Difference between Battery Charger and Battery Maintainer

A battery charger is used to recharge a battery when it is deeply or entirely discharged. A battery maintainer keeps the battery fully charged and prepared for usage by trickling in a small amount of charge on a regular basis.

The amount of current they supply is one of the key differences between a battery charger and a battery maintainer. A battery maintainer maintains the battery's charge over time. While a battery charger often provides a high current output to quickly recharge a battery.

Read this article to find out more about battery charger and battery maintainer and how they are different from each other.

What is a Battery Charger?

A battery charger is an electronic device that is used to charge a dead or completely discharged battery. It has the capacity to charge 9-volt batteries. A battery charger contains different features, such as a charge indicator and super-fast charging. Faster charging will come from higher amp ratings.

A battery charger is equipped with voltage regulation and filtering. Direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) power sources can both be used to power battery chargers. Input voltage, charging current, output voltage, and operating temperature are among the specifications for battery chargers.

The following types of battery chargers are available −

• Trickle Charger

• Fast Charger

• Smart Charger

• Pulse Charger

• Solar Charger

• Inductive Charger

• USB Charger

What is a Battery Maintainer?

A battery maintainer is also called a "battery tender". It is a crucial instrument for maintaining batteries in good shape and ready for use when required. A battery maintainer can help the battery last longer and make sure it is always ready to work when needed by supplying a low-level charge over a long period of time.

A battery maintainer has an electronic voltage regulator and a timer system that are constantly connected to keep the battery well-charged while it is in storage. It is smart compared to the battery charger because they are both programmed to read the battery's capacity and how much additional power it needs to maintain its best performance.

A battery maintainer doesn't overcharge your battery and keeps your battery ready whenever you need it. A maintainer stops sending power to charge a battery once it is full. A battery tender helps to extend the life of your battery by preventing damage to it.

Difference between a Battery Charger and a Battery Maintainer

The following table highlights the major differences between a battery charger and a battery maintainer −

Characteristics	Battery Charger	Battery Maintainer
Definition	A battery charger is used to charge the dead or discharged battery.	A battery maintainer is used to maintain the charge in a battery.
Price	Battery chargers cost more than battery maintainers.	Battery maintainers are less expensive than battery chargers.
Circuit	A battery charger circuit type is simple.	A battery maintainer circuit type is complex.
Compatibility	It isn't compatible with all types and sizes of battery.	It is compatible with all types and sizes of batteries.
Current Charge	A battery charger uses a high current to charge a battery faster.	Battery maintainers use low current to maintain a battery charge.
Time	It takes a long time to complete the battery charge.	It takes less time to complete a battery charge.
Types of Charging Modes	It provides different types of charging modes.	It only has a single charging mode.
Automation	A battery charger doesn't have an automation feature for starting and stopping. Everything needs to be done manually.	The automation feature of starting and stopping a battery maintainer

Conclusion

In a nutshell, a battery maintainer is used to keep a battery charged over a long period of time. A battery charger is used to charge a dead or completely discharged battery. A battery charger uses high current, whereas a battery maintainer uses low current to charge and maintain the battery. You should choose between the two based on your requirements, to ensure battery performance and longevity.