HEMIMANN
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2020
- Posts
- 9,577
- Reaction score
- 25,198
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Ram Year
- 2017 2500 Laramie Crew Cab
- Engine
- 6.4L HEMI
I created a new title for battery charger / maintainers, because they are NOT "trickle chargers" as other posts title them. Also, these are general garage items, except for those that mount in their trucks, and apply to any generation of Ram Truck.
Trickle Chargers were only that - 40 years ago. They supplied a constant, low current to a battery regardless of the charge state of the battery. Well, that's not good - you can boil off a conventional lead acid flooded battery's water that way, or start a fire on an AGM or Lithium.
Hence, the "smart" chargers that came out over the past decades. Originally made in USA and Europe, they have ALL been outsourced to cheap Asian nations. Except for the larger units above 10 amps. So, it's important to see which companies are enforcing quality standards on Asian Factories, and which are not. Smart chargers both charge AND maintain batteries, i.e. - they should not overcharge them. They need to detect the battery voltage and apply the proper current for that voltage until fully charged, then leave the battery alone until it needs charging again.
Below is a link to a 2025 test review from Project Farm guy, Todd. With companies constantly moving their product production all around the world, this is a current look into product performance. App. 10 years ago, C-Tek was best, then they moved to China. Looks like NOCO and Battery Tender Brands are better today.
I use the 5 amp nominal chargers. Enjoy!
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Trickle Chargers were only that - 40 years ago. They supplied a constant, low current to a battery regardless of the charge state of the battery. Well, that's not good - you can boil off a conventional lead acid flooded battery's water that way, or start a fire on an AGM or Lithium.
Hence, the "smart" chargers that came out over the past decades. Originally made in USA and Europe, they have ALL been outsourced to cheap Asian nations. Except for the larger units above 10 amps. So, it's important to see which companies are enforcing quality standards on Asian Factories, and which are not. Smart chargers both charge AND maintain batteries, i.e. - they should not overcharge them. They need to detect the battery voltage and apply the proper current for that voltage until fully charged, then leave the battery alone until it needs charging again.
Below is a link to a 2025 test review from Project Farm guy, Todd. With companies constantly moving their product production all around the world, this is a current look into product performance. App. 10 years ago, C-Tek was best, then they moved to China. Looks like NOCO and Battery Tender Brands are better today.
I use the 5 amp nominal chargers. Enjoy!
Best Battery Charger Ever Tested!
NOCO Genius, Battery Tender, CTEK, ECO-WORTHY, Hulkman, GOOLOO, Black+Decker, Sweter, NEXPEAK, MOTOPOWER and HECHOBO. Battery chargers compared for spark fre...
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