OUR CRITERIA

USABILITY Nobody likes short leads or complex display panels, so a point each is available for the following: adequate lead lengths, a clear and intuitive front panel, sealed construction allowing unsupervised outdoor usage, and a quick-link adapter to ease connection to batteries in awkward positions. A final point’s for grabs for chargers with enhanced safety features.

VERSATILITY Compatibility with 6-volt and lithium batteries earn a point each. We also award a point for each of the following dedicated cycles: AGM battery charging (AGMS will charge significantly quicker with a dedicated cycle) and power supply output (for running 12volt accessories or maintaining vehicle electronics during a battery swap). High max charging currents allow rapid early stage charging of large, depleted batteries, and obviously give freedom to run thirstier accessories in power supply mode. So only max outputs of 8 Amps or more get this next point. And as so many of us have to work on cars well away from mains sockets, cordless operation rounds off this section with another potential point.

RECONDITIONING Many smart chargers incorporate a light plate cleaning cycle into their normal operation. But heavier duty muck shifting – essential for reversing damage in a recently heavily discharged battery – always has to be selectable because it becomes detrimental if done too often. Another point’s available for this feature. The next point is only available for chargers that will recogniseand charge the most heavily discharged batteries. Specifically, they must work with batteries with an internal voltage of two or less.

EXTRAS Our final point goes to chargers with extra functions, such as boost/jump starting, diagnostics, or maybe even longterm maintenance charging options.