Draper 53491 6V/12V Smart Charger and Battery Maintainer (10A), Black

Product Information

Scottish Highlands & Islands postcodes: AB, FK, HS, IV, KA, KW, PA, PH, ZE, LL58-LL78, IM, TR, PO30-41 Other similarities to the 7652 include 6 and 12 volt operation, a dedicated winter mode to maintain decent charge speeds in cold weather, and – less desirably – leads that are a smidgen shorter than ideal.

The charger can be connected to a Lead-Acid or Lithium battery for a long duration without the risk of overcharging. It can also be used in winter temperatures as low as -20°C. It’s easy to use and a cost-effective solution to keep batteries in good condition all year round. Specifications In stark contrast to that cutting edge lithium compatibility, the unit also has a 6 volt mode for use with considerably older technology. Noco's Jump Starters are fast becoming as popular over here as they are on the other side of the Atlantic – and with their winning combination of solid performance, safety, and foolproof ease of use, it's not hard to see why. Predictably enough, the compact form reduces starting performance, but most smaller-engined petrol and diesel cars are fair game. Recommended monthly charging is our biggest niggle. If you’re only needing a one-off charge, then easy-snap-on crocodile clips might be better. If you’re a flat dweller or your off-street parking doesn’t have convenient access to mains power, you might need to consider a portable or solar power charger.Ring's RPPL300 and our overall winner are a cut above in terms of finish and build quality. However, the RPPL300 just isn't quite as intuitive to use. Another solid performance from the IBC7, which does a lot of things well. Looking like an overgrown CTEK MXS, it has long leads and a reconditioning mode, plus can provide a 13.6V supply to maintain power when the battery is removed. As we saw last time, it was still some way off its 7A rating in the charge test and took 16 hours to hit 80 per cent. It failed the EMC test by some margin again, plus it had only IP54 moisture protection compared with many rivals’ IP65. But whilst the glossy touch-sensitive front panel looks great, we suspect its cost robs the unit of more desirable features, such as a better charge process indicator – the single LED only shows if the unit is charging or finished.

Key specs – Size : 16.8 x 6.5 x 3,8cm (LWH); Weight: 0.6kg; Voltage : 12V; Max current: 5A; IP rating: IP65; Crocodile clips: Yes; Eyelet connectors: Yes; Mains or portable: Mains; Battery compliant: Lead-acid/gel/Lithium+; Stop/start compliant: Yes; Maintaining: Yes; Jumpstarting: No; Operating temp: 10-40°C It’s important to note that car battery chargers are not jump starters. A jump starter will offer the engine the short burst needed to get it going, but from that point on, it’s the alternator that recharges the battery. This is why, if you’re ever jumpstarting your car, you’re asked to run it for a good while to replace enough of the battery, so that you don’t require a jump start when you come to drive again immediately afterwards. Which car battery charger is best? Price is another reason why lead/acid boosters are still relevant. This unit's engine cranking power slightly lags our two other award winners, but its reserve capacity is better than both and it's significantly cheaper. It's far from complex to operate but the polarity, low battery, and other warnings are relegated to a couple of tiny LEDs on the booster cable connector. And all other functions are accessed by a single button.A nicely sized, mains-powered device, you can indicate if it’s cold weather and the device will manage power delivery more intelligently to protect the battery. What’s more, there’s a choice of eyelet or crocodile connectors. The Draper 53491 6/12V Smart Charger and Battery Maintainer protects batteries in freezing temperatures

CTEK has been ahead of the game for years, and it still has a few aces to play as the rest of the market catches up. The CT5‘s unprecedented user-friendliness being a good example. Charge status, for instance, is displayed as charging time left, in hours rather than volts or percentages. The Draper 53491 BCI10 is a portable 10A smart charger that does more than just charge 6V and 12V vehicle batteries. It has the ability to activate, analyse and recondition the battery in 10-steps, making it ideal for deep discharged batteries. The charger can be connected to a Lead-Acid or Lithium battery for a long duration without the risk of overcharging. It can also be used in winter temperatures as low as -20°C. It’s easy to use and a cost-effective solution to keep batteries in good condition all year round. Now low-power functions, such as the immobiliser, won’t have such a frustrating effect when you do come to start the car (after disconnecting first). What’s more, it switches into maintenance mode to protect the battery once it has been fully charged. It also goes beyond others when dealing with poorly batteries. It'll automatically charge batteries reduced to 1 volt of internal charge, while "force" mode attempts to charge batteries in even more dire states. Anything of a nature that for hygiene or associated health and safety - this includes the Outdoor Spas, Mattresses and Divan SetsSimilarly, the bright LED torch and the override mode are simply controlled by dedicated buttons. At nearly a foot long, the booster cables allow a bit more positioning flexibility than most rivals, too. A brilliant all-rounder. Like the Genius10, dedicated modes ensure fast and efficient charging of standard 6 and 12 volt batteries, plus AGM and lithium technologies. A slightly leftfield model that marries many of the desirable features of compact smart chargers with foolproof older technology.