If you have suffered a failed car battery before, you know what a stressful affair it can be. You can avoid this by investing in a car battery charger and maintainer, which keeps your battery charged and ready to go.
The best car battery chargers not only double up as emergency jump-starters, but they also have sensors that continuously monitor the charge levels and health of your battery. Once installed, you can leave your car parked for long periods of time without worrying over dead or over-charged batteries.
We scoured the market to find the best-rated battery chargers and battery maintainers.
Check out below quick info of the top car battery chargers, then scroll down for helpful buying advice and full reviews.
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- Car Battery Chargers and Maintainers Review
- 1. CTEK 56-353 12-Volt Battery Charger
- 2. NOCO GENIUS5 5A Smart Car Battery Charger and Desulfator
- 3. Schumacher SE-4022 Manual Wheeled Battery Charger
- 4. Battery Tender Junior Charger & Maintainer
- 5. Stanley 15/25 Amp Bench Battery Charger
- 6. Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
- 7. BLACK+DECKER BM3B Automatic 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintainer
- 8. GOOLOO Jumpstarter Battery Booster
- Car Battery Charger Buying Guide
- Final Thoughts
Car Battery Chargers and Maintainers Review
For this review, we looked at important features like the charger’s power or amperage, how long it takes to fully charge a battery and how portable it is. We also considered the safety features present as well as ease of use. Also check out the buyer’s guide down below for more helpful buying information.
1. CTEK 56-353 12-Volt Battery Charger
If you want to maximize your battery’s life and performance, this CTEK model is your best bet. Once you plug it in, the CTEK 56-353 will identify any issues with your battery before switching to recovery, recharge, or maintenance mode, depending on the state of your battery.
For your safety, the CTEK has reverse polarity protection and is spark-proof. It also has temperature sensors and can adjust your battery’s charge in harsh cold weather. Also, it is fully sealed and thus resistant to water and dust.
Features
- Battery Voltage: 12 V
- 8-step charging mode process monitors batteries
- Easy to read LED display
PROS/ Super easy to use | Works in extreme weather | Compact and portable
CONS/ Can get hot while charging
2. NOCO GENIUS5 5A Smart Car Battery Charger and Desulfator
Whether you use your car daily or pack it during winter, the NOCO Genius5 will charge and maintain your car or marine battery effortlessly.
To start with, it is fully automated to give you peace of mind. All you need to do is plug it in and let the in-built microcomputer deal with the monitoring and maintenance of your battery. Your battery will not overcharge or overheat.
Another great feature of the NOCO Genius5 is its Advanced Repair Mode, designed to reverse damaged batteries that have been left uncharged for long. So, before you discard that battery, try reviving it with the Genius smart battery.
Features
- Charges both 6v and 12v batteries
- Power: 5 Amps
- Loaded with safety features, such as spark-proof clamps and reverse polarity protection
- Resistant to water and UV rays
- 5-year warranty
And you can use it to charge pretty much any auto or machinery battery, such as classic vehicles and marines, lawn and garden equipment.
PROS/ Compact size | Good quality cables and clamps | High 5 Amps output |
CONS/ Could use a low current charging mode for charging to charge smaller batteries
3. Schumacher SE-4022 Manual Wheeled Battery Charger
If you are looking for a powerful and super quick charger, the Schumacher SE-4022 is a good option. For instance, for emergency starting, the charger can offer up to 200-amp charge, which will likely revive your dead battery. At 40 amps, you can fully charge your battery in 3 hours, while 10 amps charge will fully charge your battery in 2-12 hours.
Further, the Schumacher battery charger has great additional features. To start with, the charger has three charging options – 2 amps for a slow trickle charge, 10 amps fast charge, and 40-amp rapid charge.
Plus, the charger is capable of testing your battery’s electrical system and any starting errors.
Features
- Battery Voltage: 6V & 12 V
- Multiple charging rate options
- Fitted with two rotary switches and voltmeter and cooling fan
- Quick jumpstart
However, this manual wheeled charger has to be monitored and switched off once your battery is fully charged.
PROS/ Speedy charge rate/ Wheeled for easy movement
CONS/ Manually operated/ Lacks basic safety features
4. Battery Tender Junior Charger & Maintainer
This compact and easy to use Battery Tender 012-0123 may not be as powerful as other top car battery chargers, yet it will effortlessly trickle charges and maintains a 12v battery.
One interesting thing about this charger is that it has a microprocessor and is thus able to perform smartly. For instance, it automatically shuts down once it detects that your battery is fully charged. This is called float mode and ensures your battery will never be damaged by overcharging.
Should the charge level fall, it will resume charging again. This is part of its 4-step charging sequence: – initialization, bulk charge, absorption, and float mode.
Features:
- Power: 0.75 Amps
- Loaded with safety features, such as spark-proof clamps and reverse polarity protection
- Fully automatic and immediately shut itself off if you start your car
- LED display
So, if you need a battery charger for your auto or machinery, such as cars or generators, this charger is for you. This is especially ideal for your autos that are not frequently used and may loose their battery charge while in storage.
PROS/ 5 year warranty/Inexpensive/Portable and compact
CONS/ Best for battery maintenance
5. Stanley 15/25 Amp Bench Battery Charger
This fully automatic bench charger comes in two models; the 15-amp power rating model and the more powerful 25-amp model.
The Stanley BC15BS is easy to use and requires no monitoring. Simply plug in the battery and the automatic charging system will take over. Depending on the state of your battery, the charger will switch between trickle, top-off, or fast mode. Thus, your battery can perform more efficiently and is also protected from damage.
