Which battery charger should I get?

Justin G2/ 1/21

by: Justin Gray

You're looking to get a battery charger and you want to know which one to get; all you have to do is answer 3 questions!

*Take a look at the battery or owner's manual to find the answer to the following.

Question 1: What Voltage (V) is the battery?
Most Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks, SUVs, and the like are 12V batteries.
Golf Carts, Job-site Lighting systems, and UPS systems (Uninterrupted Power Supply) are commonly 6V powered.

Question 2: What vehicle are you buying the charger for?
Boat, Jetski, Truck, Motorcycle, ATV, RV, Tractor, Golf Cart, Lawn-mower, Sled, SxS?

Question 3: What type of battery is it?
Is it a standard lead-acid type battery (this includes: SLA, AGM, Maintenance Free, Flooded, Wet Cell, VRLA, Gel, Lead-Acid, Vented, Deep Cycle), or is it a lithium iron-phosphate (LiFePo4)?

Answers: Now that you have all of the information that you need, here is the answer that you are looking for!

12V Battery Powered Vehicles

• If your vehicle is small in its class: small motorcycle (<500cc), snowmobile, lawn-mower, or seasonal vehicle, and it is 12V, a simple maintenance charger like our 1.5A Intelligent Battery Charger is all that you need.

• If your vehicle is 12V and larger in size: compact sized sedan, small to medium body pickup truck (Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier) or a full dresser Harley (or equivalent large motorcycle), then you'll want the 4.0A Intelligent Battery Charger.

• For 12V Full-size vehicles such as Trucks, Vans, Sedans, and large SUVs, I recommend getting the 8A Intelligent Battery Charger or 15A Intelligent Battery Charger based upon additional needs (see explanation below).

• If you vehicle is a 12V RV, Diesel Truck, Dump-truck, or otherwise "larger than average" road vehicle, then I highly recommend the 15A Intelligent Battery Charger.

6V Battery Powered Vehicles and Supply Units

• For 6V Golf carts and other smaller 6V batteries, the 4.0A Intelligent Battery Charger is the perfect choice.

• Large 6V battery banks, Lighting systems, and larger 6V batteries would benefit from using the 8A Intelligent Battery Charger.

LiFePo4 Lithium Batteries

• If you're running a smaller LiFePo4 battery (hobby size or motorcycle), then the 4A Intelligent Battery Charger is perfect. For cars, large motorcycles, aux batteries and the like, the 8A Intelligent Battery Charger is good for charging at 2A. If you have a larger vehicle or a big LiFePo4 battery, the 15A Intelligent Battery Charger is a great choice.

Additional needs?

• If you live somewhere cold, you'll want a charger with Winter Mode - both the 4.0A Intelligent Battery Charger and 15A Intelligent Battery Chargers offer this mode.
• Is your battery older? If so, the 8A and 15A Intelligent Battery Chargers have a reconditioning cycle that will help restore the battery's life and effectiveness.

Can you buy the "wrong" charger?

If you have a different battery other than what the charger is specified for, then yes you can buy the wrong charger for your battery type. You have to know what the battery chemistry and voltage is.

Additionally, if you have a huge battery and buy a small charger, the battery charge will not be optimized and can add up to a shortened battery lifespan an/or an incomplete charge. Conversely, if you have a tiny battery and use a large high-amperage charge on it, you can destroy the battery.

In most cases, our battery chargers will work well with your battery!

Want to see a side-by-side comparison of our chargers? Take a look at our: Intelligent Battery Charger Comparison Chart

	1.5A Intelligent Battery Charger (#7402)	4.0A Intelligent Battery Charger (#7403)	8A Intelligent Battery Charger (#7406)	15A Intelligent Battery Charger (#7407)
Advanced Microprocessor Controlled	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Input voltage	100-240V AC	100-140V AC	100-140V AC	110-140V AC
Output Voltage	12V	6V or 12V	6V or 12V	12V
Output Current	1.5A	4A or 1A	12V: 8A, 2A 6V & LiFePo4: 2A	15A or 8A or 2A LiFePo4: 2A
Charging Stages	3 stage	9 stage	6 stage	6 stage
Special Charging Modes	-	Winter	Reconditioning	Reconditioning, Winter
For Battery Type	12V: SLA, AGM, Maintenance Free, Flooded, Wet Cell, VRLA, Gel, Lead-Acid, Vented, Deep Cycle	12V: Lithium iron-phosphate (LiFePo4), 12V & 6V: LPF, SLA, AGM, Maintenance Free, Flooded, Wet Cell, VRLA, Gel, Lead-Acid, Vented, Deep Cycle	12V: Lithium iron-phosphate (LiFePo4), 12V & 6V: LPF, SLA, AGM, Maintenance Free, Flooded, Wet Cell, VRLA, Gel, Lead-Acid, Vented, Deep Cycle	12V: Lithium iron-phosphate (LiFePo4), LPF, SLA, AGM, Maintenance Free, Flooded, Wet Cell, VRLA, Gel, Lead-Acid, Vented, Deep Cycle
AC Cord Length	6 feet	6 feet	6 feet	6 feet
DC Cord Length	6 feet	6 feet	6 feet	6 feet
Operating Temperature	34°F - 140°F (1°C - 60°C)	34°F - 140°F (1°C - 60°C)	32°F - 104°F (0°C - 40°C)	32°F - 104°F (0°C - 40°C)
Storage Temperature	34°F - 140°F (1°C - 60°C)	34°F - 140°F (1°C - 60°C)	-4°F - 158°F (-20°C -70°C)	-4°F - 158°F (-20°C -70°C)
Protections	Short Circuit, Reverse Polarity	Short Circuit, Reverse Polarity	Short Circuit, Reverse Polarity, Over-Charge, Over-heat	Short Circuit, Reverse Polarity, Over-Charge, Over-heat
Certifications	CE,BC	CE,BC	CE,BC	CE,BC
Unit Weight	0.9 lbs.	1.2 lbs.	2.4 lbs.	3.4 lbs.
Learn More	1.5A Intelligent Battery Charger	4.0A Intelligent Battery Charger	8A Intelligent Battery Charger	15A Intelligent Battery Charger