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If you’ve ever walked out to your car and found a dead battery, you know how important it is to have a car battery charger on hand. Nobody has time to wait for roadside assistance or a jumpstart from a Good Samaritan, which is why most people invest in a battery charger for additional peace of mind.
A good battery charger is a wise decision for any household, but you must ensure that it’s a reliable product. Otherwise, you could end up in the same boat with your engine not starting. Options like the NOCO Genius1 are an all-in-one solution at an affordable price as a battery maintainer, trickle charger, and battery desulfator that works on both 6V and 12V batteries. Premium, professional-grade designs like the Schumacher DSR131 offer a 250-amp charging current: With a burly construction, this 33-pound device rolls on wheels with a pull handle and is ideal for top auto enthusiasts.
To learn more about car seat covers and a more in-depth analysis of how they can vary, read the Buyer’s Guide or jump to the Price & Value summary. Still weighing your options? Consult our Comparison Chart to see how car battery chargers stack up.
Editor’s Note: On October 28, 2024, we published an updated version including specs, pros, and cons plus the Price & Value and How We Tested sections.
The NOCO Genius1 ($40) is a great, all-in-one solution at an affordable price. This battery charger also functions as a battery maintainer, trickle charger, and battery desulfator. It works on both 6V and 12V batteries.
This 1A smart charger is fully automatic and great for everyday use. It’s also lightweight and compact. Designed to give you stronger engine starts and extended battery life, this compact charger packs a lot of great features into its small package.
Compatibility for this NOCO car battery charger ranges from wet cell and gel to enhanced flooded, maintenance-free, and calcium batteries. Whether used at home or taken with you on the road, you’ll have added peace of mind knowing you’ve got this Genius1 car battery charger on hand.
Considering it weighs 12 ounces, this compact Motopower MP00205A ($22) battery charger is highly portable. Plus, the easy-to-read LED lights are helpful. Remember that the battery charger’s capacity isn’t great for quick jumping but better for slow charges.
Don’t let the small size of this unit fool you; it works great. Many people won’t choose this over well-known brands, but it’s worth a second look. The low price makes it appealing to anyone on a budget. Plus, it’s simple to use.
All functions operate through the onboard microprocessor, which communicates directly to your battery. The MP00205A starts with high amperage to get the battery charged up fast, and then slows down automatically to a lower amperage as it reaches capacity.
If you need something to work on fleets and a wide range of cars, this Schumacher DSR131 ($289) might be your best choice. It’s suitable for 6V or 12V batteries and offers many features that budget-friendly choices don’t have.
There are also options for multistage charging and float mode monitoring. It can charge standard, AGM, and deep-cycle batteries. The digital display, LED indicators, and push-button controls make operation a breeze.
Keep in mind that the DSR131 is a professional-grade car battery charger. Most average users won’t want to pay the higher price tag for this beast. Nevertheless, Schumacher Electric is a brand name trusted among professional mechanics and a brand you can depend on.
Because of the lower current, you have more protection than with many other models. The surprising aspect of the Deltran Battery Tender Plus ($60) charger is its 10-year warranty. This guarantee is far greater than most competitors in the industry and is different from what one would expect, considering the low price.
This affordable car battery charger doesn’t just come with amazing features, but it also has a reputation for excellence. While most car battery chargers are easy to use, this one is probably the simplest.
This model isn’t designed for jumpstarts but is ideal for maintaining car batteries. If you have a car that sits in storage for long periods, the Tender Plus is a favored option to ensure that your battery will work the next time you turn the ignition on.
The design of the Ampeak Smart Charger ($90) has fully automatic, high-frequency charging for all types of 12V lead-acid batteries. Additional features include a 2A trickle charge, 8A quick charge, and 15A rapid-charge modes that you can manually choose between based on your needs.
This unit has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen that keeps track of charging status, charging current, voltage, battery type, and error information. A microprocessor controls the charger with multistage charging for added precision, safety, and battery life.
We like the six-step charging program that includes desulfation, soft start, bulk charging, absorption, battery test, and floating. The intelligence built into the Ampeak will optimize battery power without overcharging or damaging it.
And as a bonus, this bench charger has a winter charging mode specifically designed to charge your battery in winter conditions. This detail in the Smart Charger is an excellent option if you have a vehicle that sits for long periods in frigid temps.
