What is the Difference Between a Float Charger & a Trickle Charger?
by Erika Sanders
Both float and trickle chargers are devices that slowly emit low-voltage charges to your car battery, restoring the battery to a fully charged status over several hours. Subtle differences between the two devices determine which charger is best for you.
Float Chargers
Float chargers are equipped with electronics that allow the device to cycle on and off. This is beneficial if you are going to have the charger connected to the battery for a long period. The device automatically turns off when the battery is fully charged and turns on again when the battery's charge lowers.
Trickle Chargers
Trickle chargers work similarly to float chargers. You connect the trickle charger to the battery terminal and a slow, steady stream of low-voltage electricity recharges the battery. Trickle chargers, however, do not come with the on/off feature of the float charger. Electricity continues to flow to your battery until you remove the trickle charger.
Considerations
A trickle charger is most effective when you are available to turn it off after the battery has charged. Overcharging your battery can cause permanent damage. If you are not available to monitor the charging process, or if your vehicle is in storage for a long period, a float charge that automatically turns itself off and on is your best option. However, if cost is a concern for you, trickle chargers are significantly less expensive.
References
Writer Bio
Erika Sanders has been writing since 1997. She teaches writing at the Washington State Reformatory and edits the monthly newsletter for the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, a national nonprofit organization. She received her Master of Fine Arts in fiction from the Solstice Program at Pine Manor College in Boston.
