12V Battery Chargers

Why choose to install a battery charger?

In any good independent power set up, the battery is considered the 'heart' of the system and in turn, so is a good Battery Charger 240 Volt.

Each appliance in a caravan-type setup will run through the battery, whether it is an input charge, such as a solar panel, battery charger or DC charge from a vehicle, or an output discharge, such as your fridge, lighting or appliances; the battery controls it all.

But how do you ensure your battery is being maintained at its optimum condition? The answer is a good 240-volt battery charger can make all the difference!

Unlike solar, or the DC vehicle charge, a 240v lithium battery charger has the ability to provide deep conditioned charge to the battery. It is one of the most reliable forms of charge to recover, maintain and prolong the condition of your battery system.

Are all battery chargers the same?

Battery chargers have come a long way in the past 10 years or so. The most common type of battery the average independent system would use these days are SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries or Lithium LiFePO4 batteries. Both of these types of batteries are sealed and require a regulated battery charger to prevent overcharging of the cells.

The vast majority of battery chargers sold in today's market are regulated / automatic. This essentially means that the battery charger will perform a number of charging stages, and once complete, it will revert to maintaining the battery and will prevent overcharging from occurring.

At Home of 12 Volt Online, we believe that Victron and Projecta are two of the best-branded battery chargers. These chargers can charge a variety of chemistries, including AGM, GEL, WET and even LITHIUM.

Do I need a special battery charger for lithium batteries?

Yes, it is highly recommended to use a special battery charger designed for Lithium batteries, such as a Lithium battery charger 12v or a 240v lithium battery charger. These chargers are specifically tailored to the unique charging requirements of Lithium batteries, ensuring they charge efficiently and safely without risking damage or reduced performance.

Using the correct charger, whether it’s a portable battery charger or a battery charger 12v, can significantly enhance a Lithium battery's longevity and reliability.

Can I use an AGM charger on a Lithium battery?

We advise against it. While an AGM battery charger is designed to charge various battery types, the specific charger needed for Lithium batteries differs from that used for AGM batteries.

An AGM charger is primarily designed to charge sealed lead-acid batteries, and although it might be capable of charging your Lithium batteries, it is not recommended. For optimal performance and safety, it’s better to use a 240v lithium battery charger or a 12v battery charger specifically designed for Lithium batteries.

What size battery charger should you use?

Well, the answer to this question all comes down to charge time.

When using a sealed battery, it is good practice to stay with the 10% rule. Opting for a battery charger that is 10% of the overall capacity of the battery will allow for a charge time of approx 8 to 10 hours to completely replenish a discharged battery.

For example, a 100 AH = 10 Amp Battery Charger. This size battery charger allows the battery to recover overnight without overworking it and will ultimately promote the long-term life of the cells.

The minimum size charger you should use is no smaller than 5% of the overall battery capacity (such as a 100 AH = 5 Amp Battery charger).

Can you charge a Lithium battery with 240v?

Yes, it is perfectly okay to charge a Lithium battery with a 240v lithium battery charger. However, for optimal charging, it’s recommended to use a Lithium battery charger 12v that is specifically designed for Lithium batteries.

While some Lithium batteries can be charged using an AGM setting on a standard 240v lithium battery charger, using a dedicated LiFePO4 battery charger ensures you reach the optimum level of charge, maximising the battery’s performance and lifespan.

But what if you require a faster recharge time?

This is fine. You can choose a larger-capacity battery charger. A sealed battery, such as an AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt battery) can accept UP TO one-third of its capacity as a maximum charge input. For example, a 100 AH battery can safely charge on a 30 Amp battery charger. This would be the maximum size charger you would use on this capacity battery.

Opting for a 30 Amp battery charger on a battery with a capacity of 100 Amps means that you can charge the battery from completely discharged to 100% capacity again in a little over 3 hours.

This scenario is not as common as many people would have an overnight stay in a Caravan park, which means the 8 - 10 hour charge time is not a concern for them. But what if you're charging from a generator? You wouldn't want to run the generator for 8 - 10 hours to replenish the battery, so instead, you would opt for a 30 Amp charger, which would allow you to reduce the run time of your charging.

What about Lithium? How does this change my battery charger 240 volt?

If you have a Lithium battery, it is highly recommended that you use a Lithium-compatible battery charger. Many good quality lithium batteries on the market will charge successfully from an AGM setting on a 240v lithium battery charger, however, you will never reach the optimum level of charge without a truly dedicated LiFePO4 charger.

Lithium batteries can accept a much higher input per hour compared to their AGM counterparts. However, once again, it all comes down to the capacity of the 240-volt battery charger when calculating how long it will take to charge a Lithium battery set up.

Most Lithium batteries can accept anywhere between 50 to 100% of their capacity when charging per hour. For example, a 100 AH Lithium LiFePO4 battery with a recommended charge rate of 80 amps can charge from a battery charger (80 Amps in capacity) in a little under 1.3 hours. That's an extremely fast charge rate! However, you would require an 80 Amp battery charger to achieve these charge times, and this can be costly.

Overall, yes, your Lithium battery can accept a higher rate of input charge, however, it is still common for the average user to stay between the 10% - 30% rule when adding a battery charger to their system.

What happens if you charge a Lithium battery with a normal charger?

Using a charger that isn’t designed for lithium batteries can lead to suboptimal performance and potentially reduce the battery's lifespan. 

Some standard chargers may not regulate the charge correctly, leading to overcharging or undercharging. To ensure safe and efficient charging, it’s best to use a charger specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries. 

Many lithium batteries also have a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) that helps prevent damage from improper charging, but using the correct charger, such as a Lithium battery charger 12v or a lithium battery charger 240v, is still recommended.

240 Volt battery charger with a generator:

Generators are not 100% regulated all of the time in their power output. It is always recommended to use a 240 volt battery in line between the battery and the generator. By doing this, you will ensure that any fluctuations omitted from the generator are absorbed through to battery charger and are not transferred directly to the battery charger. This ensures a fully regulated battery charge.

When calculating approximately what size battery charger you can successfully run from a generator, use the following guide:

For every 1 Amp of battery charger = 18 watts of power used from the generator

Example: 30 Amp battery charger = 540 watts used from the generator

Home of 12 Volt recommendations:

Home of 12 Volt recommends using Victron battery chargers and Projecta Battery Chargers. These chargers offer a number of different sizes to accommodate every individual use and are designed for multiple battery chemistries, such as AGM, GEL, Wetcell and even Lithium LiFePO4.

Backed with a 5-year manufacturer warranty and even Bluetooth capabilities (in the Victron), these truly are the pick of the bunch when compared with other brands on the market!

Need more help?

Confused by too much information? That's okay, too! Why not give our friendly staff a call directly at 08 8391 3121 or use the CONTACT us page to send us an email so we can help advise on your system requirements?