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Since the invention of the car, batteries have been a fundamental part of their design. Batteries are constantly improving, and with that change comes batteries that last longer and provide more power. But any battery can lose its charge, causing unwanted surprises while you're on the road or when you're ready to leave the house. A battery charger is a valuable tool to have on hand in these types of situations. But which of the many types available are the best battery chargers? This article will review ten of the best battery chargers this year and also answer a few general questions to help you find the right charger.
Product | Image | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
MOTOPOWER MP00205A |  | ||
Battery Tender Plus 021-0128 |  | ||
NOCO Genius G3500 |  | ||
BLACK+DECKER BM3B |  | ||
Ampeak 2/8/15A 12V Smart Battery Charger |  | ||
Schumacher SC-1200A-CA |  | ||
Optima Digital 400 |  | ||
Schumacher SC1309 |  | ||
NOCO Genius G750 |  | ||
NOCO Genius G750 |  |
Product FAQ
1. What Is a Battery Charger?
A battery charger, also known as a recharger, is a device that puts energy into a rechargeable battery or secondary cell by forcing an electric current through it.
2. How Do Battery Chargers Work?
Battery chargers work by using either a constant current or constant voltage and applying that to the batteries until they are switched off. Some other chargers use a trickle charge for a longer period of time to prevent overcharging.
3. What Are the Types of Battery Chargers?
There are many types of battery chargers. The simple charger provides one constant rate of energy, while fast chargers use control circuitry to charge batteries rapidly without damaging the cell. Three-stage chargers provide power in three stages based on the battery's current charge level and condition, while induction-powered chargers use electromagnetic induction to charge. Intelligent chargers modify their charging actions according to the battery condition, and motion-powered chargers charge based on human motions.
Pulse chargers feed a series of pulses or currents to the battery, and solar chargers convert light energy into a low-voltage DC current. Timer chargers allow the output to be terminated after a pre-determined amount of time, and trickle chargers administer a low current or a trickle charge. The final type is a USB-based charger, which is typically used for audio players, phones, and tablet computers.
4. What Can Battery Chargers Be Used For?
Battery chargers can be used for any number of applications, such as phones, vehicles, power tools, household appliances, and many more. Some stationary battery chargers are used at power plants to provide a large, uninterrupted supply of power. They can also be used for experimentation as a DC power adapter. In this review, we'll be focusing on car battery chargers.
5. What Features Make a Good Battery Charger?
The first consideration is safety. You want to be sure that whichever charger you pick is powerful enough for your specific batteries to avoid issues such as burning, melting, or even explosions. The next consideration is the charging speed; generally, you want a charger with higher amps because they can charge batteries faster. However, you don't want the amp to be so high that it causes your batteries to heat up too quickly.
Another feature is a charging indicator. You want to be sure that you know when your batteries are charging or are fully charged. Other features are optional but useful, such as Bluetooth connectivity, compatibility features to charge other battery types, and a power bank function.
How We Reviewed
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After performing extensive research and reading numerous user reviews, we were able to narrow our list of best battery chargers based on their features, price, and where they can be bought. By comparing each in these three categories, we are able to provide you with an unbiased, comprehensive list of the best battery chargers on the market in 2019.
Overall Price Range
Battery chargers typically start out costing around $10, but they can range quite a bit. Some features that high priced models may include are compatibility features, Bluetooth connectivity, advanced safety features, and power bank functions. These features aren't necessary, and we included a range of prices to help anyone find the best battery charger for their personal budget and needs.
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What We Reviewed
- [ Compact, Smart & Durable ] - It can charge all types of 12V lead-acid batteries, including flooded or sealed maintenance free batteries (AGM & gel cell). It's the best smart charger for automotive, motorcycle, marine, RV, Powersport, lawn&garden, children toys, etc.
- [ Fully Automatic ] - No need of any manual operation, just plug and leave it for charging and maintaining your batteries automatically for long time. The microprocessor controlled program will monitor the whole charging progress and automatically stop when the battery is fully charged. Then it will monitor the battery voltage and maintain the battery with a float charging current. Zero output ( 0 Volt on DC port ) in standby mode without connecting with the battery to save energy.
- [ Multi-level Safety Protection & Battery Rescue ] - Micro-processor Controlled program. No worry about overcharge, short circuit and reverse polarity. Spark-free technology applied. Featured Constant Pulse Current Maintenance function helps the battery avoid excessive charge and discharge. It will extend the battery life and recover batteries more effectively.
