What Is 2020’s Best Battery Maintainer?
You want to have the best battery maintainer so you can charge and store your vehicle without worrying about damaging the battery.
Battery maintainers not only charge your battery, but they also keep it charged while you’re not using it. These devices are an excellent solution for vehicles that are put into long-term storage or rarely driven.
Quick Picks: Compare 2020’s Best Battery Maintainers
Page Contents
- Battery Maintainer Reviews
- Battery Tender Plus
- NOCO Genius G3500
- Black + Decker BM3B
- Motopower MP00205A
- Leicestercn
- ADPOW
- Optima Digital 400
- Ampeak
- KATBO
- Schumacher SC1320
- The Difference Between a Battery Charger and Maintainer
- What Do Battery Maintainers Work On?
- Important Features to Consider
- Battery Type
- Safety Features
- Battery Repair
- Type of Connectors
- Power Source
- Charge Speed
- Display
- Diagnostics
- Automatic Process
- Final Thoughts
Battery Maintainer Reviews
Battery maintainers are a two for one device. When your car battery dies, you can pop a battery maintainer on to charge it. That’s pretty useful when you’re somewhere without anyone else around. However, it will take a while to get enough power to start.
But battery maintainers have more features than just charging your battery. The best battery maintainers can stay hooked to your battery without causing damage.
In fact, there are battery maintainers that can actually make old batteries work like new. Some battery maintainers can revive dead battery cells that you thought were burnt entirely, including down to 1.5V.
Batteries can drain if they aren’t used often enough. But using a battery maintainer keeps your battery charged, even if you don’t use it very often. If you have a vehicle that you keep stored for months at a time without use, battery maintainers can keep your battery working like new, so you don’t lose money buying a new one.
We have chosen ten of the Best Battery Maintainers available on the market today. These each have different features, so take the time to find which option would be best for you.
Battery Tender Plus
The best battery maintainer if you need a quick charge to a 12V battery in a hard to reach area.
The Battery Tender Plus is a small 1.25, quick charging 12-volt battery charger and maintainer. It is fully automatic, so once your battery is fully charged, it switches to float mode, which keeps your battery charged while not in use.
It includes a quick connect harness for hard to reach locations, alligator clips, and tender ring terminals. The front of the box is a bit simplistic, only including a green light that comes on when the maintainer is in float mode, or a red light when the battery is charging.
The power cord is 6 feet, 18AWG, the DC output cord, 4.5 feet, 18 AWG, and the DC accessory length is 1.5 feet, 18 AWG. It has safety features like reverse polarity protection, as well as being spark-proof. It also has a ten-year warranty.
Pros
- Spark-proof, reverse polarity protection safety features
- Quick 1.25A quick charge
- Quick-connect harness included
Cons
- Only works on 12V batteries
- No diagnostic information displayed
NOCO Genius G3500
This is the greatest all-in-one battery charger/maintainer for your 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries.
The NOCO Genius G3500 is a battery charger and maintainer that charges at 3.5A. This device works with all kinds of 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries, including Wet, Gel, and AGM, deep-cycle, marine, and maintenance-free. It even operates on Lithium batteries. It’s seven chargers in one.
Advanced charging technology allows you to hook this maintainer up to your battery and forget about it. It automatically switches from charge to float once the battery is fully charged. It even has an Advanced Repair Mode, which can reverse damage from uncharged/unused batteries.
It comes with a 5-year warranty and includes safety features like spark-proof and reverse polarity technology and overcharge protection. It also has battery clamps and O ring connectors.
Pros
- Works with all battery types of 6V or 12V
- 3.5A charge
- Automatic
Cons
- Slower charge than 1.25A
- Repair mode only works on 12V batteries
Black + Decker BM3B
Check out the ultimate easy-to-use, affordable battery maintainer for 6V and 12V batteries.
The Black + Decker BM3B is a fully automatic battery charger and maintainer that works on 6V and 12V AMG, gel, and wet batteries. This maintainer works on vehicles, boats, RVs, ATVs, and more. It’s the ultimate battery charger/maintainer combo.
