Best Deep Cycle Battery Chargers (Review and Buying Guide) in 2023

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Vehicle batteries lose their charge just like any standard battery, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy a brand new one. You can instead choose to charge them with a deep cycle battery charger. The chargers work by slowly providing power to the old battery until you’re able to successfully start the engine of the vehicle. Having the best deep cycle battery charger can save you time and money as well. Here are a few of the top-rated battery chargers for you to consider.

Benefits of Deep Cycle Battery Charger

Avoid replacing the battery. Replacing an old battery isn’t all that difficult, but it can be a time-consuming process. You may need a certain set of tools or have to find the right angle to reach the dead battery. However, all batteries should be simple to take out by loosening bolts and disconnecting the clamps, but this isn’t the case with all vehicles. If you have a deep cycle battery charger, you can skip all of the manual labor and just clamp on the cables and let it go to work. Many even come with extra features such as overcharge protection, quick charging, alternator check, and stage charging.
Save time. Aside from swapping out the old battery for a new one, having the best deep cycle battery charger will help you save time. You won’t have to bring it to a shop to have a professional mechanic charge it up. Owning a high-quality deep cycle battery charger will make sure you’re prepared anytime batteries need charging.
Safer for your battery. Connecting a deep cycle battery charger to your deep cycle battery is safer and more efficient. They are designed to charge batteries slowly in an effort to not damage the plates. A regular battery charger rapidly charges a battery, not giving a sufficient amount of time for the battery acid to penetrate the plates. Finding a deep cycle battery with a lower amount of amps is best for charging deep cycle batteries.

Types of Deep Cycle Battery Charger

Charger

The name basically covers the gist of this battery charger. This is the most basic form of chargers you can find, They restore and revive the power in your battery, even if it is completely out of juice. These are the most common types of battery chargers, and their universal fit makes them capable of providing the correct amperage to your vehicle no matter if it has a marine battery, AGM battery, gel battery, or any other type of battery.

Restorer

As a more expensive type of battery charger, a restorer works by breaking down any contaminants built up in the battery’s cells. These block the battery from receiving power, but with the best-rated restorer is able to clear the cell block out and bring power to your battery once again. They are seen more in professional garages or shops than in the home.

Maintainer

As the name suggests, these are built to maintain the charge of a battery. This prevents them from completely discharging all of their energy and work best as quick fixes and may help extend the battery life.

Top Brands

Black+Decker

Perhaps one of the most well-known names when it comes to power tools and more, Black+Decker products can be found at nearly any hardware store. The company was founded in 1910 by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker in Maryland. One of its more high-quality battery chargers is the Black+Decker Fully Automatic Waterproof Battery Charger.

NOCO

NOCO is a well-known brand that 1914. The company has been a trusted name in many mechanic garages due to the product line’s durability and resilience. One such charger it makes is the NOCO Genius G1100 Battery Charger and Maintainer.

Deep Cycle Battery Charger Pricing

$50 and under: Battery chargers in this range don’t offer too much in terms of extra gadgets. Most chargers here have lower voltage outputs, so they might not be able to handle large vehicle batteries as well.
$50-$100: This is where you’ll find the standard range for car battery chargers. You’ll see larger voltages here plus a few options with extra features and accessories.
$100 and above: Higher-end car battery chargers tend to be beefier and come with more voltage plus the added bonus of extra features.

Key Features

Power Capabilities

Finding a deep cycle battery charger that is able to adapt to fit your specific battery is a must. Not all vehicle batteries operate at the same amperage or amp hours, so the charger has to be able to discern what amps it needs to properly charge a specific battery. Automatic battery chargers or smart chargers have the ability to detect the required amps and distribute the necessary voltage, making the charging process safer and easier. Some chargers also have charge phases that can read and adapt to the battery and adjust the charging mode accordingly.

Other Considerations

Charge Time: Noting the average charging time of a battery is difficult to discern. That all depends on the type of battery and the charger being used. Charging a battery to full can be a lengthy process, taking 2-10 hours. If you are using a smaller deep cycle battery charger, it may take even longer.
Ease of Use: Hooking up a battery charger shouldn’t be a difficult process. Generally, you just clamp on the positive and negative clamps, plug the charger into an outlet, and let it go. However, on some chargers, you may have to mess with the settings beforehand. Finding an automatic charger that can adjust accordingly to the battery will save you time and lead to a faster charge.

Best Deep Cycle Battery Charger Reviews & Recommendations 2020

Best Overall

NOCO Genius GEN1

Best Value

NOCO Genius G1100 Battery Charger and Maintainer

Honorable Mention

Schumacher SC1281

Honorable Mention

Battery Tender Junior 6V

Honorable Mention

NOCO Genius G750 Battery Charger and Maintainer

Honorable Mention

TowerTop 12V Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer

Honorable Mention

Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer

Honorable Mention

Schumacher SP1296 6/12V Fully Automatic Battery Charger and 2A Maintainer

Honorable Mention

STANLEY BC25BS Smart 12V Battery Charger for Car/Marine Charging

Honorable Mention

ADPOW 5A 12V Automatic Smart Battery Charger Automotive Maintainer

Tips

To make sure you get a good clean charge without interference, you should clean the battery terminals before attaching the clamps.
Do not clamp the positive cable to the negative terminal or vice versa. They are color-coded for ease of access.
Make sure to remove the key from the ignition and switch off all lights and electrical circuits connecting the battery charger.
Never put on a battery charger while the battery or the terminals are wet. This can ignite the battery or cause a spark.

FAQs

Q: Why can’t I just jump-start the battery and have it charge that way?

A: While you do get a small short charge with a jumpstart, it won’t be a permanent solution. You can leave the engine running for a time with a jump, but a battery charger will ensure you won’t have to jump it to get it started.

Q: Does it matter which terminal I connect first?

A: You’ll want to connect the clamp to the positive power terminal first. You can tell which one is correct by seeing a plus sign or red color for positive and a minus sign or black color for negative.

Q: What’s the best way to clean the battery terminals?

A: The buildup of sulfation occurs over time and may leave behind a powder. To make sure you properly clean away any sulfuric acid residue from the terminals, you should use a wire brush. Afterward, you can spray them with an anti-corrosion spray. Wait until the spray is dry to plug in the battery charger.