11 Best Battery Trickle Charger Review & Buying Guide

Alex Clarkson
Alex Clarkson

If you have to leave your vehicle unused for a long time, or perhaps have a faulty car battery, you could really benefit with the best battery trickle charger.

These are handy little devices, which you use to produce a low but regular electrical charge for your battery. Plus, it helps ensure the car battery never goes flat, improving its longevity and long-term performance. Also, remember that letting a battery fully discharge can have serious side effects.

With a good trickle charger, you can forget about all these issues. It’s a simple tool you can buy by choosing the correct model and can save you the hassles in the long run. Thus, we have prepared this useful guide to help you choose the right charger for your needs. 

Let us dive right into it:

Best Battery Trickle Charger from A Glance

Best Overall

Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer  

Best Value

Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger 12V 1000mA Smart Battery Charger 

Another Top Pick

Battery Tender Junior Charger and Maintainer 

Best for Ease of Use

NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger 

How to Buy the Best Battery Trickle Charger

We have prepared this comprehensive list of the best trickle chargers. Just as we mentioned, these are useful tools and can ensure you never experience a flat battery, even if you have to store your car for a long duration. A good example will be if you have a summer drop-top vehicle, which would not necessarily be practical for the winter months. 

A flat battery can be a “pain in the neck,” and it’s good to have such a device to help you stop any such future complications. We have the guide below to help you get started:

For Starters

One might ask, “what is a trickle charger.” According to Wikipedia, it refers to using the correct self-discharge rate for battery when charging. As such, this type of charging ensures the battery always maintains a full charge. However, such a process will only occur when you don’t have any devices connected to the battery. Why? It’s because the trickle charger won’t be able to sustain the power demands of all these devices. A battery that is under such a state is referred to as the “float mode.”

Types of Trickle Charger

What a better place to start this guide off than learning about the common types of trickle charger types you can find on the market. They include:

  • Dumb – these types get this name from the fact they have simple components and are easy to set up for power supply. Plus, they are also affordable, powerful, and easy to use. You can also use them to charge batteries of different sizes, which is not easy to achieve with most traditional chargers. 
  • Smart – it’s a more modern charger design, which is costly than what you can expect with basic chargers. As technology improves, the prices of such accessories also decrease significantly. The advantage of these charge types is they are simple to set up. You connect them to the power supply, and they will automatically calibrate the power supply. Some even feature inbuilt monitors, which you can customize to suit the charge level of the battery. Thus, these types are relatively safe and perfect for longevity purposes. 

Battery Maintainers vs. Trickle Chargers

These two machines might be similar, but each has two distinctive aspects. For instance, a maintainer will cut off the power supply once the battery is full. Plus, it also regulates the charge by switching on the power supply when it drops to a specific level. Once the battery is full, the charger will switch back off automatically. 

On the contrary, a trickle charger won’t shut off automatically. On the contrary, it will deliver a continuous charge and requires intervention from the user to switch off. Remember that a battery loses power when its not connected to a power supply. A trickle charger solves this problem by delivering a constant power supply.

What Do They Do?

All chargers have the role of directing a power supply to the battery in your car. Expect a car battery charger to perform the following functions. They include:

  • Maintenance charging – its also referred to as “trickle” charging, which supplies a small amount of electricity to the battery. It’s a process that helps maintain the health of your battery for long durations.
  • Conventional charging – these types involve directing power to your battery to charge your battery that has a low amount of energy. Expect the process to take between 6-24 hours to complete, with factors such as battery being important. 
  • Engine start function – refers to the amount of power required to start your car, and these charger types are capable of these as well.

Smart Chargers

These types are suitable for charging your battery or setting up long term connections for maintenance charging applications. Usually, they can detect the ideal charging mode and switch the charging process once the battery is full. Also, with one of these units, you won’t experience overcharging or any advanced damage to your battery.

Which Type is Ideal?

If you know the charging you want to perform, there are a few factors to consider when investing in a suitable charger. They include:

  • The engine size – what is the size of your engine. The size of the engine is directly proportional to the size of the battery in your car. Thus, a big engine means that you also require a large battery for the best results. Ensure you go for a charger that is suitable for the size of your car.
  • Type of battery – determine the type of battery you have in the car. The lead-acid type is suitable for all kinds of chargers, as long as they are compatible. However, it’s different for the gel or calcium batteries, as you have to get chargers suitable for the task. 

