The Best Battery Charger for Your Needs

From heavy equipment to small electronic devices, all need the right type of charger for their own specialized batteries.

Auto-Auto equipment including cars and motorcycles use different types of specialized batteries depending on several factors such as engine size and uses. Most auto batteries are 12 V but there are several different brands with different features. Odyssey batteries are sealed lead acid batteries, while other batteries are gel batteries or absorbed glass mat (AGM). Each type of battery requires a different type of charger or maintainer. For example, Odyssey makes specific battery testers and chargers for their batteries. Other popular brands include BatteryMinder, Battery Tender, and Schumacher battery chargers. All of these brands work on both sealed lead acid batteries, as well as AGM and Gel batteries.

Marine-Sealed lead acid batteries require special care to avoid spilling of the liquid electrolyte. For this reason, marine batteries are typically gel or AGM. These batteries are not "spillable" and are much safer for marine applications. Older liquid electrolyte batteries are still commonly used, mostly because they are relatively inexpensive in comparison to gel or AGM batteries. Also, some boaters are just more comfortable being able to manually check electrolyte levels instead of using battery charges and maintainers.

Camcorders- Battery types change dramatically when you switch from heavy equipment to small electronic devices. Camcorder batteries and camcorder chargers vary with brand and model of the camcorder. There are hundreds of brands and thousands of models. The batteries may be Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), or Sealed Lead Acid (SLA). Camcorder chargers usually come with a base that attaches to wall power in an electrical outlet.

Cell Phones- Cell phones are advancing in technology everyday. Cell phones typically use lithium ion batteries, which are the newest and most powerful batteries for electronic devices. There are so many types of cell phone chargers available; however, they are all constructed for specific models so it is important to purchase the proper charger.


Angela Oliver is an author for Battery Web, retailer and wholesaler of batteries and battery chargers. Please visit the site for a full selection of auto, marine and truck battery chargers, as well as camcorder chargers and cell phone chargers.