They are different functions.
A FLOAT charger will hold a 12 volt battery at 13.8 volts, no more and reduces the current as the battery reaches full. This is voltage-limited charger, the amperage will drop to about 10-20 mils at 13.8 volts. This is intended for backup power supplies and the like were the battery sits on the float for years.
A trickle charger will take the battery voltage up to 14.2 volts, which is 'fully charged' but if kept on at this voltage will eventually kill the battery. they are designed to top off batteries but not hold them indefinately.
A trickle charger is a slow charger but has no voltage or current limiting to stop it when the battery is full.
This is not so critical on CAR batteries which are big enough to take the abuse.
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