What does trickle charging mean on a battery charger?

Comments

1. Char 1 says:

   December 8, 2009 at 8:23 pm

   “Trickle” charging is a slow charge at a low amp rating. Trickle charging takes longer but is much better for your batteries & the charge will last longer.
2. ryankneale says:

   December 8, 2009 at 8:30 pm

   Trickle charging is when the battery is charged at a low rate. It’s actually the best way to charge a battery although it takes longer.
3. Marcus says:

   December 8, 2009 at 9:04 pm

   An electric charge supplied to a storage battery at a continuous low rate to keep it fully charged.

   Your battery can be charged on a higher rate but it will soon reach its max capacity thus it will be over charged and a possible damage or leakage may occur if not removed from the charger, once a battery is removed from its charger it will slowly lose it stored energy overtime. Most rechargeable batteries, particularly nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel metal hydride batteries, have a moderate rate of self-discharge, meaning they gradually lose their charge even if they are not used in a device. This is why there is a Trickle charge.

   Think of heating a pot of water on low heat setting, it will still reach its boiling point rather than on hight heat and make it boil right away.
4. dmb06851 says:

   December 8, 2009 at 9:34 pm

   All correct answers but all excessively verbose.

   A trickle charge is a charge at a very low current.