How to choose the right battery charger

The first question you need to answer is: how much power do you need to charge your battery correctly? This is the most important factor when selecting a new charger. It lets you know if you need a built-in charger or an external charger, or if you are able to choose between the two.

Most electrical machines, such as scissor lifts, forklifts and narrow-aisle forklifts, need less than three kilowatts to charge their batteries. This means you are able to choose between a built-in charger or an external charger.

For heavy electrical equipment, such as articulated boom lifts, you always need an external charger. This is because you need more than three kilowatts to charge them correctly. 

You’ll (almost) never see a high-powered machine with a built-in battery charger for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s a matter of space: bigger machines need more power and that requires a bigger charger. Secondly, it’s a matter of safety: high-powered machines need to switch to three-phase voltage, rather than single socket, and this interferes with the safety of the connections. 

Now that you know which type of charger you’re looking for, it’s time to find the right one for your needs.

When shopping for a new built-in charger, follow the recommendations of your battery’s original manufacturer. This is the best way to ensure your new charger is a perfect fit. 

Did your battery originally come with an external charger? Good news: you can still switch to a compatible built-in charger. We offer a selection of universal built-in chargers, such as Delta-Q and S.P.E. These are based on the original manufacturer’s specifications and can be purchased independently. Would you like to know more? Contact us to learn about the available options. 

If you decide to buy an external battery charger, there’s one more question to answer: do you want to save money now or throughout the entire lifespan of the charger?

A conventional battery charger costs less upfront. However, it uses more electricity for each charge, which costs you more over time.

A high-frequency charger is a more expensive investment at the time of purchase, but it uses less electricity and saves you money for years to come. The choice is completely up to you. For more details, use this calculator to find out just how much money you can save.

• Find the right battery charger via MyProductSearch or via MyPartsFinder in MyTotalSource.
• Please contact us if you require more information.
• Discover our battery chargers in our Batteries, chargers & accessories catalogue

Have you considered repairing your charger instead of replacing it? This is an environmentally friendly option that keeps your old charger in service and out of the garbage. We offer repair services for all types of industrial battery chargers: traditional chargers, high-frequency chargers, built-in chargers and charger/dischargers. You name it, we fix it. Find out more about having your charger repaired here.