Car Battery Charger Recommendations

Chazzozz on 14/07/2025 - 10:12
Last edited 14/07/2025 - 18:20 by 2 other users

I haven't had to buy a charger for 20 years or more so I've no idea what the technology's like today.

My immediate need is small 12v sealed gel-acid batteries for the ride-on mower and the ones in the automatic gate opener, but I wouldn't mind something that would also top up the full-size battery in my Ute (it sits outside in the cold for up to 2-3 weeks without being started). My preference is something I can pick up from SCA/Autobarn/Repco/etc rather than ordering online as I'd like to have a physical store I can take it back to if it's not working.

Would modern low-amp trickle chargers be enough or should I be looking for a high-amp 'smart' charger? What have people used before and found to be good?

Automotive Battery Charger

Comments

  • Clickbait on 14/07/2025 - 10:59

    I saw an Intellisrtat in action on a completely flat battery last week. Expensive bt incredible after a lifetime of chargers and jump starting

  • radicalvin on 14/07/2025 - 11:11
    +1

    I'm currently using the Projecta to trickle charge my car and mower and can recommend them, they are currently on clearance on SCA
    1-4A: https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/projecta-projecta-pro-ch…

    Or if you need a larger size 4-8A (which you probably won't) https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/projecta-projecta-pro-ch…

    • Chazzozz on 14/07/2025 - 12:02

      Thanks. I've been skimming some info on the Interwebs and it looks like something with 6- or 8-stage charging is good when a battery is dead flat so this one may fit the bill nicely. Something with less stages will work fine as long as the battery has some charge, but if it's too low the battery won't be detected.

      Something like that 4A Projecta would likely be fine, I don't expect I'd need higher capacity. Sadly, no stock available in TAS anywhere. Autobarn have what looks like their store brand in 8A on sale for similar price. I might check it out on the weekend.

    • pegaxs on 14/07/2025 - 12:25

      Yep, we use these at work. We have both the 4a and the 8a units. Very easy to use and do the job. 4a unit would be more than enough for OP's use case.

  • omguleh on 14/07/2025 - 12:59

    I have one of these and its great: https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/noco-noco-genius-10-batt…

    I use it for the kids 12v batteries and the AGM battery in the car.

  • apsilon on 14/07/2025 - 13:24
    +2

    Don't know if things have changed of late but the CTEK range of chargers were consider the bees knees of chargers for car batteries which includes any 12v battery and I believe they should be available at any of the auto parts chains.

  • greencomet on 14/07/2025 - 13:29
    +3

    Yeah CTEK would be the go, I've used my MXS5.0 for years and it hasn't skipped a beat.

  • inertia8 on 14/07/2025 - 14:18
    +1

    I use both ctek and victron, can thoroughly recommend the victron over the ctek but the requirement to buy in store might be a challenge, the victron app connectivity and customisation of the charge profile (if required) is a big plus, as is the ability to switch between high and low amp charging. Also brought back a dead battery where the ctek just goes into fault (used to have to put the battery on a basic trickle charger to get voltage high enough for the ctek to play ball, ideally I don't let the batteries discharge so far but…)

    • Ice009 on 19/08/2025 - 02:56

      What are the models of the Ctek and Victron to look at? And what are the price ranges?

      My car battery keeps going flat (it's gone flat 2 times in the past two weeks), so I'm not sure if it's faulty or not (I assume it now is since it's gone flat a second time in less than two weeks). Recharged it with an older battery charger at 4amps and tested with a multimeter (was 12.9V, but then went down to 12.64, then 12.28, then 6 days later was flat and when I tested it was 10.2V).

      Do any of these chargers turn off when the battery is full, or cut the charge rate as to not overcharge (Sorry for the questions. I don't know how it works on most modern chargers)?

      • Kelpei on 19/08/2025 - 12:04

        Sounds like it's a goner. Should stay around 12.6V. how old is it?

        • Ice009 on 19/08/2025 - 14:48

          Only a year and a half. Does it sound like I've unknowingly degraded it if I've been driving it around with lower than 12.6V? I was just charging it every 3 months with an old charger my father has. It doesn't have any of these features the newer models have. It says it's a smart charger, but not sure what smart features is has as all it has is a selector switch to change from 2, 4, 6, 8 amps. I've been using 4 amps to charge it.

          I don't do a lot of driving, and I'm not sure how low it was getting before I was recharging it every 3 or so months as I didn't have the multimeter, or know how to test the battery with one until a couple of weeks ago when I found the multimeter in the shed and looked it up how to test it.

          I was wondering if one of these newer chargers can help with their reconditioning modes or whatever you call it. If not, I still wanted to get a newer charger as if I were to get a brand new battery (it should still have warranty left), I was planning to test it once a week with the multimeter and charge it manually if/when it drops below 12.4V. I'm guessing I needed to be charging it more often.

          As for the chargers, no idea which to get as I've seen/been looking at all these ones CTEK MSX 5.0, NOCO Genius 5, NOCO Genius 10, Vectron Energy Blue Smart 5 Amp.

