Trickle Chargers: Ensuring battery longevity in your vehicle

Trickle Chargers: Ensuring battery longevity in your vehicle

Imagine this: you’re gearing up for a long-awaited road trip with your family to Scotland. The car is packed, the kids are buzzing with excitement and you’re ready to hit the road. But as you turn the key in the ignition, you hear that dreaded sound – a weak, struggling engine. Your heart sinks. Could it be your battery?

Ensuring battery longevity in your vehicle

Your car’s battery is like the heart of your vehicle – it powers everything from starting your engine to running your electronics. Yet, it’s often the most neglected component until it fails. This is where understanding the importance of a battery charger, especially a trickle charger, comes into play. Let’s explore how these devices can not only save you from the disappointment of a dead battery but also extend its lifespan significantly.

The vital role of a battery charger

Picture this: last winter, during a particularly cold spell, Marie found herself stuck in her driveway with a car that wouldn’t start. It was early morning, and she had an important meeting to attend. After hours of waiting for a recovery vehicle and an expensive jump-start service, she vowed never to let her battery catch her off guard again.

A battery charger is your proactive shield against such situations. Unlike traditional chargers that deliver a quick burst of charge and then stop, potentially harming your battery over time, a trickle charger works differently. It provides a steady, low current to your battery, keeping it topped up without overcharging. This gentle maintenance prevents sulfation – the leading cause of battery failure – by ensuring your battery stays in optimal condition.

Why you need a trickle charger

Chris, a seasoned road-tripper, understands the importance of keeping his vehicle in top shape. He recalls a journey where a dead battery stranded him in an unfamiliar town. With no nearby service station and limited mobile phone reception, the experience was not only frustrating but also costly. Since then, he’s sworn by the effectiveness of a car battery trickle charger in maintaining his battery’s health.

By using a trickle charger regularly, especially during periods of infrequent vehicle use or extreme weather conditions, you ensure that your battery remains charged and ready to go when you are. It’s like giving your car’s heart a daily workout to keep it strong and reliable.

Choosing the right trickle charger

When selecting a trickle charger, consider factors such as compatibility with your battery type, voltage output and safety features like automatic shut-off to prevent overcharging. Investing in a quality charger tailored to your vehicle’s needs can save you from future headaches and expenses.

A personal anecdote: The imaginary Scotland incident

Last summer, as we set off for Scotland, our car unexpectedly refused to start. After checking everything from the ignition to the fuel, we realised it was the battery that had let us down. Luckily, a nearby mechanic had a trickle charger on hand. Within hours, our battery was revived, and we were back on track to enjoy our holiday. That incident taught us a valuable lesson about the importance of battery maintenance and the reliability of a trickle charger.

In essence, integrating a trickle charger into your vehicle maintenance routine is not just about convenience – it’s about safeguarding your investment and ensuring peace of mind. Whether you’re preparing for a family road trip, facing harsh winters or simply want to extend the life of your battery, a trickle charger is your trusted ally. Remember, a well-maintained battery not only starts your car reliably but also saves you from unexpected detours and expenses down the road. So, next time you think about caring for your vehicle, think about the heart of it – your battery – and consider how a trickle charger can make all the difference.

[disclosure*]

Designer Desire: Prue Cooper

Montage of Prue Cooper slipware ceramic plates

I was looking at potter, Hannah McAndrew‘s Instagram feed recently and saw that she said she’s currently having a joint exhibition with Prue Cooper at Contemporary Ceramics in Bloomsbury, London.

That info spurred me on to go check out Prue’s work and I discovered another slipware genius. Her plates, platters and dishes are just beautiful; at the same time traditional and modern. Her colour palettes are unexpected and alluring. Many of her pieces have known and not so well known quotes written around the rim in the most beautiful calligraphy. Quotes by the likes of Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and Gerard Winstanley on the subjects of love, life, food and more.

Prue Cooper is a member of The Art Workers’ Guild and the Craft Potters Association. Her work is available at Contemporary Ceramics, Gallery St Ives in Tokyo, Japan and on her own website. Prices range from around £90 up to £380. Check out her Instagram feed for other examples of her work.

My dishes are meant to be used and enjoyed; slip decorated press-moulded earthenware is an approachable and friendly medium. The designs reflect my view of life, celebrating friendship and the sharing of simple pleasures.

Portrait of Prue Coopercredit

All images: © Prue Cooper

Price Points: Tech travel essentials

Tech travel essentials

We’re looking forward to our summer getaway – a rare chance to recharge our batteries and discover somewhere new. Here are the 3 most important tech travel essentials for us to have when going abroad.

  1. SayHi Translate: FREE, iOS & Android
    Voice translator with 90 languages and dialects
    Just speak something in your voice, and hear it played back to you in another language. Speed up, slow down, or pick male or female voices for many languages. SayHi Translate works on smartphones and tablets running either iOS or Android.
  2. 4 USB port universal international travel power plug adapter charger converter: £9.99, eBay
    We may be abroad on holiday, but we’ll still have bits of work that we need to do every day. The MacBook is coming along with us; as is the iPad Mini and two iPhones. A single, EU-compatible charger with 4 USB ports is the best option. It saves space in our hand luggage and only takes up a single socket in our room.
  3. Skyroam Solis: 149€ + 8€ for 24-hour wifi, Skyroam
    Super-fast, portable 4G WiFi and power charging for international travel.
    Keep your favourite gadgets connected around the world (over 120 countries) with the only personal WiFi hotspot that provides unlimited, fast, secure internet at one low, flat rate worldwide. Share among 5 devices – connect friends & family. Only pay for what you use – no contracts, no overage charges.

shop tech travel essentials

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE


 

A mysterious gentlewoman

Vintage platter with hand-painted gentlewoman illustration by Laila Zink for Finnish manufacturer Kupittaan Savi | H is for Home

This lovely large pottery charger was one of our more interesting finds last week.

Vintage platter with hand-painted gentlewoman illustration | H is for Home

We were wondering how to describe the subject matter. An elegantly dressed gentlewoman we figured – contemplating the day at the tea table with her cut flower and songbird.

Detail of a vintage platter with hand-painted gentlewoman illustration | H is for Home

It’s beautifully hand-painted and despite the piece being signed front and back, the artist was initially a mystery. But after some research, we’ve solved it! It’s the work of Laila Zink (1915-1999) for Finnish manufacturer Kupittaan Savi and dates from the 1950s/60s. It’s always good to keep learning!

Signature on a vintage platter with hand-painted gentlewoman illustration | H is for Home

It measures 36cm x 30cm and has holes to the reverse for hanging. It certainly makes for a very striking piece of midcentury modern wall art. She’ll be coming to our web shop very soon, but first dibs to our blog readers – priced at £175.