- [ SAE Quick Release Adapters ] - With SAE quick release connection options: Ring Terminals (7.5amp fused for safety protection) or Alligator Clips. With the ring terminal harness connecting with the battery permanently, it's so easy to connect the charger by the SAE adapters when needed. Fuse protection will avoid danger of short circuit or overload.
- [ Energy-save & International Standard ] - Energy Saving design with one LED indicator to display different charging status. Certified by CE, RoHS, UL and CEC. Conform to the CEC (CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION) standard - BC mark. TWO YEAR WARRANTY AND 100% SATISFACTION SERVICE - Hassle-free return or refund for any product quality issue. 100% satisfaction service and technical assistance will be provided by contacting our professional customer service team.
The MOTOPOWER MP00205A is first on our list due to its versatility and safety features. This car battery charger is fully automated and works on various vehicle types, including boats, RVs, lawn mowers, children's toys, and more. It has special programming controlled by a microprocessor that constantly monitors the charging process, terminating it as soon as the battery is fully charged, then maintaining the maximum charge with a floating current.
Safety features protect against overcharging, short circuiting, and reverse polarity. The featured Constant Pulse Current Maintenance function enhances the battery's lifespan by preventing excessive charge or discharge. The SAE system gives two quick release connection options: alligator clips and ring terminals. It comes with a year-long warranty plan and has been certified by the CEC, CE, UL, and RoHS. The LED indicators aren't the best, but for all the other features, this cheap model definitely deserves to be called one of the best battery chargers.
- Fully automatic: The Battery Tender plus is a 1.25A battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain It at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers
- Fast and efficient: This 1.25-Amp charger will charge as fast or faster than any 3-amp charger available
- Convenient: Included is a quick connect harness for hard to reach areas. Ac power cord length is 6 feet - 18AWG, DC output cord length 4.5 feet - 18AWG, DC accessory length 1.5 feet - 18 AWG
- Safe: reverse polarity protection to ensure user safety, red and green lights alternately flash in this condition
- Included: The package includes Battery Tender ring terminals and alligator clips
Battery Tender Plus 12V - 1.25 Amp, Automatically switches from full charge to float charging mode - The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25-amp battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers
The Battery Tender Plus 021-0128 is an efficient, cleverly designed car charger which features make it one of the best battery chargers. It can charge a battery and sustain an optimum voltage without causing damage. It can alternate between float charging mode and full charging mode. The charger has 50% more power than the Junior model, with numerous upgrades in software to keep it at the front of the market.
This is a 1.25-amp charger, so it can charge quickly and features a reverse polarity protection feature for safety purposes. The only reported drawbacks to this charger are that the clamps are quite small and it can be troublesome to use on a flat battery, but the features and the amazing ten-year warranty more than make up for those minor issues.
- The most versatile all-in-one battery charger any vehicle owner would need to quickly recharge its battery in hours, including cars, boats, trucks, RVs, tractors and much more up to 120 amp-hours.
- Perfect for keeping your vehicles fully-charged and maintained during year-round battery maintenance or long-term storage for improved performance and longevity.
Works with all types of 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid batteries, including Wet, Gel, and AGM, or any common automotive, deep-cycle, marine, or maintenance-free battery. - Keep your battery fully charged without worry or overcharge. Simply plug-in and let our advanced charging technology automatically monitor and maintain your battery.
- Use our advanced Repair Mode to reverse the damaging effects when batteries are left uncharged for extended periods to improve battery performance and longevity.
- An optimized charge mode for safely charging and maintaining 12-volt lithium-ion batteries, and recommended with use on lithium batteries with an internal BMS.
- One of the most advanced and safest battery chargers, including spark-proof technology, and reverse polarity protection, plus backed by our 5-year warranty and endless accessories.
Next up is the NOCO Genius G3500, which has an impressive range of applications compared to other battery chargers. The car battery charger is 3.5 amps and charges 6 and 12-volt batteries up to 120Ah. It can charge both lead-acid and lithium batteries and can be used for deep-cycle, marine, automotive, RV, and power sport batteries. It features a portable, compact, and lightweight design that is highly resistant to UV rays and water. It can be left connected all day long without risk of damaging the batteries due to its safety features.
