Battery chargers

Battery chargers are much more than the kit you drag out when you have left the lights on in your car. The best can not only get your car going again but also condition the battery and keep little used machinery like classic cars ready to go. We pick the best below, and summarise the lot here.
 
Winner
CTEK Multi XS3600
Contact: 01380 722621 www.ctek.com
Price: £49.95
It took shift in pricing to give the always excellent CTEK its first win in this category. With its competitors largely more expensive, the clever XS 3600 which really lives up to its description as a smart charger reviving batteries from extremely low levels and then carefully maintaining them once revived.
 
Commended
Black & Decker BDV1084
Contact: 01753 511234 www.blackanddecker.co.uk
Price: £59.95
A great alternative to our champion which gives you faster charging and a 10 amp output as opposed to the CTEK’s 3.6 for around £10 more. We also like the long power and charging cable with their built-in storage plus the comprehensive and useful battery and alternator testing modes.
 
Ring RSC4
Contact: 0113 213 2000 www.ringautomotive.co.uk
Price: £37.98
For those on a budget Ring’s take on a CTEK style charger is well worth considering. Like its Swedish rival, it includes a hard wire kit and on paper should be more effective but in practice it was a little slower than the CTEK and its conditioning cycle is not quite so sophisticated but it certainly get the job done.