Are you wondering whether a trickle charger is bad for your battery? In this article, not only will you have your questions answered, but you’ll also learn whether it’s better to trickle charge or fast charge a battery, whether you should leave your trickle charger on, and even if trickle charging could extend your battery’s life!
So keep reading to find out everything you want to know!
Is Trickle Charging Bad For Your Battery?
If a battery is kept at a high charge or low charge for too long, then the battery can begin to degrade. So trickle charging for extended periods of time isn’t going to be great for your battery. As well as this, if you’re trickle charging your battery for a long time, then you increase the chance of the battery overheating, which could boil off some of the electrolytes.
However, trickle-charging your battery isn’t going to be as bad now as it was back in the day. Newer models tend to have controller circuits inside them which means that once the battery is full, the trickle charger will stop charging.
But just remember, if you’re still using an old charger, this may not be the case.
Is It Better To Trickle Charge Or Fast Charge A Battery?
It really depends on your goal. If you need the battery to charge quickly, and you can keep an eye on it, then obviously, fast charging is going to be superior. But if you don’t mind waiting for the battery to charge, then you can trickle charge it. Especially with newer models where you can leave the charger connected for longer without having to worry.
Are There Times Trickle Charging Can Damage Your Battery?
Of course, there are going to be times trickle charging can damage your battery, especially depending on the age and quality of the charger you’re using. However, if you’re using a new, high-quality charger, then the chances of damage occurring are going to be greatly reduced.
So if you’re going to get a trickle charger, then you should opt for a smart trickle charger to reduce the chance of overcharging occurring.
Can You Overcharge A Motorcycle Battery With A Trickle Charger?
Just like with cars, if you’re not using a high-quality trickle charger, then it’s entirely possible that damage will occur. Especially when the charger doesn’t have systems in place to shut off when the battery is fully charged.
You should also bear in mind that you might also want to avoid charging your motorcycle with a car charger and instead opt for a trickle charger made for motorcycles.
Fortunately, though, if you have a high-quality trickle charger and a good battery in your bike, then the chances of a trickle charger causing damage are going to be a lot slimmer.
Can Trickle Chargers Extend Your Batteries Life?
Now you know that there are times trickle charging isn’t going to be great for your battery, you may also be wondering whether there are times trickle charging can extend a battery’s life.
Unfortunately, trickle charging will do very little to extend your batteries life. The only benefit of newer models is that they won’t overcharge your battery, causing the battery life to be reduced.
FAQ
Now you know that trickle chargers can potentially be bad for your battery, here are some other common questions that people have!
Can A Trickle Charger Charge A Dead Battery?
As long as the battery has enough voltage to meet the threshold of the battery, then it’s entirely possible for a trickle charger to charge it again. However, you may still need to jump-start the battery for 5 to 10 minutes beforehand to ensure there’s enough voltage inside it already!
Recap
As you can see, while trickle-charging your battery can be beneficial when you’re in a pinch, it’s still best to charge your battery normally. After all, trickle charging for extended periods of time can result in damage to the battery.
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