Tips On Choosing the Right Battery Support Equipment for A Modern Workshop
There was a time when choosing a Battery Charger was all about finding the biggest and heaviest you could find. Automotive batteries had to be checked weekly and topped up, and they’d last about a year or two. Today’s batteries are a different animal. They are smaller, lighter and more powerful. They’ve had to keep up with modern automotive technology including sophisticated electronics, new battery types and the increasing demands of a modern workshop.
Traction Direct are battery technology specialists. We have been at the forefront of charging technology since the 1980s with the introduction of our MPL range, the first charger to correctly charge the then new Calcium/Calcium and Calcium/Silver lead/acid batteries. We also developed a patented sulphation recovery process which still features in our MPL range, and our latest technology is developing charging technology for the new LiFeP04 Lithium Iron batteries found in the newest cars on the market. When it comes to choosing the right battery support equipment, we’re well placed to guide you.
The Task at Hand
Are you looking to simply charge a battery, or you need to support the battery during diagnostic work? This makes a big difference as a Battery Support Unit is specifically designed to prevent loss of charge and damage to both the battery and diagnostic system.
A Battery Charger is focused solely on the battery. It’s not intended to supply power to the vehicle systems.
During diagnostic or programming operations, the vehicle’s systems are operating solely from the battery, so maintaining battery charge during this process is critical. By using a Battery Support Unit you prevent the loss of data and possible damage to control units during any diagnostic processes.
Battery support technology is also often used to maintain charge to vehicles that are in the showroom. It’s quite common for car batteries to fail during demonstrations due to the power drain from the vehicle control modules. Showroom Battery Conditioners have intelligent sensing to determine exactly when support is required. It keeps vehicles ready for demonstration and the battery in prime condition.
Vehicles in the Workshop
You may deal with a large variety of vehicle types in the workshop, so you need charging technology that is adaptable. How many batteries are you’re planning on charging at once? If it’s multiple, you may need a charger that works with a Bank Adaptor, so you can simultaneously charge many batteries. Larger vehicles sometimes have two batteries that need to charged concurrently.
The battery type in the vehicle is the most obvious and critical question. Whilst many cars will have a Ca/Ca, Ca/Ag, AGM, GEL or conventional lead acid battery, you may be dealing with a Lithium LiFePO4 battery which are becoming increasingly common in modern vehicles. If you need LiFeP04 options, then it is essential that you use a Lithium compatible product. Using the wrong type could be fatal for the car battery. If you are mainly working on cars then a 10A or 20A charger is normally sufficient, but if you are working on larger vehicles, you could consider an up to 80A charger.
When it comes to Battery Support Units, the vehicle type should also be taken into account. Whilst most standard vehicles are fine with a 50A support unit, you may need a more specialist unit for high powered or specialist vehicles.
Final Considerations
Other elements to consider when choosing a charger or support unit is the size and storage options. Modern workshops are often busy, with tight workspaces. Battery Support Units and Showroom Conditioners should slip easily under the car, and all units should be able to be mounted on a trolley or on the wall. Traction equipment has always been designed with the modern workshop in mind, with slimline designs and storage options considered.
The final consideration is reliability. Buying quality will ensure you don’t have to keep forking out for new tech every few years, and it gives you peace of mind that the technology is doing it’s job, allowing you to focus on yours. Traction Direct technology is OEM approved, with the highest quality standards making it one of the most reliable pieces of equipment in a workshop.
To help guide you through the possibilities of battery charging technology, we’ve created this handy flow diagram.
