Search
Close this search box.

Light trucks – including vans, pickups, SUVs, and CUVs – made up 61% of the total vehicles in use in 2022. We are guessing the number has only risen since then. This is important to us because we supply the 12v and 24v battery chargers that vehicle owners and mechanics rely on to keep light truck batteries working properly.

The important thing to understand is that today’s light trucks are different from their predecessors on many levels. Even something as simple as charging a battery is more complicated today than it was two decades ago. Using the wrong kind of charger could create big headaches. Even using the right charger in the wrong way can be problematic.

For the purposes of this post, our focus is specifically on 12V and 24V battery chargers. Here are the most important things light truck owners should know about them:

Why Output Voltage Matters

Voltage is a measurement of the amount of electrical pressure that pushes electrons through a circuit. Another way to think of it is force. The higher a battery’s voltage, the more electrical force it puts out under load. So, a 24V battery puts out more force than a 12V battery.

This matters to light truck owners looking to purchase battery chargers. It is critical that a vehicle owner always matches the battery charger’s voltage to the voltage of their truck’s electrical system. Otherwise, there could be significant problems.

Incidentally, most light trucks on the American market have 12V systems. But most doesn’t mean all. Light trucks with 24V volt systems are out there, typically in very application-specific, purpose-built vehicles. So, the first thing a light truck owner needs to know before purchasing a battery charger is the type of electrical system their vehicle has.

Match Your Battery Type

Today’s light truck population can have a wide array of battery types, including Flooded, AGM, Spiral Wound, Marine, Deep Cycle, Start-Stop AGM, Start-Stop EFB and Lithium LFP types. That’s a lot to digest. But, it’s important to understand the battery type/chemistry of your vehicle’s battery so that you can service it properly.

Flooded batteries are quite straightforward and can accept a wide range of charging profiles without damaging them. The same cannot be said for AGM, Spiral Wound and Lithium LPF batteries. These batteries require precise power delivery and are very sensitive to voltages exceeding their recommended ranges. As a result, it is very important to use a battery charger with a charge routine specifically matched to those battery types. For instance, many of our PRO-LOGIX battery chargers have specific charge setting for Flooded, AGM/Spiral and LFP Lithium batteries. That’s exactly what is needed to ensure beneficial service each time you charge.

Charge or Features Can Make the Difference

Let’s close by discussing some of the features that come with today’s battery chargers. They can make all the difference in the world. For example, auto mechanics who work on all sorts of vehicles love chargers that can accommodate both 12V and 24V systems. One charger does it all.

Two additional features attractive to light truck owners are automatic operation (battery reaches full charge and charger turns off) and automatic maintenance mode. Automatic operation needs no further explanation. As for automatic maintenance mode, it is a feature that automatically converts the charger to a battery maintainer once the serviced battery has reached full charge. This ensures that the serviced battery gets exactly the power it needs over time and is ready for use whether you leave it connected for 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months.

The topic of battery chargers and light trucks is pretty broad. Hopefully, this post has given you some things to think about. If you are looking to buy a battery charger, check out our offering. We have a wide range of products to match almost any need.