Anytime your car is stored or remains inactive for long periods of time, there’s a good chance the battery will be completely drained when you try to start your vehicle up. Inexpensive trickle chargers can keep the battery alive, but can also damage it if left connected for extended periods of time. Each of the following picks is a good choice.
for drivers who want the convenience of a charger that can stay hooked up all the time.

We've made our selections based on charger/maintainers ability to be hooked up and left alone for a while, thanks to features such as an onboard microprocessor which allows the charge cycle to become automatic, preventing overcharging of the battery. Most of our picks are also compact or portable enough to be used for a wide variety of applications, while being easy to use thanks to their design. While price varies, we've included options to fit a range of budgets, without compromising on safety or performance.

The Deltran SuperSmart Battery Tender Plus offers peace of mind, with a onboard microprocessor that will automatically switch to float mode when the battery is charged. This prevents overcharging, and allows for hooking up the unit and leaving it until you're ready to use the battery. Read Full Review

Unlike inexpensive trickle chargers, the Deltra Battery Tender Plus can safely remain hooked up to your car battery for extended periods of time to ensure it’s always fully charged and ready to go. This is because it has an onboard microprocessor that automatically switches it to a float charge mode after fully charging the battery. The LED light stays red while it’s charging and then glows green when it’s fully charged.

This product does exactly what it’s supposed to and gives you peace of mind. It’s also very lightweight and easy to store. It includes alligator clips as well as a quick disconnect adapter with ring terminals that attach to the battery terminals. The Deltran Battery Tender Plus is the best solution for drivers that store their cars for the winter or have a sports car that is only driven occasionally.

The Schumacher SC-1200A is an excellent battery charger/maintainer both in performance and price. This unit includes a retractable handle for portability and convenience. Read Full Review

Despite being quite affordable, the durable and well-built Schumacher SC-1200A is an excellent battery charger/maintainer which can safely stay hooked up to a car or other type of battery thanks to its microprocessor. This allows the unit to monitor the condition of the battery and adjust the charge rate automatically to prevent any damage.

Safety features include reverse hook-up protection and an LED indicator, while the push button controls are easy to use. The controls let you choose the display mode, charge rate, and battery type, although the SC-1200A has auto voltage detection for six and twelve volt batteries. A retractable handle and overall light weight make this unit very portable.

This affordable and compact battery charger/maintainer is meant to be used as a long term solution for vehicles that will be left sitting for a while. The Battery Tender Junior 12V won't charge a battery quickly, but its automatic cycles allow for hooking it up and forgetting about it until you need to use your vehicle. Read Full Review

If you don't need a versatile and fast-charging battery charger/maintainer, but rather something that will maintain the charge of your vehicle's battery over long periods of time, the Battery Tender Junior 12V might be a good option. This compact and lightweight unit is suited for twelve volt batteries only, but is very simple to hook up and use.

You simply hook it up and that’s it until you're ready to use the battery as it won’t overcharge the battery thanks to the automatic charge cycle which will switch to float mode when charging is complete. There’s also an LED indicator light shows the charging stages and a reverse hook-up protection safety feature. Although the Battery Tender Junior 12V is quite slow to charge, it is primarily meant for long term use.

This battery charger/maintainer is a reasonably priced option for those who need to maintain a battery's charge while it’s in storage. Although the Schumacher SEM-1562A might not be capable of quickly charging a large battery, its automatic cycle lets you hook it up and leave it until you're ready to use the battery. Read Full Review