08.02.2023
Jump starters vs. battery chargers – power for your car battery
Jump-Start power bank or battery charger? Here's what you need.
Battery Chargers
We've all experienced this: You get into your car, try to start the engine and... nothing happens. But you're in luck if you have the right tool to hand to quickly and easily breathe life back into the dead car battery. A smart battery charger from Einhell provides different car batteries with fresh energy in no time, so the engine quickly springs back to life. With Einhell you will find chargers in various sizes and designs (6 V, 12 V and 24 V), from the rugged compact device for car batteries, to the powerful workshop charger with alternating charging voltage – and all at a very reasonable price. This way you can charge any battery, whether it's a car battery, a truck or motorcycle battery or batteries for scooters, motorbikes, lawn tractors, tractors or motor homes. With the battery chargers from Einhell you will be well equipped for any application.
Different battery chargers
Battery chargers with microprocessors
Our microprocessor-controlled, smart battery chargers are available in various different designs and sizes – so you'll find the right battery charger for every vehicle battery. Microprocessor-controlled chargers are real all-rounders, as they are suitable for gel batteries, AGMs, as well as maintenance-free and low-maintenance lead-acid batteries. The multi-stage, microprocessor-controlled and monitored charging process always maintains the optimum state of charge and optimises battery life and performance. Your battery gets the best possible charge thanks to the smart charger and the charge retention function also ensures that your battery is fully charged and ready for use at all times. When maintenance charging seasonal vehicles such as convertibles, classic cars, motorcycles, motorhomes or quadbikes, the hanging loop that can be used to attach the charger to the wall also proves very useful.
Analogue battery chargers
One of the first in-house developments and a bestseller was an analogue charger for car batteries from Einhell. It is not uncommon to find these devices – some of which are already over 50 years old – still in use in a number of garages. Today you can still buy powerful and durable analogue chargers from Einhell. The analogue battery chargers are built robustly with a sheet steel housing and are insulated for protection. Overload, reverse polarity and short circuit protection, as well as the fully insulated pole clamps, make the chargers safe to use. Recharge your car battery in no time.
Battery chargers with jump start function
Some Einhell battery chargers are also practical 2-in-1 devices. As well as charging car batteries, the powerful chargers can also be used as a jump starter for your car, making them indispensable in an emergency. The charger needs a lot of power to jump start a vehicle. Sufficient current is provided by the microprocessor-controlled battery chargers CE-BC 15 M, CE-BC 30 M and the analogue model CC-BC 30/1. With these powerful chargers you can charge batteries of cars, boats, tractors, motorhomes and trucks. You can also use them as jump starts if a car won't start at all.
Which charger is right for your vehicle?
Whether you have a motorcycle, car or truck – you should choose the right charger depending on the size of the battery. The higher the amperage provided by the charger, the faster it charges the battery. A battery charger with a charging current corresponding to one tenth of the battery capacity is ideal. So, while you need maximum power for truck batteries, a charger with less power is sufficient for motorcycle batteries. For small cars, in which batteries with a capacity of approx. 45 Ah are usually installed, the battery chargers CE-BC 4 M and CE-BC 6 M with 12V charging voltage and 4 Ah are suitable, for example. The table shows which microprocessor-controlled battery charger is suitable for which vehicle class.
Different functions of the battery chargers
The battery chargers from Einhell have different practical modes that can be very useful in certain situations. You should always read the operating instructions beforehand to find out how to use the modes correctly.
Winter charging mode
It's freezing outside and your car just won't start. Then you need the winter charging mode! At low temperatures below 5°C, a higher charging voltage is necessary to charge the car battery. In winter charging mode, this is automatically optimised so that the battery is also ready for use on cold days.
Recondition mode
Recondition mode makes it possible to charge discharged lead-acid batteries again. In this charging programme, charging is carried out with increased charging end voltage and constant current charging to restore the charging capability. In some cases, old, almost completely discharged car batteries can be reactivated to be recharged and used again.
Power supply mode
Power supply mode is a power supply programme that is essential when replacing batteries. Power supply mode is used to provide continued power when a new battery is inserted so that important programme settings can be maintained.
Tips for how to get the most out of battery chargers
Important protective functions
To give your car battery a new lease of life, you need a battery charger with enough power. However, working with electricity is never completely safe. To ensure that you can charge your battery safely, Einhell chargers are equipped with important protective features. The reverse polarity protection prevents you from connecting the positive and negative poles incorrectly. The short-circuit protection and the insulated pole clamps additionally ensure optimum protection of the charger, battery and the user. The overcharge protection is also a helpful feature that automatically stops the charging process when the battery is fully charged. This prevents overcharging and extends the life of the battery.
Protected from external influences
Depending on where you plan to use your battery charger, you should pay attention to the protection class of the charger. If you use the unit to charge the battery of your car, which is protected in the garage, protection class IP 20 is sufficient. However, if you don't have a garage or are on the road a lot and may need to charge your car battery in wind and weather, you should choose a charger with protection class 65. These battery chargers are dust-tight and protected against water jets, making them suitable for use in dirty or damp areas and providing optimum protection against external influences.