Features of The Best Battery Trickle Charger

  • Recommended uses – the ideal trickle charger can perform various types of charging. It should charge lead-acid batteries, flooded(wet) calcium type deep cycle, GEL, AGM batteries, and more. Remember to consult with the battery brand before investing. The battery should be compact so that you can use it to recharge your batteries fast. Usually, a good battery is suitable for charging batteries for cars, trucks, RVs, tractors, etc.
  • Smart charging functions – some of the high-end brands we have on this list can perform controlled charging procedures. These are chargers that regularly evaluate the battery level and adjust the output voltage related to the battery charge status. Plus, some high-end types even come with LED indicators that will show the charging status at specific levels. These types will stop the charging process once the battery charges fully. 
  • Multipurpose battery – the ideal charger will automatically change to maintenance mode and also deliver a constant pulse to maintain the battery level. These types are perfect for longevity and to stop battery stratification or sulfation issues. Expect features such as multi-protection also help provide safety against short circuits, OVP/OCP/overload, and reversed polarity complications. These maintainer types are also suitable for charging AGM/VRLA/SLA/WET batteries. 
  • Heavy-duty structures – a good charger is built to last. The good brands have a fully sealed outer case, which will provide dust, oil, and moisture resistant benefits. Plus, they also work well to prevent corrosion or any other damaging side effects associated with the weather. Check for metrics such as the “IP65” rating, which helps protect the charger from the harsh requirements associated with the environment. 

Top 11 Battery Trickle Charger Reviews 2024

Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer 

Battery Tender Plus Charger and...
  • STAY CHARGED: The 1.25 amp charger provides a full charge to your powersports...
  • EASY, FAST CHARGING: A low maintenance design to be quick and easy to use even...

When you have the Battery Tender plus charger and maintainer, you have a reliable and robust solution for your batteries. This 1.25-amp charger can provide a full charge, making it perfect for automatic charging of power sports devices. It can automatically change to “float mode” while maintaining the correct voltage levels with overcharging issues.

With the highly unique low maintenance design, this unit is quick and easy to use even when you have to work in a small space. The charger is powerful, and the maintainer works fast than the conventional 3-amp charger on the market.

As one of the best trickle chargers on the market, this unit is compatible with various battery types. These include the lead-acid, flooded and sealed maintenance batteries. The battery maintainer is also spark proof during lead connection and can detect reverse polarities conveniently. With such a unique combination of features, it’s easy to see why this charger can serve various power supply functions. 

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The Good

  • Powerful 1.25-amp charger offers a full range coverage
  • Low maintenance design makes it easy to use
  • Spark proof battery maintainer for convenient use
  • Has a solid-state two colour LED light 

The Bad

  • LEDs are not durable enough

Best Value

Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger 12V 1000mA Smart Battery Charger 

Foval Automatic Trickle Battery Charger...
  • (Safety with ETL Listed): Spark proof during lead connection, reverse polarity...
  • Perfect for all lead-acid, flooded or sealed maintenance free batteries (AGM and...

Feel the convenience of owning the Foval Automatic Trickle battery charger. It’s a powerful unit that offers a spark-proof lead connection and reverse polarity benefits. More so, this charger’s unique design means you can use it with your lead-acid, flooded, or seal maintenance battery. Also, the battery is capable of a 4-stage charging process. These include the initialization, bulk charge, absorption mode, and float mode.

Thanks to the intuitive LED indicators, you have reliable feedback and diagnostic information when using the trickle charger. Also, it works well to maintain your battery, such that you can have it ready for use each time. As you would expect with a high-performance charger, this unit is lightweight and fully automatic. 

Since it also comes with an ISM (Infinite Sequential Monitoring) structure, this unit can adapt to various applications. The charger will also check for the correct connection before releasing power for your batteries. 

The Good

  • Comes with intuitive LED indicators for reliable information
  • Easy to set up and use for charging applications
  • Has a four-charge mode for optimal charging results
  • Ensures safe and smart charging results 

The Bad

  • N/A 

Another Top Pick

Battery Tender Junior Charger and Maintainer 

Sale
Battery Tender 12 Volt Junior Automatic...
16,632 Reviews
Battery Tender 12 Volt Junior Automatic...
  • STAY CHARGED: Provides a full charge to your machine’s battery before...
  • EASY TO USE: Low maintenance design to be quick and easy to use, our universal...

Ensure your battery is always fully charged when you have the Battery Tender Junior Charger. It can provide a full charge for your machine before switching to the “float” mode for the ideal charge level. More so, you will also be pleased with the long-term storage and spark-proof design of the charger.