This battery charges twice as fast as most other battery chargers and includes safety features such as an onboard computer that monitors battery activity to improve charging speed and efficiency. It implements reverse polarity, conserving energy expenditure and preventing overcharging. It can even repair damaged batteries and work with both micro-hybrid, start-stop vehicles and CANBUS electrical systems. Though it can't charge flat batteries and doesn't work as well in cold temperatures, these features plus the five-year warranty make it well worth the investment.
- Charges and maintains 12 volt and 6 volt AGM, GEL and WET batteries
- Easy connection to vehicle battery using battery clips and O-ring terminals
- Stops charging automatically when battery is fully charged or topped off, switching to float mode monitoring
- Built-in circuit protection guards against overcharging, reverse polarity, or short circuit; ETL certified for performance and safety
- Mounting bracket built-in to charger for convenient placement
The Black & Decker BM3B is another great automatic car battery charger that can be used for a variety of applications including specialty vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, lawn mowers, motorcycles, classic cars, RV, and personal watercraft. As long as they run on a 6-12-volt battery system, this charger can charge GEL, AGM, and WET batteries. It provides an easy connection to your vehicle's battery by using O-ring terminals and battery clips.
The integrated circuit protection prevents short-circuiting, overcharging, and reverse polarity. The battery charger also stops charging when the battery is fully charged, switching to float mode monitoring. It is ETL certified for safety and performance and has a built-in mounting bracket for convenient placement. However, some users note that the LED lights are not the best quality and that the durability of this model could be improved.
Smart Fast Charger: 2A / 8A / 15A / Auto charging rate, fully automatic high frequency charging for all types of 12V lead acid batteries, including GEL, AGM and STD. Not only do you choose the charging rate manually, but also the optimal function can automatically select the charge rate best fit for your type of battery (Do not charge a frozen or dead battery!)- Excellent Winter Charging Mode: Specialized design for charging battery in winter weather conditions to sustain a longer life of battery and to ensure perfect charging
- Safety Protection: Microprocessor-controlled, with multi-stage charging for added precision, safety, and battery life. No worry about battery Over Voltage, Over Heat, Overtime Charging, Short Circuit and Reverse Polarity
- Advanced LCD Display: Intuitive words and vivid icon, easily keeping track of charging status, charging current, voltage, battery type, and error information
- Complete 6-step Charging Program: Desulphation, Soft Start, Bulk Charge, Absorption, Battery Test and Floating, allow for optimization of battery power, without overcharging or damaging
Smart Fast Charger: 2A / 8A / 15A / Auto charging rate, fully automatic high frequency charging for all types of 12V lead acid batteries, including GEL, AGM and STD. Not only do you choose the charging rate manually, but also the optimal function can automatically select the charge rate best fit for your type of battery (Do not charge a frozen or dead battery!)If you're looking for a smart battery charger, the Ampeak Smart Battery Charger is one of the best battery chargers on the market this year. It features a 2A/8A/15A auto charging rate for all types of 12-volt lead-acid batteries, including AGM, STD, and GEL. This charger allows you to choose the charging rate manually and also includes the optimal function, which automatically selects the best charge rate for your type of battery. It comes with an advanced LCD display that keeps track of charging current, charging status, battery type, voltage, and error information.
For safety, it includes microprocessor-controlled programming and multi-stage charging to prevent overcharging, overheating, overvoltage, reverse polarity, and short-circuiting. It has a six-step charging program that includes desulphation, soft start, bulk charge, absorption, battery test, and floating modes to optimize battery powder and reduce battery damage and overcharge. It even includes a winter charging mode for longer battery life and efficient charging in winter weather conditions.
- 12A Rapid Charger
- 6A Charger
- 3A Maintainer for Premium Charging Applications
- 12 Amp fully automatic microprocessor controlled battery charger
- Automatically adjusts the amperage rate to charge and maintain batteries
- Features float mode monitoring
- Auto Voltage Detection automatically detects 6 or 12 Volt batteries
The Schumacher SC-1200A-CA is fully automatic and can be used on all vehicle types. It can detect a voltage of either 6 or 12 volts and can do three different types of charging: 3-amp for maintaining a charge, 6-amp for a medium charge, and 12-amp for a super-fast charge. It has a compact and portable design and LED indicators that show the battery's condition. It also includes 50-amp clamps that work with both top- and side-mounted battery posts.
- Automatically maximizes battery life and performance with a built-in battery health mode
- Hybrid LED battery charging gauge with LCD display
- Dual purpose hook and tilt stand design or hang it with the included wall organizer bracket
- Works well as a marine battery charger, motorcycle battery charger, or other AGM battery charger.
