POWER-hungry electronics, mindless mistakes and the Beast from the East – all can leave your battery in need of some serious TLC.
Is there anything more frustrating than dashing out of the door, only to find the car won’t turn over?
We’ve all left an interior light or headlight on. In spite of new cars beeping alerts left, right and centre, modern life means mistakes can still be made.
And no-one can avoid the fact, batteries don’t like the cold. What’s more, some of the new tech making its way into cars, such as Start/Stop technology, can be juice-guzzling brutes.
The good news is car battery chargers are getting smaller and smaller but their power is getting greater and better.
You can mitigate the inconvenience to your day, by keeping the car regularly driven and storing a car battery charger in your boot or garage.
If you don’t live with others, have a set of jump leads at hand or, in the words of Kelly Clarkson, be Miss Independent – a small spend can save a lot of stress.
Follow our guide to keep you fully charged with the best portable car battery chargers for 2019.
The Phaze 4-in-1 jump starter can be used on any petrol and diesel engines up to two litres and on all types of gel, wet and dry batteries.
The 17-amp charging power is non-spill and conveniently maintenance free. This mid-priced unit will also charge batteries.
There’s a USB power supply that is suitable to phone chargers, games consoles and other similar items.
Its versatility makes it the perfect travel companion, so you’ll never get stuck while trying to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation.
This jump starter power pack from Halfords is your ultimate go-to power pack, offering great value-for-money.
It jump starts, inflates and powers all from the one easy-to-store unit, making it great for camping trips. This lightweight power pack features an LED power status indicator, letting you know how much charge is left in the unit too.
Better suited to cars, rather than vans, the multi-tasking nature of this power pack makes it a must-have for all drivers.
Keep it in an accessible place, so you can jump start and be on your way within minutes.
Ideal for small-medium sized cars, the Halfords Automatic Battery Charger suits those who aren’t familiar with these chargers.
It won’t jump start you, but can put you back on the road in a few hours.
The unit shows when the charge cycle is complete. It also alerts you if the insulated clamps are connected incorrectly.
Cleverly, the charger switches to a lower charge rate once it detects the battery is full, protecting it from overcharging.
Unfortunately, this battery isn’t suitable for vehicles with the Start/Stop feature, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if your car has this fancy eco-friendly tech.
In all the years the AA has served motorists, it’s worked out a product range to resolve the biggest car complaints and breakdown problems.
It’s no surprise then, that this 6A/12V Smart Trick charger has made its way onto that product line-up. With an in-built microprocessor and an LED display that senses the conditions of the battery, it provides the correct current and voltage that suits the needs of your specific car battery.
Resistant to dust and water, it’s durable and users have reported it to outperform more expensive versions.
Great for lead and acid batteries, this Streetwize 12V Compact battery charger is best for those on a budget.
Double insulated to protect against thermal overload, like other chargers, it is portable, robust, provides LEDs to show the current charging levels and will protect you and your battery if the connectors aren’t positioned correctly.
It provides good charging of all types of batteries, for up to 10 hours and reliably charges from a flat state – saving you much inconvenience if you’ve left a light on.
Multiple award-winner CTEK knows its batteries better than almost anyone else on the market.
That kind of expertise comes with a hefty price tag so it often out-prices itself from the average consumer.
That said, performance is second-to-none.
So if you can afford to splash the cash, the CTEK Time to go CT5 will get you back in the road in no time, taking your battery safely from flat to full overnight.
It supports with most electronic systems, too, so if your motor has Start/Stop, this Auto Express test winner is your best choice.
Pipping the CTEK to the post on price – US-based NOCO is CTEK’s main rival.
Both brands are pretty competitive on performance and will support a wider range of more technically based vehicles—good for multi-car households, where the tech differs significantly.
Clear indicators tell you how full your battery is and this spark-proof battery charger comes with various power limits.
Like the CTEK, it won’t jump start your car, like others on this list but this charger can also support other products like lawnmowers, motorbikes and tractors.
If you’re planning on giving your car a bit of love, check out our selection of the best car wax, pressure washers, and car polish.
Enjoyed our roundup of the best car battery chargers? Check out our dedicated Sun Selects motoring section.
To browse our full range of Sun Selects recommendations, be sure to head back to the Sun Selects page.
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