          The best prices also seem to be on Amazon comapred to SuperCheap Auto, Repco (parts stores like that), but I'm not sure if I should be buying from Amazon as I'm not sure if they will definitely come with an AU plugs?

          • Kelpei on 19/08/2025 - 15:48

            @Ice009: If it's going below 12V consistently, it will not reliably hold charge long term as you have already discovered. If the battery is still within the warranty window and you have the receipt, I'd suggest you return it. I've bought Supercharge batteries in the past and a couple of times they died within months, I took it back to the store and it turned out there was a dead cell. No amount of charging would restore it to full health.

            I also suspect that you do such little driving that the battery is not being sufficiently replenished by the alternator. Regarding smart chargers, they will bulk charge initially and then trickle charge as the battery nears 100%. You don't need to worry about overcharge or damage to the battery. Can't go wrong with either Ctek or Victron.

            • Ice009 on 19/08/2025 - 16:03

              @Kelpei: Alright, cool. I will take it back to place of purchase and see what they say.

              I will definitely have to get a smart charger to make sure I keep whatever battery I get (warranty replacement or if I have to buy a new one) in top shape. I guess it could have gone faulty, or it could be that I don't drive much and I wasn't testing it to see how low it was getting, or maybe there could have been something in the car draining it (less likely than the other two options).

              I like the Victron and NOCO units as it seems like they can also charge Lithium batteries (not that I need that option, but if I'm buying one, I'd rather have that extra option. The CTEK sounds like a really good unit, but doesn't charge Lithium batteries so that puts me off it a bit.

              That sounds great about the charging switching to trickle charging when it gets to 100%. Makes it a lot harder to stuff something up.

              With the 5A units, one of them says (I think I read it on the NOCO genius 5 page) you can't charge more than a 120 Ah battery. So does that mean I can't charge higher Ah batteries on 5A even if I left it to charge longer?

              Also, any idea if stores would price match Amazon prices, or are they not likely to?

              • Kelpei on 19/08/2025 - 17:09
                +1

                @Ice009: Most car batteries are between 40-60Ah, so unless you drive a monster truck 120Ah is more than sufficient.

                Also if you end up needing to buy a new battery, SCA have 25% off Century batteries for tonight only

                I'd rate Century above everything else. A car which I sold not long ago only required one crank of the starter to turn on, the battery was 1.5years old but it started like new every time. In saying that I do a lot of driving so rarely need to charge my batteries.

                • Ice009 on 19/08/2025 - 23:36

                  @Kelpei: I've never used Century battery in a car, but heard they're great. I would have loved to have bought this one https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/century-century-hi-perfo… , but the timing sucks as I have to go in tomorrow and see if I can get a free one under warranty. If not, I'd have to buy one and would have bought that century one. Thanks for the link. Would have been a great price. I wonder if I can't get a replacement under warranty, if I could go into SCA tomorrow and ask if I can still get it for that price?

                  The only Century battery I've ever used is one 7.2 Ah in my NBN battery backup and that thing lasted about 5 years or very close to, whereas all other batteries I've used in the battery backup have lasted between 2-3 years. Darn, why couldn't this sale be one more day.

                  Also, with these online only sales, do you just order them online via click and collect and pick them up that way if your local store has stock?
                  https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/century-century-hi-perfo… It also has 30 month warranty which is even better than the 24 mine came with. Mine is Neuton Power. Not sure how well they're regarded?

                  Also, I saw that Repco sell rebranded Century batteries for a cheaper price. Would they be as good as the regular branded Century?
                  https://www.repco.com.au/globes-batteries-electrical/batteri…
                  It's the same model number as the Century, but has slightly lower CCA/Ah.

                  And thanks, I'll pick one of the 5A chargers as that seems like it will be more than enough, then. between the NOCO Genius 5, CTEK MXS 5.0 and Victron 5A. I'm leaning towards the Victron, but really not sure. Not that it probably matters, but the ability to use an app interests me with the Victron. NOCO would be my second choice, but I also like the extra warranty the Victron comes with (5 vs 3 year warranty).

                  Edit : If anyone knows, can you still charge higher Ah batteries that what is listed with these 5A chargers at the lower amperage or not really? Just curious to know is all.

  • Ozbargainusername123 on 15/07/2025 - 09:42

    Get a ctek MXS5.0
    It can do small and large batteries.
    I have the 0.8amp and 10amp ctec chargers.
    Bought the 5.0amp to do both jobs.

  • photonbuddy on 17/07/2025 - 22:46

    I bought a small solar panel that I sit on my dash. Does a great job in my car, though might not be suitable for your other devices.

  • Chazzozz on 18/07/2025 - 17:43

    SCA have a special this weekend on the NOCO Genius 5 Amp at $113, and which gets good reviews plus has the bonus of doing 6v as well. I can pair with a discounted gift card I’ve got that’ll score a neat extra 10% off.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join