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Eight car battery chargers under 90 euros in the test
A charger can significantly extend the life of a car battery. AUTO BILD, together with the testing organization KÜS, tested eight car battery chargers for less than 90 euros. And: more information about the right charger!
| # | Chargers in the test | to offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | CTEK CT5 Time To Go Price *: 80.74 euros Test result: very good | |
| 2. |  | NOCO Genius 5 Price *: 68.97 euros Test result: good | |
| 3. |  | Bosch C3 Price *: 42.20 euros Test result: good | |
| 4th |  | Gysflash 6.12 Price *: 74.76 euros Test result: good | |
| 5. |  | Optimate 6 Price *: 87.76 euros Test result: good | |
| 6th |  | Eufab 16616 Price *: 20.89 euros Test result: still good | |
| 7th |  | Norauto Essential Price *: 49.99 euros Test result: satisfactory | |
| 8th. |  | Einhell CE-BC 6M Price *: 36.99 euros Test result: sufficient | |
* Purchase price of the test product
Six car battery chargers convince in the test
Gysflash 6.12 and Optimate 6. The testers rated the Eufab 16 616 charger as “still good”. The Norauto Essential received the grade “satisfactory”. With the chargers from Norauto, Eufab and Einhell, the testers complained, among other things, that the test battery had discharged again shortlyif the charger was disconnected from the mains but still connected to the battery. The loss of capacity due to reverse current from the charged battery was so great that no or only a few points could be given for it. Good for forgetful car owners: All test devices were also able to revive batteries that were deeply discharged to 4.5 volts. This can happen if, for example, you forgot to switch off the vehicle lights or the radio does not turn off automatically.
Conclusion by Bernd Volkens: As a screwdriver, there is basic equipment for the workshop, and that includes a good battery charger. I pay attention to quality, because the test shows: the differences in performance are great. If the socket is missing at the parking space, the battery has to be taken out and hibernated on the charger in the cellar.
The best car battery charger: CTEK CT5 Time to go
How AUTO BILD and KÜS tested it
We did not determine the differences between the chargers on the car, but in the laboratory. For the sake of comparability, all eight of them went to fact to Heimertingen in Bavaria, where there is a test stand on which the tests were carried out and documented in a reproducible manner. The highest scores were given for the electrical tests, followed by the range of functions and the quality – after all, a charger should do the job reliably with as many battery types as possible. In the drop test, the aim was to withstand a fall from a height of one meter without damage. In the charging test, a battery that had been discharged by 25 Ah was recharged and the time was measured. The charging curves were determined, the applied voltages and the current flow recorded. In order to receive the full range of functions, the chargers had to recognize different battery types and of course be able to charge them.
What kind of car battery charger is right?
Really good car battery chargers should have certain features. A lot of importance was attached to this in the test:
Charge retention: The GTÜ experts paid particular attention to the charging and charging maintenance procedure. A maximum of 50 of the total of 500 evaluation points, more than in any other individual discipline, could be earned. CTEK and Dino, who charge different battery types from wet to gel to AGM batteries particularly gently and, thanks to the interplay of recharge and trickle charging, can maintain optimum performance over long periods of time, achieved full points here.
Charging voltage: Universally applicable chargers should not only optimally adapt to different battery types with regard to the charging characteristics, but should also be suitable for really fully charging newer batteries with modern glass fiber fleece technology (AGM). This requires an optionally increased charging voltage of up to 14.7 volts. All “highly recommended” devices can do that.
Regeneration function: CTEK and Dino also offer a special regeneration function with which they can, under certain circumstances, help recharge batteries that have already been damaged. The battery is briefly gassed by a time-limited voltage increase of a maximum of 15.8 volts. In this way, a possible acid stratification can be eliminated in wet batteries. Almost all test devices were also able to revive batteries that were deeply discharged to 3 volts. Only with Pearl and Dino were these limits somewhat higher, namely at 4.5 and 6 volts.
How do you connect the charger correctly?
1. Disconnect the car battery: Remove the black cable from the negative pole and the red cable from the positive pole.
2. Check battery: Most batteries have vent holes for gas leaks; check that they are free. Remove battery if necessary.
3. Connect the charger: Do not yet apply power to the charger. Connect the red clamp to the plus pole and the black clamp to the minus pole.
4. Start the charging process: Plug the charger into the socket and switch it on. The charging process starts.
5. Battery full: Modern chargers automatically recognize a full battery and then switch off. With older devices you have to take a look at the display from time to time.
What does a car battery charger cost?
The AUTO BILD test has shown that a good charger for the car battery does not have to be expensive. There are good chargers for as little as 40 euros, such as the Dino charger, which won the test in terms of price / performance. For the best chargers in the test, 80 to 90 euros are on the label. But people prefer to stay away from cheap products for around 20 euros. In the test, there were mainly problems with reverse currents: In the case of the four “conditionally recommended chargers”, the GTÜ testers complained that the test battery soon discharged when the charger was disconnected from the mains but still connected to the battery was. The loss of capacity due to reverse current from the charged battery was so great that no more points could be awarded for it.