- Spark-free connection technology
- Automatically maximizes battery life and performance with a built-in battery health mode
- Recovers discharged batteries other chargers cannot, down to 1.25V
The Optima Digital 400 is another automatic battery charger that works well as a motorcycle, marine, or general AGM battery charger. It comes with a built-in battery health mode and spark-free connection technology. It can recover discharged batteries that other models may find difficult, down to 1.25 volts. It comes with a hybrid LED battery charging gauge with LCD display and includes a tilt stand and dual purpose hook design for placement on flat surfaces. It also includes a wall organizer bracket for hanging it.
- Delivers 40A boost and 200A engine start to jumpstart your SUV, truck or other large vehicle battery
- Microprocessor-controlled, with multi-stage charging for added precision, safety, and battery life
- Auto voltage detection automatically detects 6 or 12V batteries
- Float-mode monitoring automatically maintains optimum battery charge
- Battery and alternator tester provides charge level and helps diagnose electrical problems
Schumacher features on this list once again, this time with the SC1309 Car Battery Charger. It can accommodate both 6- and 12-volt batteries and is a heavy-duty transformer. It has color-coded meters that are easy to read as well as a 2.25-hour timer. It includes output cables and a 6-foot power cord for a total reach of 12 feet.
This charger can analyze starting system and electrical problems, making it ideal for charging expended vehicle batteries. It includes a voltmeter and two rotary switches. It also has temperature overload protection and is equipped with a cooling fan.
- The most convenient way to charge and maintain any vehicle for extending battery life and year-round battery maintenance of your car, boat, truck, RV, lawnmower, or any other vehicle.
- Completely recharge smaller capacity batteries on motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, scooters, and power wheels up to 30 amp-hours.
- Works with all types of 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid batteries, including Wet, Gel, and AGM, or any common automotive, deep-cycle, marine, or maintenance-free battery.
- Keep your battery fully charged without worry or overcharge. Simply plug-in and let our advanced charging technology automatically monitor and maintain your battery.
- One of the most advanced and safest battery chargers, including spark-proof technology, and reverse polarity protection, plus backed by our 5-year and endless accessories.
NOCO also has another model on the list, this time the Genius G750 Battery Charger. This .75-amp trickle charger can completely recharge smaller capacity batteries on virtually any type of vehicle up to 30 amp-hours. It works with 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid batteries, including GEL, WET, and AGM, and also any common deep-cycle, marine, automotive, or maintenance-free battery.
The advanced charging technology automatically monitors and maintains the battery. For safety, it includes reverse polarity protection and spark-proof technology. The five-year limited warranty rounds out this great battery charger.
- 15 amp bench battery charger maintains and charges any AGM, GEL, or WET automotive or marine 12V battery
- Fully automatic high frequency charging delivers 3 stage charging, automatically switching from fast charge, to top-off, to trickle charge
- Battery reconditioning feature helps extend battery life; 40 amp engine start helps start your vehicle in about 90 seconds
- Equipped with reverse polarity protection; LCD screen displays charging status and battery status with easy to understand icons
- Features a patented alternator check which indicates if the alternator is maintaining battery level; ETL Certified for performance and safety
The last, but certainly not the least, of the best battery chargers this year is another Black & Decker model, the BC15BD. This fully automatic battery charger provides three-stage charging and can automatically switch from fast charge to top-off to trickle charge. It is 15 amps and can maintain and charge any GEL, WET, or AGM automotive or marine 12-volt battery.
It includes a battery reconditioning feature to extend the battery life. It also includes a 40-amp engine start to help start your vehicle in about a minute and a half. For safety, this charger is equipped with reverse polarity protection and also a patented alternator check that indicates if your alternator is maintaining battery level. It includes a large LCD screen that displays the battery status and charging status. It is ETL certified for safety and performance.
The Verdict: The Best Battery Charger
After comparing the features of these ten batteries, we choose the NOCO Genius G3500 as the best battery charger this year. It can charge both lithium and lead-acid batteries that are 6 and 12 volts. It can be used for a variety of batteries and is twice as fast as most other battery chargers due to the high amperage. The safety features are outstanding, even including water and UV ray resistance. With the only drawback being not charging flat batteries and not charging as efficiently during winter, we feel that this affordable, efficient, and powerful battery charger is well worth the investment.