After the battery has reached a full charge, the maintainer automatically switches to float mode. This ETL certified battery maintainer has excellent safety features like built-in circuit protection, reverse polarity, and short-circuiting protection.
It comes with alligator clips, O rings, and a limited 1-year warranty. It also has a mounting bracket built-in for easy placement. The AC cord is about six feet in length, and the cables are also about six feet.
Pros
- Works with 6V and 12V batteries
- ETL certified
- Automatic
Cons
- Limited warranty
- Fewer safety features compared to other maintainers.
Motopower MP00205A
The ultimate compact easy to use battery maintainer for your vehicles, motorcycles, marine, RV, and more.
The Motopower MP00205A is the ultimate automatic 12V charger and maintainer. It’s compact enough to carry anywhere and works with a wide variety of lead-acid batteries, including AGM and gel cell.
Once plugged up, this maintainer automatically switches from charging to floating. The easy to read display includes four lights, so you’ll always know what mode the maintainer is running in. It has been certified by CE, CEC, RoHS, and UL.
It comes with alligator clips, O rings, and a harness for quick connection. There’s a two-year warranty, and it includes safety features like overcharge, reverse polarity, and short circuit protection, as well as being spark-proof.
Pros
- Plenty of safety features
- Highly certified
- Automatic
Cons
- Only works on 12V batteries
- Slower charge
Leicestercn
An excellent trickle battery charger and maintainer that can even help repair your battery.
The Leicestercn works with 6V and 12V Pb, SLA, VRLA, Gel, and AGM lead-acid batteries. Automatically detects the type of battery you connect, but it has to be manually set to 12V for motorcycle and car batteries.
This maintainer has a six-stage automatic charging method and automatically turns to float mode after the battery has fully charged. The LCD screen provides diagnostic information about damaged batteries and whether they can be repaired.
It has safety features like spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection. You’ll get alligator clips, O rings, and a three-year warranty and twelve-month refund.
Pros
- 6 stage automatic charge
- Works on 6V and 12V batteries
- LCD diagnostic information and smart repair
Cons
- Have to set for 12V motorcycle and car batteries manually
- Limited safety features
You may also be interested in: How do you install a car battery?
ADPOW
An excellent battery charger and maintainer for 12V batteries with a seven-stage automatic charging process.
This ADPIW battery charger and maintainer has an intelligent charging mode, which cycles your battery through seven stages to get a full charge and improved battery health and performance.
The easy to read LED display lets you see what part of the charging process your battery is in, including if there is a problem with the battery and a power-on indicator.
This maintainer charges completely drained 12V batteries with an input of 100-240V AC and 12V DC, 5A output. It works with Pb, SLA, Gel, AGM, VRLA, and sealed lead-acid batteries. Safety features include protection from short circuits, OVP, OCP, overload, and polarity reverse.
This device is water and dustproof and lightweight and compact enough to carry and store anywhere. It comes with alligator claims, O ring connectors, and an SAE quick-release connector. You also get a lifetime warranty and a 30-day refund.
Pros
- Simple LED display
- Seven stage mode
- Water and dustproof
Cons
- Only works on 12V batteries
- Doesn’t provide detailed diagnostic information
Optima Digital 400
A fully automatic battery charger and maintainer that can repair your damaged 12V batteries to provide extended life and performance.
Optima Digital 400 has a built-in health mode that automatically improves 12V battery performance and life. The LCD display includes an LED battery charging gauge and allows you to monitor changes and maintenance.
It can recover dead batteries down to 1.25V. It has a dual purpose hook and tile stand as well as a built-in wall organizer bracket on the back for secure storage. You’ll get alligator clips, O rings, but no warranty.
The Optima is fully automatic, switching from charge to float once the battery is fully charged. It has conditioning, maintaining, storage reconditioning mode, and multi-stage performance charging.
