Despite the tremendous advances that were made in the automotive industry, car batteries seem to be as unpredictable as ever. Even with diligent and careful maintenance, you never truly know when your battery will give out. Even worse, a dead battery can leave you stranded in a remote location or cause you to be late for your work. To help prepare you for this situation, we are going to help you pick the best car battery charger on the market today.
Before committing to any particular model, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic characteristics and features of these devices. This will help you make a smart decision purchase decision and ensure that you are getting something that suits your needs and lives up to your expectations. Below is a brief overview of some of the main factors that you should keep in mind when you are in the market for a new car battery charger.
This is the first thing that you should pay attention to when you are looking for a new car battery charger. Each type of battery requires a specific type of charger, so if you don’t take the time to check the cells of your car battery, you run the risk of buying a charger that is not compatible with it. The most common types are white cell, AGM cell, jell cell, and VRLA cell. The voltage is another variable that you should factor in. Whether your battery is rated at 6 volts or 12 volts, you need to make sure that the charger is capable of handling it.
Most affordable chargers have an ampere rating between 10 and 20 amps. This might be sufficient for a small car battery, but we would generally recommend you to top for something above 55 amps. These mid-range chargers are quite versatile and are able to tackle the vast majority of batteries on the market. If you want a charger for professional use, you should aim for models that boast a minimum of 60 amps.
Safety features are invaluable when it comes to chargers. Regardless of the quality of the unit, there are several risks that are inherent in their mode of operation. To eliminate these potential issues, you should always opt for a charger that is safeguarded against overload, over-current, over-charging, and over-voltage.
This also referred to as float mode. Trickle charging is essentially charging a battery at a rate that is identical to its discharge rate. This is extremely valuable due to the fact that it allows the battery to maintain a full charge without being affected by overcharging.
This is the first model that comes to mind when discussing mid-range models. This 7.2 Amp battery charger can handle batteries that are rated between 12V and 24V. Like all chargers in our list, it boasts an impressive level of versatility that allows it to operate on virtually any type of vehicle. Moreover, it can handle both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries with relative ease and it is quite effective when working with CANBUS systems and micro hybrid cars.
The most noticeable quality of this charger is without a double its impressive speed. In fact, it can charge most types of batteries within a significantly shorter span relative to other similarly-priced options. In addition to this invaluable characteristic, its cutting-edge microprocessor enables automatic monitoring and handling of the battery charge at all times. More importantly, it helps minimize the Consumption of electricity and safeguards the battery against any potential damage.
The safety features that are included in this charger are another major highlight that is worth mentioning. Everything from the optimal construction of the unit to the reverse polarity protection is designed to ensure the utmost safety when you are charging the battery.
Pros
Cons
This is one of the most affordable options on our list. This powerful 15 amp car charger works smoothly with any AGM, GEL, or WET automotive or marine 12V battery. It comes with a number of automatic features that facilitate the process of monitoring and charging the battery. The high frequency charging that it boasts allows it to seamlessly alter between fast charge and trickle charge, which results in more efficient and optimal use.
Another great feature of the Stanley charger is the battery reconditioning. This feature is rarely found in entry-level devices and it is ideal for extending the life of your car battery. Additionally, it has a number of convenient safety functions that help maintain the charger in a good condition.
As far as practicality is concerned, the BC15BS exceeds all expectations. A prime example of this is the alternator check. This convenient function indicates whether the alternator is maintaining a proper battery level and eliminates the need for any guesswork on your part. On top of its great performance and plethora of features, the Stanley BC15BS is equipped with a fully automatic compensation system that makes up for the relatively low voltage that can be caused by extension cords.
Pros
Cons
The Black+Decker BC68DW is a decent entry-level charger that is designed to manage a wide range of high power car batteries. It can detect and manage the charge in a fully automatic manner, which allows for hassle-free operation. Thanks to this quality, you won’t have to worry about overcharging or low battery. Adding to the hands-free aspect is the possibility to connect the unit using the hanging hook and the magnetic backing. As for the charging time, it is remarkably fast for the price point and the delivery of the power is rather efficient and consistent.
The charger is characterized by several elements that are geared toward improving functionality and minimizing the risk of damage, be it from electrical current or from exposure to other factors. The sealed protection contributes to keeping dust, moisture, and corrosion out of the sensitive components of the device whereas safety features such as reverse polarity protection and circuit guards are effective with regard to preventing any damage from overcharging or short-circuiting. The Black+Decker BC68DW has an IP67 rating, which means that it is completely sealed and waterproof. In fact, it is resistant enough to withstand direct exposure to rain.
Pros
Cons
The SC1307 is a fairly heavy yet compact car battery charger. It is ideal for anyone who wants a simple and straightforward unit that delivers steady charging in a quick and convenient fashion. Once plugged in, it can detect the voltage of most car batteries using a unique mechanism that automatically assigns a charging amp depending on which battery you are working on. In addition to this, it features a very effective 85A jump start mode that is perfectly tailored to jumping large vehicles.
Like any high-quality charger, the onboard microprocessor that is equipped with is very concise and efficient. It has the capacity to detect the health of an alternator on a running engine and can manage the charging of your car battery without requiring any effort on your part.
The Schumacher SC1307 packs several other noteworthy features that make it stand out in its price range. A great example of this is its impressive ability to quickly shift to float charge mode in a fully automatic fashion. Overall, this is one of the best car battery chargers in the mid-range price point and it is a strong contender for the best option on the market.
Pros
Cons
Buying a car battery charger does not have to be a complicated task. As long as you make sure that a charger is compatible with your car battery, you should be able to pick an option that is ideal for you. Go over the reviews of each model and make the decision that is right for you.
Last update on 2022-05-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