If you want to use a responsible energy source to maintain your battery in any conditions year-round, this 12V battery trickle charger is the ticket. The OYMSAE Solar Battery Charger ($60) offers a number of safety protections for 12V batteries at a reasonable price. Furthermore, the battery panel surface is made of ETFE, which is highly efficient at solar light reabsorption, further improving the solar energy absorption efficiency.
The included suction cup mounts to install the charger directly onto your windshield or dash for convenience. It has a long 8-foot quick-connect extension cable for accessing a 12V power port.
With the Solar Battery Charger, the built-in protection system will prevent the solar panel from overcharging and reverse charging from the battery. The 12V offers 10W of power, but there are three other options: 5W, 20W, and 30W.
This three-stage high-frequency unit offers a patented alternator check and engine start. Of course, it also starts and charges your battery. There’s even a 3A trickle charger for maintenance. The easy-to-see digital LCD on the Stanley BC25BS ($97) shows your battery status and will alert you if connected the wrong way.
Stanley provides a storage spot for its power cord instead of wrapping it around the machine. Overall, it has a 75A engine start, 25A rapid charge, and a 3A battery maintainer.
Another aspect we like about the BC25BS smart 12V battery charger is its rugged metal casing. It’s also fairly small and portable, weighing about 7 pounds.
One wouldn’t expect this household tool giant to do well in the automotive field, but the Black+Decker BC15BD ($88) 15A bench battery charger is well-made and capable. To a great degree, the heavy-duty construction helps it stand up well to wear and tear.
We found that this machine doesn’t use different modes like some other models. Instead, it reads the battery and selects the best option between 0 A and 15 A to charge it. There are three charging stages: First is its high-amperage charge, which works fast to get your battery to 80%.
Second is the modulated charge that steadily increases the battery to 98%. The third stage is the float charge, which operates at low amperage to reach 100% and maintain it while preventing overcharging.
Some people might not be fond of the lack of user control, but the charger works great with no issues. It’s nice to set it and let the machine do its job. There’s even a repair mode on the BC15BD. This mode reduces the buildup of any solids found in the battery to increase capacity.
Moreover, there are diagnostics on the unit that evaluate the alternator. If you are stuck with a dead battery, you’ll find the 40A jumpstart feature of this Black+Decker gets you back and running in no time. If you don’t mind investing a bit more, there’s also a 25A version ($111) of this car battery charger.
This smaller SC1304 from Schumacher ($92) comes with complete unattended battery charging, a digital display, automatic voltage detection, plus a condition setting to run battery maintenance. This charger automatically detects if you need 6V or 12V charging.
The large display is a nice feature, which makes it simple to see the current status of the battery. Because it only weighs 3 pounds, it is perfectly portable.
Small details on the SC1304, such as the retractable handle that doubles as a power cord wrap, are a nice touch. Factor in the 2-year warranty, and you get a professional-grade charger at a reasonably low price.
Our esteemed GearJunkie tester and Buyers Guide author, Derek Mau, led the curation and field testing for this guide. A regular work day for Mau involves testing almost anything with four tires and a steering wheel. He obsessively researches and shops for the best deal. Of course, he shares his findings through detailed and informative writing and reviews of all things automotive for GearJunkie.
Mau is based in Idaho, where it’s hot and sunny in the summer and gets frosty in the winter, making it an ideal place to test car covers in the full range of elements and weather conditions.
Mau first edited and published this piece in 2022. We are working with automotive specialists to complete hands-on field testing including car battery chargers.
Owning a decent battery charger is something you want before you need it. You might not appreciate the benefit of having one of these at your house until your car battery is dead. Then, you’ll realize their worth and be glad you made the investment.
When you select an automotive battery charger, there are several factors you’ll want to consider. Fundamentally, you want access to all the features you need to get your car running quickly or keep the battery fully charged. So here’s what we recommend keeping an eye on.
Many modern chargers are compatible with all car batteries, regardless of their size. Top car battery chargers handle both 6V and 12V vehicles with ease.
An entry-level battery charger comes with either 10A or 20A capacities. If you want something midrange, you’ll opt for a 20A charger with a 55A to 100A boost mode. If you’re a professional who routinely works on vehicles, it will make the most sense to invest in something up to 60A for the standard charge mode and 275A for the jumpstart mode.
Ensure that the battery charger has short-circuit, overload, over-current, overcharge, and overvoltage protection so you stay safe at all times.
