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I recently got a battery changed by the AA Battery service. The last battery lasted 4 years which the tech said was on the low side. I usually only do only short trips - 15 to 20 mins to work. Would using a smart charger (like the one on the AA online shop) extend the life of the battery? If so, how often would I charge and for how long?

Hi there,
I would think that the battery life would improve if the battery was 'topped up' periodically using a charger. The reason being that short trips will drain the battery over time as the amount of charge it receives when you do drive may not be enough to keep the battery conditioned. A maintenance charger should do the job and is usually used where vehicles are parked up and not used very often. These chargers just switch themselves on and off as needed, so time of connection may not be a problem.
This could also be the same as taking the car out for a longer drive on the weekends and not having to keep it plugged into a charger.