Words of wisdom: “Three stage chargers are easier on your batteries, charge them faster, fuller and help you use less water”¹⁾ – HandyBob

Smart chargers, whether solar charge controllers or shore power chargers, use three stages to charge lead-acid batteries.

1. bulk -
2. acceptance (or absorption) -
3. float (or maintenance) -
4. some may also include a fourth “stage”, equalization, described below