Age, use, and temperature can cause your car’s battery to run out of power at inconvenient times. This can mean calling for roadside assistance or flagging down a stranger for a jump start. Thankfully, car battery chargers offer an easier and safer solution. With these capable and compact charging devices, you’ll be able to power up your car’s battery from anywhere.
There are a lot of car battery chargers to choose from. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the absolute best car battery chargers available in Australia. Additionally, we’ve included a battery charger buyer’s guide to help you select the best option for your needs.
1. CTEK MXS 5.0 12V Smart Car Battery Charger – Best for most
This advanced microprocessor controlled battery charger is ideal for just about anyone who needs a fast and reliable charge. Since it automatically compensates for temperature fluctuations, you’ll get unrivalled charging performance. The CTEK MXS 5 works well for any lead-acid batteries from 1.2Ah to 110Ah and solves a broad range of issues.
Whether you’ll be using this charger frequently or just want to have it around for emergencies, it’s a capable and reliable option that’s fully automatic and offers 12V charging. It comes with both selectable small battery and normal battery programs and is splash-proof, spark-free, reverse polarity protected, and dustproof. All in all, this is a durable, user-friendly, and safe choice for anyone who wants a reliable charger at a fair price.
What We Like:
- User-friendly design
- Safe and durable
- Will charge just about any battery
- Selectable programmes
What We Don’t Like:
- Won’t charge car batteries over 110Ah
2. CTEK MXS 15 Deep Cycle Car Battery Charger – Best for larger batteries
For larger batteries, you’ll need more power. Fortunately, the CTEK MXS 15 can provide more than enough charging power to larger batteries such as the ones found in caravans, trucks, and workshop vehicles. It’s an economic choice that boasts nearly unanimous 5-star user ratings.
With its automatic temperature sensors, it can adjust its voltage output to match your battery precisely. This means that you’ll get an effective charge in essentially any situation. Plus, it uses different modes and programme settings for faster and more efficient functionality. It restores and corrects issues like acid stratification as well. In summary, if you have a large battery that needs a reliable charging solution, the CTEK MXS is a safe bet.
What We Like:
- Can easily charge batteries in caravans, trucks, and more
- Comes with useful automatic adjustment
- Reconditioning function rejuvenates batteries
- Fast and efficient
What We Don’t Like:
- Somewhat expensive
3. Beleeb 6-Stage Car Battery Charger – Best budget option
If you’re looking for a reliable car battery charger on a budget, this is definitely one option worth considering. This versatile all-in-one charger works on any battery-powered vehicle, even a lawnmower. It’s rated for use on all types of lead-acid batteries ranging from 6V – 24V, as long as they’re under 100Ah. Examples include calcium automotive, GEL, SLA, AGM, flooded(WET), hydroponic pump system, and marine battery variants. So, it’s ideal for cars, small trucks, boats, workshop vehicles, battery-powered equipment, and more.
This device works to keep your battery fully charged with its simple plug-in operation. It will automatically mirror and maintain voltage without overcharging or causing damage. It even offers a repair mode that reverses the damage caused by long periods of low or non-existent charge in batteries. This is one of the safest and most reliable options in its price range, making it the best car battery charger if you’re on a budget. It even comes with an extended warranty.
What We Like:
- Best budget charger
- Versatile and easy to use
- Can charge dead battery damage
- Safe and efficient
What We Don’t Like:
- May need to be replaced after two years of use
4. NOCO GENIUS5AU 5-Amp Fully Automatic Smart Charger
The Noco GENIUS 5AU offers high-performance, energy-efficient charging for a range of batteries. It’s compact, user-friendly, and works as a trickle charger, maintainer, and battery desulfator. This device is rated at 5 amps and is ideal for all types of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. This includes flooded, gel, AGM, marine, and deep cycle batteries.
Anyone operating equipment in extreme climates will appreciate the way this charger’s integrated thermal sensors work. They detect potential hot and cold ambient temperature changes to protect all kinds of batteries. Charger settings within this device work intelligently to alter and adjust for over and undercharging. With this in mind, if you need a reliable and adjustable device to jump-start and maintain your battery, the Noco GENIUS 5AU is a great choice.
What We Like:
- Trickle charger, maintainer, and battery desulfator
- Can charge most batteries
- Automatic smart charger and maintainer
- Compact user-friendly design
What We Don’t Like:
- Buttons are somewhat hard to read
5. CTEK MXS 3.8 Automatic Car Battery Charger
With an intuitive design and long-term maintenance capabilities, the CTEK MXS 3.8 has been designed to provide regular charging for smaller car batteries. This is a compact and shock-proof unit that offers fully automatic user-friendly charging. Additionally, this car battery charger comes with a set of crocodile clamps and practical ring-terminals for secure connections. It’s also compatible with a range of brand-specific accessories.