What is unique about the Stanely car battery charger is its patented alternator checker capability that will diagnose your auto’s charging system. More useful diagnostic details of your battery are displayed in the handy LCD screen on the charger. These include your battery’s voltage, current charging rate as well as faults in the battery.
The good news is that the model has a battery reconditioning feature for batteries whose lead plates have accumulated lead sulfate.
Features
- Power: 15 /25 Amps
- Jumpstart capability
- Patented alternator checker capability
- 3 charging modes – Trickle, fast or top off
- Large LCD screen displays useful information
- Reconditioning feature
PROS/ Sturdy, durable build/
CONS/ Slightly pricier than others
6. Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
The Battery Tender Plus, just like the Battery Tender Junior, is a compact and efficient charger. However, it is slightly bulkier and packs more power – 1.25 amps compared to Tender Junior’s 0.75 Amps.
Also, the charger’s microprocessor ensures the battery is fully charged but never overcharged. It can detect the battery’s voltage and automatically switch to the appropriate charge mode, be it initialization, bulk charge, absorption, or float-mode.
Besides, the LED display will give you an indication of the charging stage of the battery.
- Power: 1.25 Amps
- Battery Voltage: 12 V
- LED indicator light
- Loaded with safety features, such spark-proof clamps and reverse polarity protection
PROS/ Safe and durable/ 10-year warranty/ AC and DC power options available
CONS/ Not as powerful as some on the list
7. BLACK+DECKER BM3B Automatic 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintainer
Though small and portable, the Black+Decker BM3B is a great car battery charger for your 6V and 12V batteries.
This fully automatic battery charger is easy to use – all you need to do is to select either the 12v or 6v charging mode and plug in your battery. It will automatically shut off when the battery is fully recharged and switch to monitoring or maintenance mode.
Plus, you have three different, easy ways to connect the charger to your battery. That is, through the battery clips, via the vehicle DC plug or through O-ring terminals.
Features
- Power: 1.5 Amps
- Battery Voltage: 6V & 12 V
- Built-in safety features to prevent reverse polarity, overcharging, or short circuit.
PROS/ Super portable / Fully automatic/ Easy to switch between 6 V and 12 V recharge mode
CONS/ Not for heavy duty batteries/ Best for battery maintenance
8. GOOLOO Jumpstarter Battery Booster
This reliable and compact model is not only a lifesaver in battery emergencies but also comes packed with built-in tools for safety and ease of use.
To start with, the GOOLOO is powerful enough power to jump-start most 12v auto batteries. And, the model doubles up as a high-speed USB charger for all your device. It has multiple charging ports for your cell phone, camera, or tablet. Plus, you can use the in-built LED flashlight as an emergency or camping light.
Features
- Has advanced protection technology to guard against over-current, overload, over-voltage, over-charge and high-temperature
- Jumpstart capabilities
- Can hold a charge for up to 3 months.
- Handy LED flashlight
PROS/ Compact/ Can hold charge for upto 3 months/ Comes with multiple accessories
CONS/ Limited to 4 jump starts every 2 minutes
Car Battery Charger Buying Guide
These models topped our best car battery chargers review, but there are many more varieties in the market. So, if you are still unsure about which is the best auto battery charger for you, read on to understand which critical factors should determine your choice.
Factors to Consider When Buying A Car Battery Charger
When choosing a car battery booster, you should be led by your specific need. You may require a basic car battery charger to simply kickstart dead batteries. Or, it could be a general battery maintenance charger, or the more complex diagnostic, smart battery charger.
Whichever one you choose, consider the following:
The voltage
Most modern autos run on 12-volt batteries while most classic cars, ATVs, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles run on 6-volt batteries.
Most common car battery chargers only work with 12v-volt batteries. But there are plenty that power both 6v and 12v. Keep this in mind when buying your charger.
The amperage
To put it simply, this is the charger’s charging power. A higher amperage means the charger can support a higher amount of current and will charge the battery faster.
Generally, automotive chargers with an amperage of 15+ have a jumpstart function, which is a plus. For a maintenance battery charger, a low amperage of 3 or less is good enough, while a 3-15 amperage charger can revive a dead battery.
Portability
If you are always on the move, then consider the ultra-portable car battery chargers. For the bulkier version, select ones with sturdy handles or wheels for easier movement.
Safety features
You don’t want to harm yourself or your battery during the charging process. Luckily, many top car battery chargers have in-built safety features. Look out for reverse polarity feature which detects when you connect the charger to the wrong terminals.
Another safety technology is the auto current which identifies the appropriate amount of amperage and voltage your battery needs at any specific time. In effect, your battery is protected from overcharging, overheating, or damage.
Another safety feature you might want is the spark-resistant clamps to avoid spark-related accidents.
Accessories
If you have to choose between two similar chargers, consider the extras that come with them. Car charger accessories may be built-in, like voltage meters, flashlights, or jump-start features. Other extras could be a storage bag and heavy-duty cables. Either way, take advantage of the nice extras.
Final Thoughts
It’s a good idea to have a battery charger in your car, not only for emergencies but also for other diagnostic and maintenance uses.
Having gone through our best car battery charger review, you should be armed with enough info to choose the one that best suits you. Whatever your budget and must-have features are, you can be sure to find a match among our top 8 picks.
And if you are thinking about buying a replacement battery for your car, check out our complete review of the best on the market.
