At 6Ah, the internal battery has less stamina than many here, but that's only a problem if you intend many starting attempts between charges.

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. SpecificationsDraper's take on the compact charger may be bulky but we can forgive that because this brand new model offers a lot at a price that neatly undercuts market rivals like CTEK and NOCO.

Otherwise the CT5 is typically CTEK: well made, with fast charging, and sporting dedicated modes for AGM batteries and reconditioning. What Car? rating Four stars out of five 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. We’ve seen some slow chargers in our testing, but this Topdon needed 34 hours to hit 80 per cent. It is rated at just 4A, so was always going to struggle here, but a day-and-a-half was not expected. The primary cause was a seven-hour break it took after working for little over half a day. It did eventually restart, but it’s not what you need when you have a car with a flat battery. It is also not the most intuitive unit to use, requiring a double button press to start charging.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. You also have to consider what kind of battery you have: lead-acid, AGM (an advanced version of lead-acid) or lithium-ion. Some batteries are versatile enough to support multiple technologies, others not so much. You often find versatility has a direct correlation with price. 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. 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. There’s a distinct old-school feel to this hefty, metal-cased RAC charger with its analogue gauge. The instructions feel the same, while plugging it in results in a hot electronics smell and a vibration. Despite 12A on the box, the instructions and gauge have max output at 8A – and we saw 4A as it took 16 hours to hit 80 per cent. At least it had no trouble in the EMC tests. There are better, more modern solutions.

It can be connected to a Lead-Acid or Lithium battery for a long duration without the risk of overcharging Strangely, for such a sophisticated model, the unit is not sealed to IP65 standards, so must only be used indoors. Can be connected to a Lead-Acid or Lithium battery for a long duration without the risk of overcharging Anything of a nature that for hygiene or associated health and safety - this includes the Outdoor Spas, Mattresses and Divan SetsStarting performance is excellent, with the higher price reflecting a slightly raised output compared with the our award winners. But top-up charging is required every 2-3 months, and the booster leads are a touch short. Charges and maintains 6V and 12V Lead-Acid batteries and 12V Lithium batteries at 100% for a long duration 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.

If this was only marginally smaller it would be a true dual purpose buy: a replacement for your everyday USB charger which is able to revive your car as well. With that said, read on for our buying guide on how to buy the right car battery charger for you, alongside our roundup of some of the best options available. The best car battery chargers you can buy in 2023 1. NOCO Genius10 Smart Charger: Best portable car battery charger

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. Charges and maintains 6V* and 12V Lead-Acid batteries and 12V Lithium batteries at 100% for a long duration We prefer models with built-in safety features and alerts, to warn against wrongful connection, dead shorts, and a low charge on the car battery, when being used as a jump starter. Such alerts may just save you damaging your jump starter and your car’s delicate electronics.