging multiple batteries simultaneously

    Hopefully, we’ve helped you figure out which is the best charger for your application. Use the link below to see our large selection of battery chargers and 12v/24v trickle chargers. 

    Choose The Best Battery Charger

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    Created on October 21, 2011, Last Modified on August 24, 2022

    How to Read a Battery Charger Amp Meter- Step by Step -A Complete Guideline

    It’s very easy to read a car battery charger amp meter. Just, follow the simple steps given below:

    Disconnect the Battery Clamps

    While charging the battery and reading the amp, the first and foremost thing is to disconnect the battery clams from the car.

    Don’t forget to do it.

    It’s important as you are charging your car battery, not the car, I say. If you forget to disconnect the battery clams, it may bring danger.

    So, remove the battery clams first before going for charging your car battery or others.

    Okay?

    Now, let’s know how to disconnect the battery clams from the car:

    How to Disconnect the Battery Clams

    Disconnecting the battery clams from car is simple. Only do the followings:

    ♦ Take a screwdriver

    ♦ First, unscrew the nut from the negative port and disconnect it.

    ♦ Then, unscrew the nut from the positive terminal and disconnect the cable. It’s all.

    One Precaution: Remember, disconnect the negative port first, then the positive one. It will eliminate the possibility of shorting your car battery. And, thus, following this step will strengthen the battery life. But, if you don’t forget to follow the above steps, it can shorten your car battery life with the chance of battery shorting. So, remember this precaution always if you want to see a car battery having a long-life.

    Safety Tips While Disconnecting Battery Clams

    Before disconnecting the battery from your car, always follow the below safety tips as all these are concerned with your safety issue:

    ♦ Switch off your car first

    ♦ Wear insulated gloves to keep yourself from potential shock

    ♦ Always wear safety glass as there is the possibility of battery leak or sparking

    ♦ Remove any jewelry from your hand

    ♦ Cover positive cable with a cloth after disconnecting it

    Connect the Battery Charger to the Battery

    You have already disconnected your battery from the car successfully.  Now, this is the time to connect the battery charger to your car battery. As most of the battery charger comes with the clams looking like the jumper cables, pick the clams first. Then, connect the positive clam to the positive terminal of the battery and negative to the negative terminal. Before that, you need to be ensured with positive and negative clams. If you are still confused, remember, the positive clam comes with a “+” sign or red color. And the negative clamp is found with a “-” sign or black color. As you have connected the charger to your car battery, you are ready to charge the battery. Now, plug the battery charger to the electric board, set your desired amp and on the switch.

    Monitor the Actual Meter Reading

    ♦ Once you have switched on the battery charger, you are about to monitor and read the amp meter to charge your car battery precisely. ♦ Look at the display board of your amp meter. You will find the needle indicating amp will move down to the point you set for an amp. ♦ Suppose, if you are charging a car battery, you might set 10 amp as it’s the common amp for a car battery. ♦ After switching on, you will notice that the amp needle will move to your set amp. And when the battery is charged fully, you will discover that the needle will dropdown. ♦ When you trace the amp needle is dropped to half of your desired set amp, it means the battery is fully charged and ready to set in the car again. But, if sometimes you find 2 needles with your battery charger amp monitor, don’t get confused. Here, concentrate on the needles. The needle that moves to your desired amp is the needle indicating the amp. And the rest one will tell you how much charge your battery owns right now Okay? And in the case of 2 needles, you will get the battery fully charged when you will notice the 2 needles are on their top position. That’s all reading your battery charger amp meter. Everything is simple!

    How many amps should my battery charger be?

    As a rule of thumb your battery charger should be 10% - 20% of the Ah rating of the battery. E.g A 100Ah battery would require a 10 Amp charger as a minimum. To prevent overcharging, you should keep the charger size to within 30% of the total capacity.

    What should a 12 volt battery charger read when fully charged?

    12.6V volts or above - Your battery is healthy and fully charged. No further action is required. 12.5 volts - Your battery is at a healthy state of charge, but we'd recommend re-checking it within a few days to ensure the voltage hasn't dropped any further.

    What do the amps mean on a battery charger?

    The strength of a current – how fast it flows – is measured in amperes or amps. Thinking back to the battery as a water pipe, the current would be the flow rate of the water. Higher amps mean that electricity is flowing more quickly and delivering more power to your device.

    How do you know when your battery charger is done?

    BATTERY CHARGING CHARACTERISTICS The battery is fully charged once the current stabilizes at a low level for a few hours. There are two criteria for determining when a battery is fully charged: (1) the final current level and (2) the peak charging voltage while this current flows.