The solid-state two-color LED indicates the current state of the charge, which is highly convenient. Plus, if the battery voltage drops too far under load, the ISM adaptive charging will take over to provide the correct output power. The charger also comes with an automatic charge cycle function that offers automatic functions.

The battery charger and maintainer also feature a spark-proof lead connection, and it’s designed to detect reverse polarity complications. If the charger detects a drop in the battery voltage levels, the full charger output levels will resume. 

The low maintenance design makes this unit easy to use and highly convenient. You will be pleased with the universal power port vehicle charger and maintainer design, which is exceptionally portable. Plus, the charger’s unique design makes it suitable for charging lead-acid, flooded, or sealed/maintenance-free batteries. 

The Good

  • Has a low maintenance design for ease of use
  • Compatible with lead-acid, flooded and sealed maintenance batteries
  • Comes with a spark-proof lead connection for convenience

The Bad

  • Slightly heavy in weight

Also Remember 

NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger 

Sale
NOCO GENIUS5, 5-Amp Fully-Automatic...
  • Meet the GENIUS5 - Similar to our G3500, just better. It's 34% smaller and...
  • Do more with Genius - Designed for 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid automotive,...

Meet the NOCO GENIUS5 5 amp fully automatic smart charger. This unit might be 34% smaller, but it can provide 60% more power than the conventional trickle charger on the market. It’s a dynamic mechanism that can function as a trickle charger, battery charger, battery desulfator, etc. With its unique design, the charger is suitable to use with 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid batteries. 

These can include marine, deep cycle, AGM, and even lithium-ion batteries. Also, the ultra-unique design of the battery means that you can use it for precision charging applications. Why? Well, its because the charger comes with an integrated thermal sensor. The sensor on this unit can detect ambient temperature issues and calibrate the charge for the best results. These include responding against topics such as over and undercharging, especially in cold temperatures.

As one of the most reliable chargers on the market, this unit can power batteries as low as 1-volt. You can also use the unique “force mode” that makes it easy to control the charging process. You can even use the charger to detect battery sulfation or acid stratification complications. Thus, you have a powerful battery that ensures faster engine starts and the longevity of your battery. 

The Good

  • Suitable for 6 volt and 12 volt lead-acid batteries
  • Comes with an integrated thermal sensor for convenience
  • Can detect battery sulfation and stratification issues

The Bad

  • N/A

Automotive Trickle Charger Smart 12 Volt 750mA Battery Float Chargers 

Automotive Trickle Charger Smart 12 Volt...
  • 【SAFE AND SECURE】Our trickle charger has polarity reversed protection, OCP...
  • 【3-Stage Charging Process】The fully automatic 3-level CC-CV (H) -CV (F)...

Charging your car battery has never been this easy. The Automotive Trickle Charger smart makes up for an excellent addition to your driving regimen. The charger comes with OCP protection, OVP protection, and output connectors for optimal safety. Plus, the dust protection is user friendly and won’t burn even when used for a long duration. As a powerful mechanism, the 750-mA charger can maintain optimal power.

With a convenient 3 stage charging process, you will have a unit that stabilizes voltage and enhances charging speed. The charger will also stabilize the current to make it ideal for optimizing the battery power levels. It does not matter whether it’s a boat, golf cart, motorcycle, or watercraft – this charger functions like a reliable mechanism.

Designed to be compact, smart, and durable – this unit is perfect for various trickle charging applications. It’s a compact size charger, which is easy to store. Also, the enhanced plastic case has a high-grade fire-resistant structure, which will provide longevity. The makers of this unit have also included protected ring terminals and full insulated clamps for durability. 

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The Good

  • Comes with OCP and OVP protection functions
  • The 3 stage charging process is highly effective 
  • It has a tri-color LED which indicates the machine usage
  • The charger is compact, smart and durable 

The Bad

  • Could use a heavy-duty finish against the elements

Schumacher SC1319 1.5A 6/12V Fully Automatic Battery Maintainer 

Schumacher SC1319 1.5A 6/12V Fully...
  • Provides 1.5A to maintain your 6V or 12V battery
  • Microprocessor-controlled, with multi-stage charging for added precision,...

Realize what you have been missing when it comes to power supply with the Schumacher SC1319 battery maintainer. This unit can provide 1.5A, which is ideal for your 6V or 12V battery. Plus, the microprocessor-controlled and multi-stage charger offers the right amount of power for your devices. As such, you have a reliable charger that provides precision, safety, and optimal battery life.