Its stable 12 Volt operation makes this charging device great for anyone who wants a fast and simplified charging process. It also works for outdoor use at most temperatures and was developed and tested in Sweden to withstand various climate conditions. Finally, it’s fully automatic, spark-free, and reverse polarity protected. Lastly, it’s one of the safest options out there.
What We Like:
- Provides adaptable long-term maintenance
- Shock-proof and reverse polarity protected
- Compact design and safe automatic operation
- Works with various brand accessories
What We Don’t Like:
- Slow to recharge when flat
6. Maxxlee Smart Battery Charger for Car
The Maxxlee Smart Battery Charger has an advanced design and implements state-of-the-art technology with a 9-step charging system. It can bring batteries back to nearly 100% of their original capacity and automatically diagnoses, recovers, and charges in a range of maintenance modes. In addition to these features, this charger comes with an overheat protection cooling fan inside of its housing unit and prevents short-circuiting and bad connections.
This charger works for all types of 12 Volt and 24 Wet, MF, AGM, and GEL batteries. It also protects from reverse polarity, overcharging, and short-circuiting. Also, it implements useful LED power and charging indicator lights. However, learning to use this charger may take some getting used to, as some users find its instructions a bit complex. Still, once you get it going, it’s a great option and comes at a reasonable price.
What We Like:
- 9-Step charging system
- Offers maintenance and restoration
- Overheat and short-circuit protection
- Charges and diagnoses current issues
What We Don’t Like:
- Not the most user-friendly option
7. MOTOPOWER 12V – Best motorcycle battery charger
The Motorpower Charger is compact, made with premium materials, and has a fire-resistant design. It’s a great option for most 12-volt lead-acid, flooded, sealed, AGM, and gel cell batteries. Not only that but for motorcycle batteries, chargers like this do a great job of providing plug and play functionality and hassle-free automatic operation. This device utilizes up-to-date charging technology that implements a slight pulse current to extend your motorcycle’s battery life and maximize its performance.
Other features include overcharge protection, spark-free technology, easy-to-read LED indicator lights, and minimal drain when connecting with the battery. The cables are 2.5meters long, with 18AWG UL standard SAE quick-release connections. This charger works with all devices that use standard SAE connectors. In summary, if you need to charge your motorcycle’s battery, this is a great product to check out.
What We Like:
- Compact and convenient
- LED indicator lights
- Safe and effective
- Charges, recovers, and maintains
What We Don’t Like:
- Won’t charge large batteries
Car Battery Charger Buyer’s Guide
When charging your vehicle’s battery, you will need to make sure to have the right equipment on-hand. Before you select a car battery charger for your vehicle, there are a few things you’ll want to know. Car battery chargers come in a few different styles and designs. They also come with a range of different features. Below, we will go over the kinds of chargers available for car batteries as well as what features to look for. That way, you can get something that will work well for your needs.
Key Features and Specifications
First off, you will need to know what features and specifications to look for.
• Amperage and Voltage – To select the right device to charge your battery, you’ll want to know how many amps and volts a charger can deliver.
• Charge Life – It’s always good to know how long its charging life is. Does it take a long time to recharge? How many car battery charges will you get per full-device charge?
• Price Range – These devices come in a range of prices. Standard chargers may cost significantly less than chargers that maintain and restore vehicle batteries.
• Indicator Lights – These LED lights make it much easier to tell what your device is doing and whether it is holding or receiving a charge.
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Car Battery Charging Device Types
There are three main types of car battery chargers. Most chargers can be used to charge, maintain, or restore car batteries. Some chargers can do all of this while others focus more on one main function.
Standard Car Battery Charger
Chargers are very common and often cost less than more complex devices. For the most part, these basic types of battery chargers give power to your car’s battery. Some may even be able to restore a battery that’s been totally discharged.
Charge Maintainer
Battery maintainers can be used to keep car batteries from totally discharging. They’re great for a fast “top-off” and can help to maintain the overall health of your car’s battery. While they’re less common than standard chargers, they aren’t hard to find and can make the charging process a lot easier.
Full Battery Restorer
Restorers work to breathe life into old batteries. They do this by breaking down contaminants in the battery cell. While they cost a bit more than other devices, they’re a great option for anyone looking to charge totally flat or old batteries.