The automotive industry is rapidly adding more and more electrical modules to vehicles, which leads to greater electrical loads on the system. Keep your shop’s capabilities up to date and match those electrical requirements with the right battery maintainer.
No matter your needs—general repair, ADAS calibrations, or programming and flashing operations—you can find the ideal battery maintainer. Let’s check out some of the best car battery maintainers on the market.
Topdon Tornado 30000
Why it’s great: The Topdon Tornado 30000 is an entry-level battery maintainer that supports both 6V and 12V batteries. It’s suitable for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and marine batteries. It is a solid option for mobile technicians due to its compact design and ability to support general ADAS calibrations.
Features:
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30-amp charging and maintenance
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Nine-step smart charging system and 12 different charging modes
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Advanced safety features, including overheating protection
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Works with a wide range of battery types
Topdon Tornado 90000 (T90A/T90000)
Why it’s great: This battery maintainer is ideal for the professional shop environment. With a powerful 90-amp charging capability, it provides rapid battery maintenance for all advanced ADAS calibrations plus the majority of programming/flashing functions.
Features:
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90-amp high-speed charging
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Multi-stage smart charging system
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Reverse polarity and overcharge protection
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Ideal for large battery capacities and ADAS calibrations
Topdon Tornado 120000
Why it’s great: This professional-grade, high-powered battery maintainer is designed for both 12V and 24V batteries. It offers smart charging capabilities with advanced safety features for optimal battery health. The T120 provides rapid battery maintenance for all advanced ADAS calibrations, plus all the most intensive programming and flashing functions.
Features:
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120-amp high-speed charging and maintenance
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Intelligent battery repair mode
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Advanced safety features, including over-voltage and thermal protection
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Compatible with a wide range of battery types, including AGM, gel, and lithium-ion
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Launch Tech PFP-150
Why it’s great: As a professional-grade battery maintainer, the Launch Tech PFP-150 is ideal for automotive repair shops. It provides stable power for all vehicles, including hybrid and electric. The PFP-150 provides rapid battery maintenance for all advanced ADAS calibrations, plus all the most intensive programming and flashing functions.
Features:
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150-amp peak charging power
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Intelligent charging and maintenance with adaptive technology
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Compatible with lead-acid, AGM, and lithium batteries
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Recovers very discharged batteries
Chargers vs. Maintainers vs. Trickle Chargers
It’s important to understand the difference between these three types of devices so you can choose the right one for your shop.
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Battery chargers: These devices are designed to quickly recharge a dead battery by delivering a strong current. They are ideal for situations where a battery needs to be restored to full power, but they don’t offer long-term maintenance capabilities.
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Battery maintainers: Unlike chargers, maintainers provide a steady and moderate charge to keep a battery fully charged over time and during a repair. They prevent battery drain and are perfect for use in a repair shop.
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Trickle chargers: These deliver a constant, low-level charge to a battery to counteract self-discharge. Mostly used for long-term storage of a vehicle.
How to Use a Battery Maintainer
You’ve picked the best battery tender for your shop, so now it’s time to follow the right steps to make sure it works safely and efficiently.
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Check the battery: Make sure the battery maintainer is compatible with your battery (lead-acid, AGM, lithium-ion, etc.).
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Connect the cables: Attach the positive (red) clip to the positive terminal and the negative (black) clip to the negative terminal.
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Plug in the maintainer: Connect the maintainer to a power source and turn it on. Most modern maintainers will automatically start charging and switch to maintenance mode when the battery is fully charged.
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Set the voltage and mode: If your maintainer has multiple settings, select the appropriate voltage and mode for your battery type.
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Monitor the status: Many maintainers have LED indicators or digital displays to show charging progress and battery status.
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Disconnect safely: Once maintenance is complete, unplug the maintainer from the power source, then remove the clips in reverse order (black first, then red).
Choose the Battery Maintainer That’s Right for Your Shop
When selecting a battery maintainer, here are some things to consider:
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Make sure the maintainer works with the battery you intend to use it with (lead-acid AGM, gel, lithium-ion, etc.).
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Check the amperage rating. Match the amperage with your intended use: general repair, ADAS calibrations, or full programming/flashing.
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Professional shops might be best served by a multi-functional charger/maintainer combo.
Having the right battery maintainer makes sure your shop operates smoothly, prevents battery failures, and saves you time.
Need help selecting the best battery maintainer? Check out ADAS Depot’s recommended battery maintenance tools.
