Automotive Battery Charger
Anyone who owns a car, truck, or van should have an automotive battery charger in their trunk just in case. All too often you may find yourself accidentally leaving the lights on when you go in the store only to come back out with a dead battery. This is not only embarrassing since you have to ask other people in the vicinity for help getting a jump start, but it can also lead to a lot of wasted time while you are trying to get that help.
Not many people actually think to get a car battery charger because they figure they can just get a jump start from someone else, but there may be situations where you can not get any assistance from other people. Some people do not even carry jumper cables, and some are just not willing to help. Owning a charger of your own can help you ensure that you will always be prepared in case of a dead battery caused by a quick loss of judgment.
If you have a car or a very small truck, you will most likely need a 12 volt automotive battery charger. This is the standard voltage, though the range of said voltage in the 12 range may vary. For example, sometimes a battery may be 12.4 volts or 12.6. The exact increment does not matter as long as it is still with in the 12 range.
Medium to large-sized trucks and vans will most likely need a 24 volt charger in order to start up their larger engine. Their batteries are also usually appropriately 24 volt batteries. These are just as easy to find than their smaller counterparts, although they can be slightly more expensive.
Having a charger on hand at all times can help more than just yourself. If you happen to see someone in a parking lot who accidentally left their lights on, you can easily give them a hand as well. Additionally, if you leave a car sitting for a very long period of time without turning it on, especially if it is an older car, the battery will have probably died on its own. If you are in this situation for whatever reason, you may or may not be able to charge the battery. Attach the charger for at least an hour and try to start the car again. Alternatively, if the car is a manual transmission you should be able to pop the clutch in order to get it started and give the battery a little boost.
There is no denying the usefulness of an automotive battery charger. For the price, you are saving yourself a lot of time and even money is saved on batteries that you do not have to replace.