Hollingsworth Auto Service Best Picks
When you drive a vehicle every day, its battery stays at a constant state of charge. But when you don’t, especially if a vehicle stays outside in the cold, the battery will drain. Nothing kills a car battery quicker than when a car sits for weeks and months on end.
A portable charger is also much easier than jump-starting since you don’t have to string bulky cables from one vehicle to another. And it’s much more compact than you might think so consider adding it to your roadside emergency kit as well as your garage. But that’s not all. If your battery does go dead, not having to call for a tow truck can save you a few hours and a huge headache, even if the tow is technically free.
The most affordable modern chargers can cost as little as $30 and some cost as much as $100. There are also six-volt and 12-volt units, depending on your needs. Read on to learn about our three picks for the best car battery charger.
Schumacher SC1362
Also great for larger vehicles and has trickle charging
Large batteries are no problem for this car battery charger, which makes it an excellent choice for truck and SUV owners. The charger was also designed with safety in mind. It features reverse hook-up protection and multi-stage charging and auto-voltage detection. And if you have a vehicle that sits for long stretches it will also keep it charged and ready for a cruise at a moment’s notice.
NOCO GB40
Safe and Durable
Ultra-portable, this lightweight device lets you jump start everything from a car or tractor to a laptop or phone. When not in use, plug it into any 12V cigarette lighter to make sure it’s ready next time you need it. In addition, it also features a mistake-proof design featuring spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection.
GOOLOO GE1200
Compact, lightweight and multipurpose
It is a lightweight model — weighing in at just over a pound — with a great looking design more reminiscent of a slightly oversize power bank for digital devices. It even has USB ports. However, it will easily jump-start any vehicle engine and has advanced safety technologies including spark protection, over-current protection, overload protection, over-voltage protection, over-charge protection and high-temperature protection built-in
5 Things you need to know before you buy a car battery charger
Since your personal situation dictates what the best car battery charger is for you, there is no single best battery charger on the market. We shared three reliable chargers with a range that fits most needs, but make sure to carefully check what a battery charger offers against your needs before you purchase one.
- What kind of battery type does your vehicle use?
- Do you want a manual or automatic smart battery charger?
- How much power do you need in a charger?
- What size battery charger do you prefer?
- What do you want to spend on a battery charger?
