What’s the market for budget car battery chargers in today’s world? Truth be told, the top-end models from the likes of NOCO and CTEK are very expensive, so it’s nice to have options that don’t break your bank. Depending on its age and condition, your car battery could die on you at any time. You may well have left your lights on in the car, or perhaps your alternator belt has had its day and needs replacing. Whatever the cause, once you turn your key to the sweet sound of nothing, you’ll care for little else in the world other than getting back on the road again.
Most battery chargers are considered ‘smart’ these days, indicating they carry intelligent technology on board that delivers charge safely for the preservation and longevity of your battery’s service life. While this technology is incredibly helpful, smart chargers are considerably more expensive than regular models, with most high-amperage chargers going for well over a hundred pounds.
If you need to recharge your car battery on a budget, then don’t worry, there are plenty of cheaper examples currently on the market. While they may not offer trickle-charging capabilities nor the opportunity to recondition your battery, budget battery chargers are still more than capable of getting you back on the road.
The best budget car battery chargers 2024 at a glance:
The best budget battery charger: NOCO Genius1 – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: NOCO Genius2 – buy from Amazon
Best waterproof budget battery charger: GOOLOO 6 Amp Charger – buy from Amazon
We’ve picked some of our favourites to help narrow down your search. Want something for peace of mind while on the go? Pick up a portable battery charger so you can drive with ease.
The best budget car battery chargers 2024
The best budget battery charger
If your garage is prone to getting especially hot or cold depending on the time of year, this battery is equipped to detect its ambient temperature and adjust the level of charge accordingly, so as not to over or under-charge depending on the surrounding climate. It might be the baby of the Genius range, but the Genius 1 still packs a punch for a hair under £40.
Pros
- Great maintenance charging capabilities
- Small and inconspicuous, making it potentially easy to place when charging
- Great quality unit for the size and price point
Cons
- One 1A current delivery, which isn't as strong as others
| Dimensions: | 10.2 x 8.7 x 17.1cm |
| Weight: | 0.45kg |
| Charging current: | 1A |
| Trickle charging mode: | Yes |
Editor's pick
It has an internal thermal sensor which helps maintain a healthy battery charge flow. It will help prevent over-charging in hot climates as well as prevent low charging in colder temperatures. It can charge batteries from dead and comfortably keep them conditioned when they reach a high point.
Pros
- A more powerful alternative to the Genius1
- Great quality unit for the price point
- Works on both 6 and 12V batteries, increasing its versatility
Cons
- Doesn't have a 12V repair mode
Best budget battery trickle charger
It comes with a pair of crocodile clamps and ring terminals. But unfortunately, a lot of extras that CTEK offer, from the rubber protection cover to a cable extension, all cost a fair chunk of cash. This contradicts the point of it being a budget-orientated battery charger, so we can't recommend it as the best option in that respect.
Read our review of its sibling, the CTEK MXS 5.0.
Pros
- Premium feel and build quality, as per CTEK products
- Resistant to fairly extreme cold and hot temperatures
- Takes ample cars of a car battery and keeps it well-maintained when the vehicle not in use
Cons
- CTEK's extras take away from the budget aspect in the 3.8's case
Best multi-stage budget battery charger
Not only is this battery charger capable of winter charging in temperatures as low as -20°C, but it will also indicate when the charger has reached specific milestones of the charging process: 25%. 50%, 75% and fully charged – great if you need to get back on the road as soon as possible.
Pros
- Ten-step charging and reconditioning process
- Can be used in temperatures as low as -20°C
- Suitable for both Lead-Acid and Lithium batteries
Cons
- Only 2A delivery, which limits its capabilities
- Leads are quite short, so extensions might be required
| Dimensions: | 16.5 x 7.5 x 4.8cm |
| Weight: | 0.5kg |
| Charging current: | 2A |
| Trickle charging mode: | Yes |
Best compact budget battery charger
It has a nine-step process when charging a battery, ensuring it's not over-cooked with power. It performs a diagnosis of the battery before desulphation, pre-charging before a soft start. It then performs a bulk charge which inputs the required power back into the battery before providing constant voltage and trickling the battery, keeping it well-conditioned. It's a clever piece of kit that only the premium options from CTEK or NOCO can really match.
