12 Battery Charger

A quality 2-4-6 amp 12V smart charger will do. I have had one for several years. Works well.

 

Any one of these three b/c can charge wet/gel/AGM 12V batteries, and all 3 can supposedly desulfate.
Pricing based on Amazon as of 9-7-2016.

Ctek MUS 4.3. $72

Schumacher 1000A-CA, $50

Schumacher 1500A-CA, $49

I like the CTEK the best b/c of size and dedicated battery terminal post leave behind (no need for clamps).

B/C I still have a traditional wet 12V battery, I went w/ the Schumacher SSC-1500A-CA.

 

The Prius uses a valve regulated AGM battery. Don't run a desulfate charge regime on it. This will boil off electrolyte that cannot be put back in.

As far as chargers go I would buy a Battery Tender. You don't need a big one.

 

If you need a battery charger to charge your 12 volt battery you probably need to replace your battery. My 2010 sits outside in the Texas heat and dose a lot of short trips. Only has 73,000 miles on it. I just changed battery last year because of its age. Never had to use a charger for the last 60 years. Change battery every 5 years.

 

I have a CTEK 3300 and 4.3. The 3300 is simple, works great. The 4.3 worked for a bit, but I've always been a bit challenged by it's buttons and options. And now, it doesn't seem to want to go into any of the charging modes.

So yeah, CTEK 3300, tried and true.

Addendum: I dug out my 4.3 and tried hooking it up again. After some struggle, connecting and disconnecting several times, I finally got it going. Seems like either:

1. There's something flakey in it's internal logic, that it can get messed up.
2. Same story, expect my internal logic, lol.

Bottom line, it's a bit of handful to get going, requires looking at the manual every time, at least for me.

 

ALL 3 are fully auotmatic, smart chargers. It will do what, it determines the connected battery (wet, gel, or AGM) requires. This includes desulfation. Just connect to battery, connect to 120V AC outlet, select battery type, select charge rate, done. It will fully charge by itself, then go into trickle mode when done. If there is a problem with the battery, it will let you know.

 

Nothing wrong with your approach as it clearly works for you.

I view a 12V battery charger as a major convenience/necessity. You/passenger, left the door ajar, map light on, or trunk light on, all of which will slowly discharge the battery. Hours later/next morning, the battery may be able to start the car, or maybe it is below the absolute minimum voltage to start the car, at that moment. Viola, bust out the smart charger, revive the battery. All is well, for only $50.

If one is a multi car household, one can do periodic maintenance charges to the Prius 12V AGM battery or the other car batteries, with the smart charger. Desulfation will help extend the battery life too.

On a slight tangent, one tool we may agree on that is a necessity is a 12V inflator. Convenient to top off tires in the driveway vs driving to a gas satiation, tire store, or Costco. If you are cursed like me with nails/screws, you are a fan of the early warning TPMS gives you: quickly pull over while there is time and air in the tire. Sometimes the cause of the air loss is small, allowing one to simply refill and continue to nearest tire store or possibly home. Sometimes the tire with the air loss is obvious w/o an air gauge, as you can hear the rush of air leaving the tire: immediate spare. Envious of people who have never experienced a roadside flat.