Some battery chargers are claimed to be able to recharge disposable alkaline batteries. We recommend you don’t bother with these. We tested two (the Deluxe Battery Wizard for alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries, and another battery charger for disposable alkaline batteries) with Energizer alkaline batteries. After two cycles, on average, we found battery capacity had dropped to just 10% of its original, with huge variations. With such unreliable results, they’re not a gadget worth spending money on. You could ask the installer if it’s possible to connect to the exterior of the property without a driveway, but most will require you to have a driveway or garage and you’d also have to consider the following: Battery charging technology is constantly evolving, and many smart chargers are claimed to charge batteries in under an hour. The fastest models should be able to charge in 15 minutes – which is convenient, as you don’t need to think about charging your batteries before you want to use them. They tend to be pricier than other battery chargers, however. Slower chargers Overcharging can occur when a battery is subjected to extreme heat, a poor-quality battery charger or a broken alternator – your engine’s battery charge regulator. When a battery overcharges, the sulfuric acid and water contents of the battery start to boil, causing the plastic casing to swell and then melt. This can have disastrous and possibly dangerous consequences, but ultimately it means you need a new battery.

It won't charge a flat battery, but it'll help to keep the battery charged on a vehicle you don't use much.

The best car battery chargers you can buy in 2023

You can halve the battery's lifetime by not fully charging it regularly. This costs you money and risks your car having a breakdown. Our Battery Assist service will help you whether you're a Member or not. And you can also call us out even if it's not an emergency breakdown. 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. If you’re shopping in a supermarket, look out for offers on battery chargers; we’ve seen up to one third off a charger with AA and AAA batteries included in major supermarkets. 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.

If you think it's likely a flat battery, try jump-starting your car. 3. If you can't jump start your car, get in touch so we can charge or replace your car battery. That sinking feeling when your engine won’t turn over is one of the most unwelcome of emotions, but almost every driver has been there at some point or another. While a call to your breakdown service wll fix the issue, the best car battery chargers can help you mitigate the disruption to your day, at your own will. Finally, you’ll want to consider the maximum current the charger can support (the higher the current, the faster the charge) and what IP (ingress protection) rating it has. This basically tells you how dust- and waterproof the device and device casing is. For instance, IP68 is a great rating: it’s a completely sealed unit that can tolerate being submerged in up to one metre of water. IP44 can protect against dust particles bigger than 1mm and a light splash of water. Can’t I just replace my car battery? We connected the chargers to a series of multimeters to measure the output when they were exposed to natural sunlight at various times of day, in both overcast and sunny weather conditions. There are a few ways you can avoid getting a flat battery and help your car's battery last longer: 1. Go for regular drives

The best Black Friday battery charger deals 2023 and beyond

Make sure all electricals like heaters, windscreen wipers and stereo are off when you park or start the car. With a comprehensive array of modes, terrific build quality and intuitive functionality, the Genius10 is a bit of a, er, genius. If the price is a little bit beyond your budget, or you have a smaller vehicle, there are other NOCO Geniuses (Genii?) with lower amperage that will deliver enough for your needs. Discover lots of useful information about EVs in our beginner’s guide to electric and hybrid cars. What’s needed to charge an electric car at home?

Manufacturers often recommend that their batteries are charged best by the same brand's battery chargers. This is because they can adapt how the charger works to suit their batteries. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to charge batteries from different brands in your charger, though. We tried this out with five battery chargers and found they didn’t have any problems charging generic batteries, but were sometimes slower to charge than with batteries of the same brand as the charger. Charging alkaline batteries It takes the hassle away when you choose a professional service. Our mobile mechanics will come to you, whether you’ve broken down at home on your driveway or by the side of the road. It's easy to book a time and place that suits you online. Watch out when comparing super-fast chargers, as the times stated might only apply to a specific size of battery with a specific capacity, not the 2,300mAh AAs you have in mind.

Do you want to buy a new battery charger? Whether it's your first time buying a charger or you're replacing an old one, it’s worth knowing what extra features are worth paying for. Below, we explain what you need to know about battery chargers - including how to get the best from your charger. It’s usually fine to mix batteries of different sizes within the same charger, but you should avoid mixing batteries of different types (such as NiCad and NiMH), different voltages and capacities or old and new batteries. If you do, there’s a risk of damaging the batteries or affecting their capacity long-term. The risks are lower with chargers that charge batteries individually in slots, rather than the usual pairs, but overall it’s best to charge and use batteries of the same type, capacity and brand together, at the same time. If you don't use the car much, you can leave these connected for long periods without damaging the battery. Size of battery (kWh) x Electricity cost of your supplier (pence per kilowatt hour) = Cost to charge an electric car