Since the SC1319 best trickle charger is reliable, it can maintain and improve your battery’s performance in many ways. First, the charger provides a clean supply of power for your battery and auto-detects the power through terminals. Plus, it can also detect when the battery is full and halt the charging process. The good thing is that it can automatically resume the charging process once it detects the charge level has decreased significantly. 

The charger is also fully automatic, which means it’s easy to set up when using a quick connect harness that is highly convenient to use. As one of the best power supply units on the market, this charger is easy to set up and compatible with most automobile batteries. 

The Good

  • The powerful 1.5A battery maintainer is reliable
  • Comes with a microprocessor-controlled and multi charge design
  • The auto voltage detection is convenient
  • Has a reverse hook-up protection and easy to use clamps

The Bad

  • N/A 

BLACK+DECKER BC2WBD Fully Automatic 2 Amp 12V Waterproof Battery Charger/Maintainer 

BLACK+DECKER BC2WBD Fully Automatic 2...
  • 2 amp battery charger and maintainer is compatible with any AGM, GEL, or WET...
  • Fully automatic high frequency charging; AC low-voltage compensation ensures...

Never wake up to another dead battery when you have the BLACK + DECKER BC2WBD battery charger. This 2-amp battery charger and maintainer is compatible with various types of batteries. These include the AGM, GEL, WET, or any 12V automotive batteries. Even more, the fully automatic and high frequency charging design makes it highly convenient to use. It’s even capable of AC low voltage compensation, which ensures the charger performs at optimal levels. 

On top of that, the charger comes with the IP67 rating to mean that its completely waterproof, dustproof and can withstand exposure to the rain. Thanks to the in-built circuit protection guards, the charger can safeguard against short-circuiting, reverse polarity, etc. 

With this charger, you can charge your batteries from almost any convenient location in the home. These include charging elements and even on places such as your boat without any accidents. Since it’s a high-frequency maintainer, you can leave it connected for a long time – perfect for continuous charge maintenance. These are all features that make the charger suitable for boats, lawnmowers, motorcycles, and more. 

It’s a charger that was designed to eliminate the hassle associated with charging procedures. It even comes with three different connection mechanisms, including clamps, battery rings, and more. The charger also comes with an in-built AC low voltage mechanism for optimal performance. Thus, you can use the charger with an extension cord, and the in-built circuit protects against various issues. These include overcharging, short-circuiting, and reverse

The Good

  • 2-amp battery charger and maintainer is perfect for different battery types
  • Fully automatic and high-frequency charging
  • AC low voltage compensation for optimal performance
  • Comes with an inbuilt circuit protection guards 

The Bad

  • Could use a much more visible LED

Ampeak 2/10/25A Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer 

Ampeak 2/10/25A Smart Battery...
  • ▶Fast Smart Battery Charger◀: Quickly charging all types of 12V lead acid...
  • ▶Start Aid Button◀: Energy saving design for activating battery whose...

Fast, durable, and reliable. These are just some of the few benefits you can expect when you have the Ampeak 2/10/25A battery charger. The fast-smart charger is suitable for charging various types of batteries. These include charging the 12V lead-acid batteries, GEL, STD, and more. You can be sure of reliable power for automobiles, including motorcycles, marines, RVs, and more.

The charger has a start aid function that makes the charger highly convenient to make things better. Some engines cannot start with one 120 second cycle, and it’s why this unit has a space-saving design.

With the convenient recondition mode will work well to help reverse the damaging effects when batteries stay unused for a long duration. These are features that help to improve the performance battery and longevity. Equipped with a smart detect system, you have a charger that can detect voltage and capacity. 

It can even detect the charge rate level that will be ideal for your battery. The charger has an automatic function that will switch to “float mode” once the battery charges fully. 

The Good

  • Comes with a start aid function 
  • The advanced reconditioning mode makes the charger convenient
  • The smart detect system makes it efficient
  • Has advanced and safety protection mechanisms 

The Bad

  • The terminals are not durable

KUFUNG Trickle Charger for 12 Volt Batteries, 12V 5A Smart Automatic Battery Charger 

KUFUNG Trickle Charger for 12 Volt...
  • 【RECOMMENDED USES】This smart charger is suitable for charging any 12V lead...
  • 【VERSATILE】This compact all-in-one battery charger can be used to quickly...

