No matter how far back we look, cars were designed to use fuel and battery power for movement. Provided a vehicle doesn’t use kinetic energy, then it must have a battery to power it up. The role of batteries in the motor world has surpassed everyone’s expectations. Currently, most car manufacturing companies are releasing newer models featuring a big battery size.
However, since batteries are an essential part of our cars. The big question is, how best do we recharge them? Every car owner can bear witness that their car’s battery has let them down at least once in their lifetime. A car’s battery can run out in the worst environments ever.
As it is with all human-made products, car batteries can give up on you at any time. This is why it is imperative if you get yourself a car battery charger. This is an item that comes in very handy to those who own vehicles. As a matter of fact, when you are purchasing a car’s battery in a dealership, the second thing you should buy is a car battery charger.
A car charger can revive your battery whenever it dies up on you. Carry it in your car is an added advantage when going for long trips or even shorter ones. You shouldn’t let a dead car battery make you arrive late for work. With a car battery charger, you can forget about any car battery-related inconveniences.
However, there is more to a car battery charger than just juicing up your battery. It should also maintain the ideal state of the battery and should be compatible with your battery. If you intend on purchasing a car battery charger. There are a few things you should consider. And since there are over hundreds of car battery chargers out there on the market, here is a review of the ten best car battery chargers and a buyer’s guide to help you choose the suitable one for your car’s battery.
Best Car Battery Chargers Reviews:
1. The Battery Tender 12 Volt Automatic Charger
The Battery Tender is perfect for charging all 12-volt lead acid batteries. It’s spark proof during lead connections. It comes with a 12 fit output cord that enables ease of use. The automatic charger has a five year warranty. It employs the use of a complete 4 step charging program. One of its pros is that it allows optimization of battery power without overcharging. With the assistance of the 2 LED indicators, you can know if the battery voltage has dropped below the load. It’s also super lightweight and can be carried anywhere conveniently.
2. The Battery Tender Plus
With the Tender Plus, you need not worry about the damaging effect of trickle chargers. It is a smart charger that will ensure efficient charging while maintaining proper storage voltage. Not to mention, it is a 1.25A battery charger. Compared to other chargers, the Tender Plus is fast and also efficient. It also features an AC power code that is 6 feet long and can be used on hard to reach areas. It entails reverse polarity protection which guarantees user safety. It comes with alligator clips and a battery tender ring.
3. Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger
Safety was the number one priority when the Foval was being manufactured. It is completely spark proof during lead connections. It also comes with an 8-foot output cord and a 2-year warranty. It’s ideal for both lead-acid and sealed free batteries. It also uses the complete four charging system. Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for all vehicles. Be it an ATV, a motorcycle or the ordinary automobile. It has LED indicators that show you the level of charge and other essential information. It’s not only lightweight, but it’s easy to use.
4. The GOOLOO 800A
This particular battery charger is a favorite choice amongst many car owners. This is because it is powerful and can jumpstart even a 7L Gas/diesel engine. It works on all types of vehicles. It can be charged via a USB port and its charging time is practically fast. It also features advanced safety technology. For instance, it ensures overload protection, overcharge protection and much more. It also has attached a LED flashlight designed to give you visibility when you are using it outdoors.
5. The Black + Decker BM3b Fully Automatic Battery Charger
The Black + Decker charges both 12 and 6-volt batteries. It can easily be connected to vehicles thanks to the battery clips and O ring terminals. It is built to stop charging when the battery is fully charged or topped off. It has built-in circuit protection guards that help prevent overcharging and ensure there isn’t reverse polarity. It can be conveniently placed on to a battery.
6. The DieHard 71219 Shelf Smart Battery Charger
Just by checking its name, the DieHard 71219 is a powerful battery charger. It has a controlled micro-processor, and it’s fully automatic. It offers precise charging and monitoring. If the clamps are reversed the LED indicator will warn you, and it won’t proceed with the charging. The DieHard also features battery maintaining, and its versatility ensures quick-connect harness with 50A clamps. It can also be used on hard to reach batteries in vehicles such as motorcycles.
7. The LST Trickle Battery Charger Automatic Maintainer
The LST can charge both 6V and 12V batteries. It is ideal for scooters, ATVs, RVs, and ordinary cars. It has a unique compact design and can be carried with ease. It is also dust and water resistant. You can be assured of using it for an extended period of time. The automatic trickle charger switches to float mode after it is fully charged. It has an LED and 2 DC connectors. These two provide you with visual diagnostic information on the state of charge. It also guarantees spark proof lead connections.
