Best Car Battery Chargers For 2022

The three-amp Battery Tender can charge a battery and then switch to a float (or maintenance) mode. While it cannot charge a significantly discharged battery back to life, the Battery Tender will keep a constant charge and automatically adjust the current for days, weeks or months on end. Multiple LEDs indicate charging in progress, battery level and when the unit is in float mode. There is a quick-disconnect harness for emergencies and to switch between the included ring terminals and alligator clips.

Many people carry battery-pack jump-starters as insurance against cold-weather disaster, but here’s a maintainer/charger that can also supply 100 amps to jump start a large truck or SUV even in cold weather (if you’re near an electric outlet). The unit is hefty amongst its competition, weighing in at 12.65 pounds, but there is a range of features. The Schumacher charges a wide range of battery types, includes an alternator tester and automatic repair of sulfated plates. A digital readout shows the state of charge. Other features include multi-stage charging and auto-voltage detection. When the battery is fully charged, the Schumacher unit puts it through a full rest cycle and cool down (claimed to be superior to mere float mode). That’s followed by a partial drain to “exercise” the battery before it’s fully charged.

This isn’t the fullest-featured maintainer, but it does what most of the other ones do at a low price. It charges six- and 12-volt batteries, includes both battery clips and O-ring terminals, charges fully then goes into float mode and has built-in protection against overcharging, polarity reversal and short circuits. Users report good durability.

Attention all polar bears (or people who live like them): The water- and dust-resistant CTEK maintainer was specially developed for very cold weather. When the thermometer drops, this charger offers “snowflake” mode, and it’s also protected against overcharging in very hot climates. The charging process proceeds through desulfation, soft start, bulk, absorption, analyze, recondition, float and pulse modes. Very lightweight at two pounds, CTEK is also a very fast charger that can revive a dead battery in 12 hours. It is short-circuit proof, offers automatic battery diagnosis and is protected against reverse polarity.