The maintenance mode exists to maintain a fully charged cell using minimal power. This mode applies when the car sits for long periods or moves into long-term storage.
A trickle charger feeds power to the battery at a slow and steady rate. Once fully charged, the unit automatically goes into float mode. This mode prevents overcharging the battery. Some chargers start trickle charging at 85% of the full charge, while others wait until 95%. Whenever it kicks in, the trickle charge helps to maintain a 100% full charge at a tiny rate while keeping the battery safe from overcharging.
Some of the best car battery chargers have safeguards that signal users when the battery isn’t connected correctly. Additionally, you’ll find a range of models that feature internal testing mechanisms to detect sulfated, discharged, or bad cells.
On the low end, you’ll find car battery chargers like the NOCO Genius1 ($40) and MOTOPOWER MP00205A ($22). At less than $50, you’re getting a fairly compact and light tool. The tradeoffs are durability, waterproofness, cord length, and charging current. But for many average applications, these could do just fine.
The majority of our favorite options fall between $50 and $100. More developed chargers include options like the Stanley BC25BS Smart 12V Battery Charger ($97) and Schumacher SC1304 Smart Battery Charger ($92). These options are a bit heavier, slightly larger, more stout, and typically offer a higher charging current. The displays can be better and easier to read, too. Details, such as the retractable handle that doubles as a power cord wrap on the SC1304, are a nice addition for ease of use.
At the high end, designs such as the Schumacher DSR131 ProSeries ($289) are very robust, have an excellent interface, and reach well into triple digits. These designs can be professional grade, like the Schumacher SC1304, meaning they’re overbuilt for most general users, but if you’re an automotive enthusiast, this could be exactly what you’re looking to add to the tool shed.
You always want to be sure you are charging your car battery correctly. The wrong volts or high amperage settings can lead to overheating or charging it too fast. Leaving the charger unattended or not using it correctly is another mistake people often make.
Luckily, most high-quality chargers have safeguards that protect the battery from getting overcharged. These “smart” chargers taper the charging rate as the battery approaches full capacity. Afterward, it will automatically switch off when the charge is full and go into maintenance mode. Charging your battery overnight with the help of a smart charger usually achieves a complete charge. For proper use, always check the operating guidelines of your battery charger.
A trickle charger can prevent a battery from draining if you have vehicles in storage or don’t start them too often.
Basically, a car battery trickle charger is a device that helps maintain the power of your battery and prevent self-discharge, so you never end up with a flat battery. Essentially, it charges slowly at a low current.
Be aware that older chargers can also lead to overcharging your battery if powered on for longer than necessary. Thus, look for a trickle charger that automatically shuts off when the battery reaches a full charge. Otherwise, you must monitor the battery and disconnect it yourself.
Not all trickle chargers come equipped with this automatic feature, so consider a float charger (also called a “smart charger”). Float chargers have intelligent technology that switches off when the charge is complete and starts again when the charge falls to a specific level.
How long you leave the charger connected to the battery depends on the type of charger and the amount of power your battery needs to reach 100%. Generally, manual chargers require close monitoring since they will not shut down automatically once the battery is at full capacity and warrant disconnecting the cables.
Smart 12V battery chargers have evolved into intelligent, microprocessor-controlled battery charger-maintainers that turn on and off to avoid overcharging. They also have the ability to recondition car batteries. Moreover, they can detect weak batteries and automatically shut off power if the user crosses the battery cables.
Refer to your battery charger owner’s manual for information on how to tell when your battery is fully charged.
Using a battery charger for supplying power was a common function in older models. Most newer models have an electronic safeguard that stops them from providing voltage to anything other than a battery. Thus, you cannot use them as a power supply.
A car battery charger must be disconnected after charging a battery to optimal voltage.
On the other hand, a battery tender or maintainer can stay connected to a battery for longer periods. These devices detect a drop in voltage, automatically switch on to recharge at low current, and then shut off once the battery reaches full capacity.
Battery tenders are ideal for storing parked vehicles over long periods.
We’ve outlined the best portable car jumpstarters available. Let’s get started and find the one that serves your needs.
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Derek is a shopaholic that lives, breathes, and dreams of all things automotive. Prior to his current role at GearJunkie, he established the eBay Motors blog, was an editor at TFLcar.com, and soaked up a lot of knowledge about custom hot rods during his time with The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. When not diving into engine bays, gratifying diversions include photography, mountain biking, and the pursuit of happiness.
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