A car battery charger plugs into the mains at home: it fills the battery slowly and then holds it at the right voltage. A jump starter is the emergency tool for the road: it gives one big burst of current to start the engine, but it does not top the battery up gently. If you want to keep your battery healthy, choose a charger. If you never want to be stranded, choose a jump starter. Below you can read what to look for and which model suits which situation. You will find them all in the jump starters and batteries category.
Battery charger or jump starter: the difference
A charger runs on 230V. You clip it to the battery and it works through its own charging programme. Once the battery is full it switches to maintenance, so you can leave it connected for weeks. That is the answer for a car that stands for long periods, a motorhome in winter or a battery that cranks slower and slower.
A jump starter is a portable battery with heavy clamps. You put it on the flat battery, start the engine and remove it again. You need no socket and no second car. Afterwards the alternator or a charger has to refill the battery, because the booster only starts the engine. CTEK itself recommends both: a charger for regular maintenance at home and a booster for the road.
What to look for in a battery charger or jump starter
Voltage. Cars and vans run on 12V. Lorries, buses and a lot of heavy machinery use 24V. A 12V/24V jump starter covers both, most other models only 12V.
Engine size. Manufacturers state up to how many litres of petrol and diesel a booster will start. Diesel needs more than petrol. Go one size up rather than too small.
Peak current. A bigger number is not a goal in itself. Look at the stated engine size first and at the amps second.
Battery capacity for a charger. A charger has a range in amp-hours (Ah). A small motorcycle battery and a large leisure battery do not need the same unit.
Battery type. The chargers below are meant for lead-acid batteries (wet, AGM, gel). Where lithium or LiFePO4 is supported, the specifications say so.
Comparison: battery chargers and jump starters
Product | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Charger, 12V | Maintaining 12V lead-acid batteries at home | |
Charger, 6V/12V, 1A to 10A | Car, motorcycle or boat at home, in four power ratings | |
DC-DC charger, max. 20A | Vehicles with a starter and a leisure battery | |
Jump starter 12V, 1750A | Petrol up to 7.5 L and diesel up to 5.0 L | |
Jump starter 12V, 3000A | SUVs, trucks and motorhomes | |
Jump starter 12V/24V, 2000A | Starting 12V and 24V with one unit | |
Jump starter 12V/24V, 3500A peak | Workshop, vans, lorries and boats |
The models in brief
CTEK MXS 5.0 T. A fully automatic charger for 12V lead-acid batteries (wet, MF, Ca/Ca, AGM and gel). You connect it and it picks its own charging programme. It is IP65 and drops into maintenance mode after charging, so you can leave it connected. How to connect and set it up is covered in our guide using the CTEK MXS 5.0.
NOCO Genius. A smart charger in four versions: 1A, 2A, 5A and 10A. It charges 6V and 12V and has separate modes for AGM and lithium (lithium only with a BMS). The 5A and 10A versions have a repair mode.
CTEK D250SE. This is not a plug-in charger but a DC-DC charger. It charges a leisure battery from the alternator, a solar panel or both, up to 20A. It suits anyone who travels by motorhome or boat and wants to top up without shore power. For more on looking after motorhomes, read washing and polishing a motorhome.
NOCO Boost X GBX55. A compact lithium jump starter that recharges over USB-C Power Delivery, full in 1.2 hours at 60 W. The USB-C port also powers a laptop or phone.
NOCO Boost Pro GB150. For bigger engines: petrol up to 9.0 L and diesel up to 7.0 L, with up to 80 starts per charge. It has a 15A 12V output and a 500 lumen torch.
Projecta IS2000. A lithium iron phosphate jump starter that detects 12V and 24V automatically. It starts petrol engines up to 8.0 L. It also works as a power bank and work light.
PowerStart 1224E. A dual-voltage booster with 1200A clamp current at 12V and 700A at 24V.
Which one suits you
Your car stands a lot or you drive short trips: choose a charger such as the CTEK MXS 5.0 T or the NOCO Genius.
You never want to depend on a second car: keep a jump starter in the boot.
You drive an ordinary petrol car or small diesel: the NOCO Boost X GBX55 is plenty.
You drive an SUV, truck or motorhome with a big engine: look at the NOCO Boost Pro GB150.
You have 12V and 24V vehicles: choose the Projecta IS2000 or the PowerStart 1224E.
You have a starter and a leisure battery: the CTEK D250SE keeps both topped up.