Pros
- Fully automatic multi-stage performance
- Recovers drained batteries down to 1.25V
- Built-in health mode
Cons
- Only works for 12V batteries
- No warranty
Ampeak
The Ampeak battery charger and maintainer can be used for 6V and 12V batteries with the option for a slow or quick charge.
The Ampeak battery charger and maintainer works with 6V and 12V batteries. It uses a 2A trickle charge and 8A quick charge.
The fully automatic process runs through a seven-stage charging process and switches to float as soon as the battery is charged for 12V. The 6V battery goes through a three-stage process.
This device will attempt to repair damaged 12V batteries with high voltage up to 15.8V. It has a digital display, automatic shutdown, and protection against overcharge, over-voltage, overheat, and over-charging. It also prevents short-circuiting and has a reverse polarity LED indicator.
Pros
- Slow or quick charge
- Works with 6V and 12V batteries
- 7-stage charging process for 12V, 3-stage for 6V
Cons
- Can’t repair 6V batteries
- Only comes with alligator clips, no O ring connectors
KATBO
The Katbo is an ultimate battery charger and maintainer that works for 6V and 12V batteries with an easy to understand LCD screen.
The Katbo automatic battery charger and maintainer can automatically adjust the charge current and maintainability to provide a 2A or 6A charge to your 120AH 6V or 12V lead-acid battery.
You can manually switch from 2A to 6A. 2A is ideal for batteries below 45AH. 6A for batteries above 45AH. Or let the microprocessor automatically detect the voltage.
Once your battery is charged, it powers off with automatic shutdown and continues to monitor the voltage so you can be sure your battery stays charged. It protects against overcharge, overheating, short-circuiting, and reverse protection.
Use the LCD digital display to view the battery voltage and charge status using the LED indicator.
Pros
- 2A or 6A charge
- Automatic
- Works with 6V and 12V batteries
Cons
- Slow charge
- Doesn’t repair batteries
Schumacher SC1320
A great 6V or 12V battery maintainer with automated features that charge at 6A to improve battery life and performance.
The Schumacher SC1320 works with 6V and 12V batteries with automatic voltage detection to charge your battery with 6A. The microprocessor provides a multi-stage charge process to improve your battery life.
It has reverse hookup protection. An indicator light will let you know if the included clamps are hooked wrong. We love the sleek design, which is built to withstand rugged use.
This device automatically switches from charge to float once your battery is fully charged. In float mode, it continues to monitor your battery to keep it at an optimal charge. It works with standard and AGM batteries.
This battery maintainer does not have an informative panel to let you know what stage of charging the battery is in. All it shows is a green light to indicate it is on. Compared to the other battery maintainers on this list, this is a disappointment.
Pros
- Automatic detection and function
- Works with 6V and 12V batteries
- Reverse hookup protection
Cons
- Only uses 6A charge
- Doesn’t work with dead batteries
The Difference Between a Battery Charger and Maintainer
Many people think that a battery maintainer will come to the rescue if you find yourself stranded on the side of the road. It’s important to remember that battery maintainers are meant to keep your battery charged while it’s not in use.
Most battery maintainers won’t work on a battery that has been completely drained. Make sure you check for this feature if that is a concern for you. If you’re using your battery maintainer to charge your battery on the side of the road, be prepared to wait.
These types of chargers do not provide an immediate boost of power to jump-start your truck. They require time to charge your battery. The speed will be determined by the output source of your battery maintainer.
What Do Battery Maintainers Work On?
Battery maintainers can work on a variety of different vehicles. It depends on the voltage as to what the device can use. If you’re just looking for a battery maintainer that will work on your small engines like your outdoor gear, a 6V battery maintainer would most likely work just fine.
But for larger batteries like a truck, RV, or motorcycles, you’ll need a 12V battery maintainer. These machines can work on anything with a battery, including your kid’s small ride-on Powerwheels toys and golf carts. But you can also use them on your RV, lawnmowers, boats, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and even large 18-wheeler diesel trucks.
Important Features to Consider
When you’re getting ready to buy a battery maintainer, there are some criteria you’ll want to consider before making a selection. Not all battery maintainers have the same features, so you’ll want to make sure you pick one that suits your needs.