8. The Schumacher SC1281
The Schumacher boasts of a 30A quick boost and a 100A jump start, making it excellent for vehicles. It entails a battery and alternator tester designed to show charge levels and also identify any electrical issues. It embraces a multi-stage charging system and also auto voltage detection for added precision. There is also the reverse hook up features that ensure no charging will take place when the clamps are reversed. It’s compatible with gel, standard and AGM batteries.
9. The Ampeak Smart Battery Charger
It is a smart charger that has a 2A, 8A, and 15A charging rate. It’s fully automatic and can work on different types of batteries. You can manually choose the charging rate, however. It features a winter charging mode ensuring longer battery life. It has an advanced LCD display which offers useful information on your battery status. You can keep track of the current, voltage and any errors that may occur. It also boasts of a 6 step charging program which starts by desulphation, soft start, bulk charge, absorption, battery test and floating.
10. The NOCO Genius G3500 Ultra-safe Smart Battery Charger
TRhe NOCO is an exceptional 6V and 12V battery charger that can provide up to 120 amp-hours. Its design is completely safe and spark proof. It also provides overcharge protection. It can safely charge your car’s vehicle with ease. It also monitors the batteries health and provides useful repairs. You can use it to charge all types of vehicles.
Factors to Consider when Choosing A Car Battery Charger
Are you interested in buying a car battery charger? Well, you are probably telling yourself, how complicated could it be? All I want is something to charge my car battery right? As simple as choosing a car battery charger might seem, it entails a lot of analysis. Not all car battery chargers are suitable for you.
The First Question Should Be: Should I Buy a Jump Starter or a Car Battery Charger?
The first thing you need to ask yourself is, are you interested in buying a jump starter or are you interested in a car battery charger? Distinguishing the two plays a vital role in the overall decision that you will make. A battery vehicle charger as mentioned earlier is a device that is used to charge a battery. On the other hand, a jump starter is a device which features a pair of cables that you can use to jump start your car when its battery is low.
Factors to consider when choosing a car battery charger
The Battery Size and Voltage
When choosing a car battery charger, you must bear in mind, the nature of the battery that is going to be charged. In determining battery size, you should know that the bigger the car, the bigger its battery. Therefore, the car battery charger should be capable of charging that particular battery. Also, you should consider the voltage. There are some chargers which are designed to handle 6 volts whereas others can manage 12 volts. It is up to you to determine the ideal car battery charger and what battery size or voltage it can manage.
The Battery Chemistry
Isn’t it funny how we thought we had left chemistry back in school? Well, you don’t need to open up the cells and chemicals in your battery to know the perfect car battery charger for you. All you need to know is that car batteries are lead-acid batteries. The chemistry part is that they do differ from Gel, AGM and deep cycle. You should thus pick a charger designed to me the needs of your particular battery type.
Manual or Automatic
You can also choose in between a manual and an automatic car battery charger. However, since we are living in a modern world, the automatic one is more beneficial. In that, it can automatically detect when your battery is fully charged and switch to float mode to avoid overcharging effects. This is one of the pro features of using an automatic one.
It Should Embrace Safety Measures
An ideal car battery charger should embrace all safety features that ensure your battery remains in perfect condition. For instance, it should warn you in case you have the wrong cable hooked up. Doing this could result in reverse polarity and could ignite a spark which could cause an explosion. It should also be able to detect when fully charged. Overcharged can cause overheating and this can damage your car battery.
A good car battery charger should also be spark proof. One thing you need to know is that no matter how careful you are, sparks may appear. With a charger that has spark proof clamps, you can minimize the possibility of this ever happening.
A car battery charger with an inbuilt tester is also an added advantage. It will show you the health status of your battery. As you may know, over time, sulfate can build up on lead-acid batteries and thus minimize their ability to be fully charged. These safety measures can greatly help you in maintaining your battery in its ideal state.
Microprocessor Control
You have probably noticed that in some of the car battery chargers reviewed above, they do feature a microprocessor control. This isn’t a mandatory feature, but having it is an added advantage. The microprocessor is a chip that directs the entire charging process ensuring an improved charging performance.
Multi-Step Charging
Multi-step charging allows you to be in total control of the charging process. It gives you the ability to not only monitor but also ensure the charging is process is done as per your expectations. Car battery chargers such as the NOCO do have this feature.
Ease of Use
Using a car battery charger shouldn’t be computer science. Instead, it should be a simple procedure. It is essential for you to choose a charger that can be used with ease and minimal adjustments. An automatic charger will make charging extremely easy.
Final Thoughts
A car battery charger is an essential tool. Owning one ensures that your battery will never go low. Moreover, there are some car battery chargers that will provide you with details regarding the health status of your battery. When purchasing one, make sure you follow the above buyers and guide and feel free to choose one from the above ten best car battery chargers.
List – Best Car Battery Chargers in 2020:
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