You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/sports-and-leisure/car-accessories-and-care/car-battery-maintenance/c:30667/" on this server. A battery charger with lots of features, such as a charge indicator, super-fast charging or the ability to charge 9V batteries, might be tempting as it covers all possibilities. But you’ll pay more for these extras, so it’s worth thinking about whether they’ll be useful to you. It’s usually fine to mix batteries of different sizes within the same charger, but you should avoid mixing batteries of different types (such as NiCad and NiMH), different voltages and capacities or old and new batteries. If you do, there’s a risk of damaging the batteries or affecting their capacity long-term. The risks are lower with chargers that charge batteries individually in slots, rather than the usual pairs, but overall it’s best to charge and use batteries of the same type, capacity and brand together, at the same time. If you’re having trouble starting your car before the battery's 5 years old, it probably means one of these:

Halfords Solar Maintainer 20W | Halfords UK Halfords Solar Maintainer 20W | Halfords UK

Optimate is well known for its plug-in battery chargers and conditioners. Its solar-panel kits incorporate some of the same technology, with an electronic monitor that’s claimed to feed just the right amount of power to a battery to top it up and even recover cells which are apparently dead. It certainly did a decent job on our semi-flat battery. Proof that excellent smart battery chargers don't need premium pricing, the RSC806 from Ring Automotive is from a reputable brand and should improve the health of a car battery. It works as a traditional battery charger but makes use of sensors to recondition batteries and work out the most effective method of charging.Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; Beyond the jump-starting abilities, this NOCO features a 100-lumen LED torch with SOS beacon mode for any nighttime breakdowns. It also works as a regular power bank, while the IP65 rating means it'll survive the rough and tumble of daily life.

battery chargers - Parkers The best portable battery chargers - Parkers

Firstly think about where the panel will go. If you have a van or motorhome, some waterproof panels can be fitted on the roof permanently.

The best solar battery charger at a glance:

Would you believe there are as many as four different types of car batteries? You may decide when you change your car’s battery that you’ll use a different type, but it’s not always that easy. Your car might require a certain type. Here are the main categories. Unplug the vehicle once the battery has gained enough charge (if you have a smart charger, you might be able to stop charging using you connected device, like a phone or tablet). Some home charging units have smart options that help you save money by charging at cheaper times of the day. They can also be connected to devices via Bluetooth so you can choose when to charge your EV via your phone or tablet. The amount added to your electricity bill depends on how much you use your car – the more you use it, the more often you'll need to charge it. There’s a distinct old-school feel to this hefty, metal-cased RAC charger with its analogue gauge. The instructions feel the same, while plugging it in results in a hot electronics smell and a vibration. Despite 12A on the box, the instructions and gauge have max output at 8A – and we saw 4A as it took 16 hours to hit 80 per cent. At least it had no trouble in the EMC tests. There are better, more modern solutions.