Pros
- Nine-step charging process that looks after your battery
- Compact size, which makes it easier to place than others
- IP65 waterproof rating makes it useful if you need to place it outdoors
Cons
- Quality isn't quite as on-par as some others
The best 6 Amp charger
We especially like this model for its dynamic power outputs, ranging from three-to-six amps for various charging times. As part of its seven-stage charging process, this Ring Automotive charger will also recondition your charger back to optimum performance.
Pros
- Smart charger with maintenance mode
- Fast charging times with multiple speeds
- Good value for money at under £40
Cons
- Bigger than some will want
- Isn't quite as clever as the NOCO units
| Dimensions: | 6.3 x 10.1 x 18.3cm |
| Weight: | 0.6kg |
| Charging current: | 6A |
| Trickle charging mode: | Yes |
Best value battery charger
This charger begins its charging process by performing a test to determine the battery’s condition, then enters its main charging stage to supply 80% of the power. The charger then enters its absorption phase, charging the battery up to just below 100% and then decreasing voltage output to maintain battery health.
Pros
- Good enough maintenance capabilities for the price point
- Had enough capabilities from battery repair to charging
- Better value for money than comparable models at £30
Cons
- Doesn’t have the capabilities of other chargers in the price range
- Quality is compromised compared to some of the others
| Dimensions: | 6 x 18 x 25.4cm |
| Weight: | 0.725kg |
| Charging current: | 1.2A |
| Trickle charging mode: | Yes |
The best waterproof trickle charger
It also has an IP65 protection rating, which means the unit if waterproof enough to be used outside, should you have to charge your car on the driveway. It's capable of doing all of the above in temperatures from minus 20 to around 40 degrees, to prevent under and overcharging respectively.
Pros
- Great value for money, considering its capabilities
- Survives very cold and very hot temperatures
- IP65 waterproof rating makes it potentially useful, should you need to place it outdoors
Cons
- Quality won't be as on-par as the NOCO units.
Budget car battery chargers: FAQs
What happens if my battery overcharges?
Overcharging can occur when a car battery is subjected to extreme heat, a poor-quality battery charger or a broken alternator – your engine’s battery charge regulator. When a battery overcharges, the sulfuric acid and water contents of the battery start to boil, causing the plastic casing to swell and then melt. This can have disastrous and possibly dangerous consequences, but ultimately it means you need a new battery.
What is acid stratification?
Acid stratification occurs when the sulfuric acid content of your car battery starts to concentrate at the bottom of the chassis, leading to a build-up of lead sulphate around the positive and negative terminals. This reaction takes place as a result of excessive current flow after the battery has reached fully charged. To avoid acid stratification, opt for a battery that offers trickle or maintenance charging once fully charged. Some chargers, like the NOCO Genius range, can even recondition your battery to restore lost performance. And if you’re conscious about your carbon footprint, some are even solar powered.
What is reverse polarity?
In the same way that you’d connect a battery booster, it’s vitally important to connect the positive and negative jump leads with their corresponding terminals to maintain your battery’s polarity – opposite physical properties. Reverse polarity occurs when the jump leads are mistakenly applied to the wrong terminals – negative to positive and vice versa. Reverse polarity can cause the internals of a battery to heat up significantly, potentially resulting in an explosion if not dealt with swiftly. Some battery chargers come equipped with cables that protect against reverse polarity, but you should always be careful to apply your crocodile clips to the right terminals to avoid an accident.
Are budget battery chargers worth it over more premium options?
Simply put: more premium battery/trickle chargers such as NOCO Boosts and CTEK MXS models are more careful as recharging and maintaining your car’s battery and can withstand more extreme temperatures than budget-orientated options. The top end NOCOs and CTEK CS Free also double up as power banks, packed with USB sockets. This inevitably adds to their capabilities as useful items, which budget battery chargers simply don’t match.
However, if all you ever want is a device to charge and condition your car battery – and you can do so in an environment which isn’t testing the temperatures to the extreme, budget-orientated battery chargers do make a great deal of sense.
How much should I spend on a battery charger?
The average for a decent top-end unit is around £170-£200. Anything over is bordering on the lines of excessive, and a circa £170 item should give you all the capabilities you’ll ever need. In terms of a budget battery charger, a good quality unit from a trusted brand under £70 will be sufficient for your battery charging needs.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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