You may accidentally leave the lights on in your car and drain them. Plus, the elements play a role – freezing weather can drain up to 60% of the power from your vehicle’s battery. Whichever situation you and your car battery happen to be in, the best car battery chargers can get you back on the road in time. We researched the five best car battery chargers of 2023 to save you time and money. Also: Best portable power station: Emergency power when you need it This is an easy-to-use battery charger and jump starter that’s perfect to keep in your garage for regular maintenance or emergency use. It features simple push-button controls for jump starting, charging, and checking your alternator. It even has a 120V outlet and USB port for charging mobile devices or powering small appliances. You can easily read your battery’s voltage and charging status with the LCD screen – no more squinting at confusing meters. The 80A engine start mode can get you going in about 60 seconds, and there’s a quick charge function for when you need to top up in a hurry. Keeping up with regular battery maintenance doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on fancy tools. This trickle charger from Black+Decker costs about $30, and it’s perfect for both 6V and 12V batteries like those you’d find in lawn mowers, motorcycles, and most cars and trucks. You can connect it to the battery via clamps or rings for safe and secure charging, and a switch lets you quickly and easily select the battery type you want to charge. It also has LED indicator lights to warn you against reversed connections, which can be dangerous, and to let you know when the battery is finished charging. I actually own this model of charger/maintainer, and I can say with confidence that it’s a great choice for all skill levels. The backlit LCD screen makes it easy to see charging status, reversed connection warnings, and charging mode selections. The push-button controls make it quick and easy to check battery voltage, test the alternator, jump start your car, or charge the battery. With the 15A quick charge mode, it took just over three hours to bring my old Chevy Cobalt’s battery back to full after being drained by an interior light. Also: The 5 best portable jump starters The unit also automatically switches from quick to trickle charging when the battery reaches full capacity to avoid overcharging that can cause damage. The ProSeries from Schumacher Electric is a battery charger meant for anyone who has heavy duty vehicles, like semi-trucks or diesel engine vehicles, or anyone who runs an automotive shop. It has a 15A fast-charge mode, 275A engine start, and 4A trickle charge feature. It’s also capable of flash reprogramming vehicle computers to fix minor software problems that may affect things like gas mileage and engine performance. It even has a memory saver mode to quickly reload computer settings after a battery is charged from zero or replaced. The unit has a 17-foot power cable as well as wheels and a retractable handle to make it easy to maneuver around the shop and reach just about any vehicle bay. This is another battery charger that I personally own, and I keep it in my car for roadside emergencies. Not only can it jumpstart your car and charge the battery, it also has a 500W power inverter for charging mobile devices and a 120 psi air compressor if you get a flat while you’re out and about. The built-in handle makes it easy to transport, and it’s compact enough to keep in the trunk of my Trailblazer. It has a 120V outlet, 3 USB ports, push-button controls, and an easy-read LCD screen. The battery clamp cords are a bit on the short side, but since you don’t need to keep the unit plugged into a wall to use, it’s not much of an issue. For larger vehicles, you want something with a higher running and engine start amperage, while smaller batteries like those found in lawn mowers and motorcycles require a charger that is suited for 6V units. This buying tree can help you decide which car battery charger is right for you: Also: How to build a winter emergency kit The best way to figure out charging time is to divide your battery’s amp hour rating by the running amp rating of your charger (70ah/10amp = 7 hours). Extreme temperatures can also drain your battery, including high heat in the summer and frigid nights in the winter. You’ll want to connect a trickle charger during temperature warnings to maintain your battery or drive more often. Moreover, corroded posts are an indicator of damage, so be on the look out for white or greenish flaky buildup where the wires connect to the battery. If it’s very light buildup, you can disconnect the battery from your car and clean the posts and connections with a wire brush. But if the build-up is excessive, it’s time to change out the battery. Thankfully, many automotive retailers give you discounts on new batteries if you bring the old one in to be recycled. If you leave it connected too long, it can cause permanent damage to the battery by overheating it.
