Chargers and mains adapters: more juice, please!

At some point, even the most powerful battery will need to be recharged. Of course, when it comes to charging, technology is developing at a rapid pace. The latest mains adapters are becoming faster, more efficient and cheaper.

What is the difference between a charger and a mains adapter?

Increasing technical advancements are blurring the dividing lines when it comes to these two accessories used in the company.

In principle, a mains adapter is used for a continuous power supply to technical equipment requiring a constant voltage and current.

The charger should only charge batteries to the required charge level. To do this, an overvoltage protection device, charge level monitors and other safety devices are used.

USB chargers for smartphones, tablets, etc. are an intermediate category. A mains plug turns them into a classic mains adapter, however the main focus is on their function as a charger with an integrated charge stop.

What types of chargers are available?

The range of today’s chargers available for the household, business and retail can be clearly divided into two categories: specialists and generalists.

Special chargers are designed so that they can only charge batteries for certain devices – for example, power tools, mini lifters or scales. A precision fit between the rechargeable battery and the charger is crucial when it comes to recharging powerful batteries, such as those used for e-mobility or for power tools.

Generalists include devices for rechargeable batteries in AA or AAA battery format. USB chargers are also compatible with all devices that have the corresponding connection.

Which is better – a fast charger or a normal one?

There is still a persistent myth that fast chargers damage rechargeable batteries. However, ''damage'' only ever occurs if the rechargeable battery or the device remains connected to the charger when charging is complete. In this case, the overall service life of the energy cell is decreased by what is known as trickle charging.

When it comes to company use, fast chargers are actually the better choice. They reduce downtime and, by charging quickly, ensure that you will need to keep fewer replacement and spare batteries on hand for a device.

How many watts should it have?

The capacity of special chargers for a specific group of devices always corresponds to the battery requirements. As a unit of electrical power, more watts also mean faster charging. Although the rule of thumb ''1 watt = 1 hour charging time'' is highly simplified, it still has a general applicability when it comes to charging period: an 18 V/2.5 Ah rechargeable battery (45 W) is fully charged in about one hour when an 18 V/2.5 A fast charger is used.

Don’t forget: rechargeable batteries and chargers are sources of danger. It is therefore best to charge and store them in battery charging cabinets.

We also provide information on Handling rechargeable lithium-ion batteries safely and are happy to answer any questions you have –simply contact us.

VARTA Chargers, mains adapters