370Z Battery Life Expectancy

SouthArk370Z

To sum it up:
A charger is designed to recharge a battery over a relatively short period of time. Uses high current which generates heat that can damage the battery. Can generate a significant amount of Hydrogen in a short period of time. Great for shops where time is of the essence and any damage to the battery just means a battery sale sooner.

A trickle charger does the same thing as a charger only at lower current. Less heat; longer charging time. Hydrogen produced at a lower rate that can dissipate easier. As has been mentioned, they can damage a battery if used for extended periods. The best bet for most consumers who just need to recharge a battery every now and then. Less expensive than a full-blown charger and easier on the battery, plus lees chance of explosion. It just takes a little longer.

A battery tender (AKA float charger) isn't really designed to charge a battery (they will, just at a very slow rate) but to maintain the charge over a long period of time. For all intents and purposes, zero heat and Hydrogen (but you still want to provide some ventilation to be safe). For long-term storage (RVs, boats, cars, &c).

The lines between the different types can get blurry. There are tenders that can put out as much current as a trickle charger and many chargers have a low current setting that acts like a trickle charger.

Hope that helps.

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