Battery Type
There are different types of batteries for various devices. If you’re looking for a battery maintainer that will charge a car battery, you’ll want a maintainer that can charge 12V. But batteries for vehicles like ATVs, lawnmowers, and boats, you’ll need a 6V charger.
Your best option is to find a battery maintainer that can charge both 6V and 12V so you won’t need to buy two separate battery maintainers. You’ll also want to make sure it can handle different battery types like lead-acid, flooded, or gel cell.
Safety Features
Most battery maintainers come with basic safety features like protection from short-circuiting and overcharging. Look for a battery maintainer that automatically switches from charge to float so your battery doesn’t get overcharged.
You can also find some maintainers that have protection against overheating, reverse polarity – when you hook the connectors up the wrong way – and spark-proof. If you’re going to be hooking your battery maintainer up to a vehicle that won’t be used frequently, you’ll want to be sure it’s completely safe.
Battery Repair
All battery maintenance devices have the option of floating, which is when the machine stops charging once the battery is full, but continues to monitor the battery to keep it fully charged.
But some battery maintenance devices have the feature of being able to charge drained or dead batteries down to 1.25V, as well as to repair batteries to improve the life and performance of the battery. These are great features that you would want to consider if you’re charging batteries that have been unused for a long time.
Type of Connectors
When you’re charging your battery, you might need to use different connectors. Not all batteries work with alligator clips. Some battery maintainers come with alligator clips and O ring connectors.
A bonus is when you find battery maintainers that also include quick attach harnesses. These devices allow you to hook up to hard to reach places so you don’t have to remove your battery to charge it.
Power Source
A significant factor you’ll need to consider about your battery maintainer is how it runs. Most battery maintainers run through an AC adaptor – home outlet or a DC output – your car cigarette lighter.
Because battery maintainers are meant to be plugged up to your battery and left alone, they usually aren’t battery-powered. If you’re going to be using your battery maintainer while on the road, make sure your device can be powered via DC output and not just an AC adaptor.
Charge Speed
There might be times when you need your battery to be charged quickly. Some battery maintainers charge using 2A, which is a bit slower than charging with 1.25. But you might find some maintainers that use 4A, 6A, or even a super quick 8A.
2A is ideal for batteries below 45AH. 6A for batteries above 45AH. The size of your battery will determine which charge speed would be best. Pay attention to the descriptions of each maintainer so you can be sure it meets your needs.
Display
Battery maintainers come with different types of display screens. Some displays use light indicators to let you know which part of the charging process your battery is in. Other displays might indicate that you have a faulty battery.
It helps to have a detailed but easy to read display on your chargers so you can be informed of your battery’s progress, as well as if there’s something wrong with the battery that you should address.
Diagnostics
Not all battery maintenance machines are created equally. Some devices don’t tell you if the battery is faulty. If you’re concerned that your battery has an issue, you might want to look for a battery maintainer that includes diagnostics.
These machines usually also have the ability to repair your battery’s issues. Unfortunately, these extra features frequently mean that the device will have a higher price tag.
Automatic Process
The great thing about battery maintainers is that once you connect them to your battery, you don’t need to do anything else. Battery maintainers typically come with an automatic process that detects when your battery has reached full charge.
Once the battery is done charging, the machine will flip over to a float mode. During this process, the device will continue to test the battery for a charge. If the battery has lost power due to not being used, the battery maintainer will recharge up to full again.
Final Thoughts
Battery maintainers slowly charge your battery and then continue to monitor the power level after charging so your battery stays ready to use. These devices are typically connected to a vehicle that is not frequently used, like marine craft, motorcycles, lawnmowers, antique cars, and RVs. Hook the device up to your battery and walk away.
But you can also use them on your vehicle if you have a battery that isn’t performing at full strength. For this need, you might want to look for a battery maintainer that has diagnostic and repair abilities. Battery maintainers are a great tool to keep on hand for all your battery performance needs.
