TOP of the best car battery chargers
Tips for motorists

TOP of the best car battery chargers

      The power sources in the car are the generator and the battery.

      When the engine is not running, the battery powers various electrical equipment, from lighting to the on-board computer. Under normal operating conditions, the battery is periodically recharged by the alternator.

      With a dead battery, you will not be able to start the engine. In this case, the charger will help solve the problem. In addition, in winter it is recommended to remove the battery from time to time and, after waiting until it warms up to a positive temperature, charge it with a charger.

      And of course, after buying a new battery, it must first be charged with a charger and only then installed in the car.

      Obviously, the memory is far from a minor thing in the arsenal of a motorist.

      Battery type matters

      Most vehicles use lead-acid batteries. In recent years, more and more often you can find their varieties - the so-called gel batteries (GEL) and batteries created using AGM technology.

      In gel electrolytes, the electrolyte is brought to a jelly-like state. Such a battery tolerates deep discharge well, has a low self-discharge current, and can withstand a significant number of charge-discharge cycles (about 600, and in some models up to 1000). At the same time, gel batteries are sensitive to overheating and short circuits. The charge mode is different from lead-acid batteries. During charging, in no case should the voltage and current limits indicated in the battery passport be exceeded. When purchasing a charger, make sure that it is suitable for a gel battery. Charging for a regular lead-acid battery is quite capable of putting a gel battery out of action forever.

      In AGM batteries, there are fiberglass mats between the plates that absorb the electrolyte. Such batteries have their own characteristics that must be taken into account during operation. They also require a special charging device.

      In any case, a properly selected and high-quality charger will help extend the life of your battery.

      Briefly about the choice

      In a functional sense, memory devices can be the simplest, or they can be universal and have different modes for all cases. A “smart” charger will save you from unnecessary trouble and do everything by itself - it will determine the type of battery, select the optimal charging mode and stop it at the right time. The automatic charger is suitable primarily for a beginner. An experienced car enthusiast may prefer to be able to manually set the voltage and charging current.

      In addition to the actual chargers, there are also start-up chargers (ROM). They can deliver much more current than conventional chargers. This allows you to use the ROM to start the engine with a discharged battery.

      There are also portable memory devices with their own battery. They can help out when 220V is not available.

      Before buying, you should decide which features will be useful to you, and which you should not overpay for. To avoid fakes, which are many on the market, it is better to purchase charging from reliable sellers.

      Chargers to watch out for

      The purpose of this review is not to determine the winners and leaders of the rating, but to help those who find it difficult to choose.

      Bosch C3

      A device made by a reputable European manufacturer.

      • Charges any lead-acid type battery, including gel and AGM.
      • Used for batteries with a voltage of 6 V with a capacity of up to 14 Ah and a voltage of 12 V with a capacity of up to 120 Ah.
      • 4 main modes of automatic charging.
      • Charging a cold battery.
      • Pulse mode to exit the deep discharge state.
      • Short circuit protection.
      • Charging current 0,8 A and 3,8 A.

      Bosch C7

      This device not only charges batteries, but can also be useful when starting a car engine.

      • Works with batteries of any type, including gel and AGM.
      • Suitable for batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V with a capacity of 14 to 230 Ah and a voltage of 24 V with a capacity of 14 ... 120 Ah.
      • 6 charging modes, from which the most suitable one is automatically selected depending on the type and condition of the battery.
      • The charging progress is controlled by the built-in processor.
      • Possibility of cold charging.
      • Restoration of the battery during deep discharge is carried out by a pulsed current.
      • Charging current 3,5 A and 7 A.
      • Short circuit protection.
      • Memory settings function.
      • Thanks to the sealed housing, this device can be used in any environment.

      AIDA 10s

      Automatic pulse memory of a new generation from the Ukrainian manufacturer. Able to charge the battery, discharged almost to zero.

      • Designed for 12V lead-acid/gel batteries from 4Ah to 180Ah.
      • Charge current 1 A, 5 A and 10 A.
      • Three modes of desulfation that improve the condition of the battery.
      • Buffer mode for long battery storage.
      • Short circuit, overload and reverse polarity protection.
      • Gel-acid mode switch on the rear panel.

      AIDA 11

      Another successful product of the Ukrainian manufacturer.

      • For gel and lead-acid batteries with a voltage of 12 Volts with a capacity of 4 ... 180 Ah.
      • Ability to use in automatic mode with the transition to storage mode after charging.
      • Possibility to control charging manually.
      • The stabilized charge current is adjustable within 0 ... 10 A.
      • Performs desulfation to improve battery health.
      • Can be used to restore old batteries that have not been used for a long time.
      • This charger is able to charge the battery, discharged almost to zero.
      • There is a gel-acid switch on the back panel.
      • Short circuit, overload, overheat and reverse polarity protection.
      • Remains operational at mains voltage from 160 to 240 V.

      AUTO WELL AW05-1204

      Pretty inexpensive German device with a good functional set.

      • Can be used for all types of batteries with a voltage of 6 and 12 V with a capacity of up to 120 Ah.
      • Fully automatic five-stage charging process controlled by the built-in processor.
      • Able to restore the battery after a deep discharge.
      • desulfation function.
      • Protection against short circuit, overheating and incorrect polarity.
      • LCD display with backlight.

      Auto Wave AW05-1208

      Pulse intelligent charger for cars, jeeps and minibuses.

      • Designed for batteries with a voltage of 12 V and a capacity of up to 160 Ah.
      • Types of batteries - lead-acid with liquid and solid electrolyte, AGM, gel.
      • The built-in processor provides automatic nine-stage charging and desulfation.
      • The device is able to bring the battery out of a state of deep discharge.
      • Charging current - 2 or 8 A.
      • Thermal compensation of the output voltage depending on the ambient temperature.
      • Memory function, which will help to resume work correctly after power outages.
      • Protection against short circuit and overheating.

      Hyundai HY400

      Compact, lightweight Korean device. One of the leaders in sales in Ukraine in recent years.

      • Works with batteries of any type with a voltage of 6 and 12 Volts with a capacity of up to 120 Ah.
      • Provides intelligent charging with a nine-stage program.
      • The microprocessor automatically selects the optimal parameters depending on the type and condition of the battery.
      • Charging modes: automatic, smooth, fast, winter.
      • Charging current 4 A.
      • Pulsed current desulfation function.
      • Protection against overheating, short circuit and incorrect connection.
      • Convenient LCD display with backlight.

      CTEK MXS 5.0

      This compact device, originally from Sweden, cannot be called cheap, but the price is quite consistent with the quality.

      • Suitable for all types of batteries with a voltage of 12 V and a capacity of up to 110 Ah, except for lithium.
      • Performs battery diagnostics.
      • Intelligent eight-stage charging in normal and cold state.
      • Functions of desulfation, recovery of deeply discharged batteries and storage with recharging.
      • Charge current 0,8 A, 1,5 A and 5 A.
      • For connection, the kit includes “crocodiles” and ring terminals.
      • Can be operated at temperatures from -20 to +50.

      DECA STAR SM 150

      This device, made in Italy, may be of interest to owners of SUVs, minibuses, light trucks and will be useful in service stations or in a car repair shop.

      • Inverter-type charger with a maximum current of 7 A.
      • Able to cope with gel, lead and AGM batteries up to 225 Ah.
      • 4 modes and 5 stages of charging.
      • There is a cold charge mode.
      • Desulfation to improve the condition of the battery.
      • Protection against overheating, polarity reversal and short circuit.

      See also

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