We all know the frustrations associated with waking up to a dead car battery. With the Kufubg Trickle Charger, you have a more than reliable addition to your unique power supply regimen. The charger is suitable for charging various types of devices. These include lead-acid, flooded, calcium types, and VRLA batteries. The KUFUNG brand has done well to make sure this unit is compact, and with all the features you need to enjoy reliable power. 

The battery charger is available with a microprocessor-controlled switching mode. The mode works to monitor the battery level continually and adjust the output level based on its charge status. Equipped with a convenient LED indicator display, this unit will display the charge level at various stages. 

You will also be pleased to know that the charger will stop charging automatically once the battery is full. As you would expect with all high-end chargers, this unit offers various protection benefits. These include protection against OVP/OCP/Overload and reverse polarity. You will be pleased with this charger because its been built to last, and with a fully sealed outer case. It can also perform automatic charging, whereby it identifies the level of charging required for each battery. 

Owning a charger that can withstand exposure to the elements is highly important, such as when you have to use it in the snow or rain. The IP65 waterproof rating also means that the battery is safe from water and dust complications. 

The Good

  • Suitable for charging various types of automobile batteries
  • Offers 4 stage smart charging benefits
  • The multipurpose battery is ideal for multiple applications
  • The LED indicator will display the charging status of the battery

The Bad

  • Cord is slight short in length

Beleeb Battery Charger Automotive

Beleeb Battery Charger Automotive,...
  • 【Automotive Battery Charger(only for 40-150Ah) 】Beleeb battery charger is...
  • 【Trickle Charger with Voltage Adjusted】There are different voltages between...

Charging your flat battery has never been this easy. The Beleeb Battery Charger is suited for delivering high-quality power within a short time. The charger is suitable for various automobiles, including trucks, lawnmowers, caravans, boats, and more. As one of the most dynamic chargers on the market, this unit can provide various voltage levels. These include voltages that range between 12V to 72V. 

You will find it easy to select the charge through rate through the left side ampere switch. These include the “LOW” and “HIGH” settings, perfect for fast charging applications. The lower charger rate is suitable for charging the battery at night or during an emergency. These settings are crucial when you have a trickle charger, as keeping track of the specific metrics is not easy. 

Safety is a crucial factor to consider when it comes to investing in a battery charger. Thus, this unit comes with overheating, under and over voltage charging functions. With such unique functions, you have a charger that can work comfortably and safely despite the battery you have with you. The operating temperature range of this unit is also exceptional and averages between 104~149°F – perfect for use outdoors.

The Good

  • Comes with multi-protection functions
  • Quiet fan with a temperature control system
  • Suitable for use in a parallel connection

The Bad

  • Not ideal for a series that is more than 150Ah 

Aeiusny 12V Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer 

Aeiusny 12V Solar Car Battery Trickle...
  • 【Ultra-high Conversion Rate】: The 12v solar rechargeable battery adopts the...
  • 【Portable and Lightweight, Charge Anywhere】: The smallest size on the...

The Aeiusny Solar Car Battery Charger is suitable for various types of batteries, and it also promises longevity. The battery is made using a monocrystalline silicon material that can provide high levels of photoelectric conversion benefits. Plus, it also works to change electric energy and stores it in your battery effectively.

Aside from being a fully functional charger, this unit also has a heavy-duty design. Therefore, you are sure that it’s more than durable against issues such as high impact falls or even being thrown around in the trunk of your car. The charger even comes with indicator lights, making it easy to charger the battery using solar power. Since it also features a reverse diode, you are sure of an in-built mechanism that can stop discharging complications.

Thanks to the high-quality power that this unit can provide, you can use it to charger various types of batteries. These include SLA, AGM, gel, wet and deep cycle batteries. Whether it’s a car, motorcycle, marine, tractor, or more – you are sure this charger will reliable for your power supply applications. 

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The Good

  • 5w solar battery that comes with indicator lights
  • Safe to use for different types of batteries
  • Offers ultra-high conversion rates
  • Portable and lightweight charger is highly efficient

The Bad

  • Not suitable for large batteries 

Best Battery Trickle Charger: Final Thoughts

You never know when you will come across a flat battery in your automobile. Being a savvy driver, it’s good for you to stay informed to ensure the use results for your needs. In this guide, we have information on the best battery trickle charger brands you should consider. When you have one of the chargers on this list, powering your devices becomes a simple process. Get one of these units, and take your ability to maintain your batteries to the next level. Taking good care of the battery is a simple process when you have the right resources. 

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