Are you having issues finding the best deep cycle battery charger? Well, there’s no need to worry. This article will provide everything a person might need to pick out the perfect one for their situation.
In fact, I’ll make sure to cover every relevant topic about these useful devices, such as determining buying factors, how to use them, and their advantages. Each of these discussions should move you closer to become a deep cycle battery charger expert.
The article will even have 16 reviews of my favorite models on today’s market. These reviews should offer a better idea of what rig owners need to look for in battery chargers. You’ll soon know more than enough to make a smart decision during this buying experience.
I have no doubt anyone reading our article will end up buying a charger capable of meeting their needs. Let’s now get this process started and find the model that will put a smile on your face.
| Best Overall | Budget Friendly | Long Battery Life | |
| Preview |
NOCO GENIUS
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BMK EPA1205
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TowerTop TP108MB
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| Output Power & Voltage | 6-12V/ 10A | 12V/ 5A | 12V/ 2,10,25A |
| Battery Type | – 6V, 12V Lead-acid – Marine, RV, Powersport – Deep-Cycle – Lithium Ion – Dead Battery < 1V |
– 12 V AGM, GEL, Flooded – Deep-Cycle – Lead-acid |
– 12V Lead-acid – Dead Battery < 3V |
| Battery Capacity | 230AH | 12~100AH | – |
| Working Temperature | -4° – 104° F | -5° – 120° F | -32° – 104° F |
| Details | Details | Details |
List of 16 Top-Rated Deep Cycle Battery Charger Reviews
This section will contain those 16 reviews, which will provide insight into what’s available. You might even find out one of these options is the perfect marine batteries charger. These reviews will also help you understand the more complex topics discussed in later sections.
1. NOCO 10-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger
If you’re looking for a 6-volt deep cycle battery charger, NOCO’s 10-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger should have you covered. It is actually designed to provide precise charging for both 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid deep cycle batteries.
The charger thrives in these situations because it has features like an integrated thermal sensor. It’ll detect temperature and change the charge to prevent overcharging in hotter areas and undercharging in colder climates.
Aside from its impressive results in different climates, I was pleased with its ability to charge dead batteries. This aspect comes from its “force mode,” which allows a user to take manual control and charge batteries at zero volts easily.
You should also find its overall versatility appealing. This charger can charge many vehicles’ batteries, including RVs, cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, etc. It never hurts to buy a device capable of filling a few notable roles in your life.
This battery charger marine offers the added benefit of restoring your rig’s battery as well. It can detect acid stratification and battery sulfation to help recoup lost battery performance. As a result, you’ll benefit from longer battery life and stronger engine starts.
People were oddly thrilled by this brand’s customer service in their reviews, too, which is always a welcomed sight. You can never go wrong with a product from a company known for answering all their customers’ questions adequately.
But none of these features happens to be my favorite aspect of this device. I would have to award this title to its compact design, which makes it simple to use and store. It ensures everything about the product’s more convenient than other models.
2. BMK BLUEMICKEY 12V 5A Smart Battery Charger
BMK BLUEMICKEY’s 12V 5A Smart Battery Charger comes with many features capable of making your life much easier. An excellent example is the product’s fantastic harness that makes disconnecting and connecting it much easier.
Due to this, the entire using process becomes simpler and more user-friendly. Many buyers made it a point to note how little hassle this product gave them. As a person who struggles with these tasks, you can bet I was thrilled to see this kind of praise.
I was also impressed with its overall construction, which is made from high-quality ABS material. This design ensures the model can last a long time and provide excellent results without much issue.
You can even expect this marine battery charging product to function in precarious situations. For instance, this product’s considered waterproof, ensuring it won’t have any trouble working in lousy conditions. These aspects help make this model a highly reliable, efficient battery charger.
Rig owners should love this product’s safety features as well. I don’t see how anyone couldn’t be impressed by this product’s spark-proof qualities. It’s another way this model continues to ensure its performance will meet a user’s needs.
BMK’s 12V deep cycle battery charger will also check whether the connection is right before powering up. It keeps the device from running in questionable situations to ensure its usage remains completely safe.
I was intrigued by this product’s ability to offer these effective results in various situations. This battery charger can use its 4-stage charging process to charge batteries within boats, cars, motorcycles, electric tools, and much more.
3. TowerTop 12V Smart Battery Charger
Finding a more well-equipped option than TowerTop’s 12V Smart Battery Charger would be challenging. After all, this product can charge any 12-volt lead-acid battery, including STD, AGM, and GEL, without issue.
It has even been known to work as a marine deep cycle battery charger. Honestly, it’s hard to find a situation where this model isn’t suited to be a helpful device. But this versatility wouldn’t be too impressive without high-performance quality.
Thankfully, this option’s excellent 7-step charging program offers fantastic results. I haven’t had an overcharging issue since using this product on my deep cycle batteries. It has only made sure they had enough juice to function correctly.
I was also intrigued by this charger’s engine start aid feature. It had my vehicle up and running in less than two minutes when I required it during a recent road trip and made my travel a lot smoother.
Another area where this deep cell battery charger outpaced my expectations was its design. It only weighs about 5 pounds, which makes transporting easy. It’s a perfect fit for someone who’s constantly on the road like me.
It even makes the moving process more comfortable than other options. For instance, the charger has a flexible handle to ensure I don’t lose grip or feel awkward when carrying it. Buyers won’t find many choices capable of competing with this one’s portability.
Other notable features include an easy-to-read LCD display, several safety protections, and multiple auto-detection systems. In the end, TowerTop did a solid job building a deep cycle battery charger that almost anyone could love and use effectively.
4. Mroinge 6V / 12V Automatic Battery Charger
The Mroinge 6V / 12V model has become a favorite among people looking for an affordable battery charger. After all, it’s a high-quality option with a price tag that’s easily among our least expensive.
It makes the cost of other options, such as the smart NOCO deep cycle battery charger, seem rather outlandish. In any case, a low price doesn’t mean much without solid performance. But this option meets high standards without much issue with its impressive set of features.
For instance, I adore this product’s multiple safety precautions. Mroinge equipped this battery charger with a spark-proof lead connection and multiple protections (reverse polarity, overcharging, short-circuit, and over-temperature). Users should feel comfortable and safe when using this product.
The product’s 4-step charging process has seen a lot of praise within its customer review section. In truth, I can’t do anything but confirm these findings with my experience. I haven’t had a single issue with the effectiveness of its charging procedure.
More importantly, this charging process can work on a multitude of applications. It has proven to charge and maintain every type of 6-volt and 12-volt lead-acid battery. So anyone who stumbles upon it should find a way to use it for their needs, from boats to RVs.
I should also mention this charger has an automatic cycle. In other words, it’ll automatically switch to float mode when it’s done charging. So it ends up being more efficient and convenient when comparing this deep cycle battery charger VS regular options. Plus, the 2-year warranty certainly does help increase its user-friendliness.
5. ADPOW 5A 12V Automatic Smart Battery Charger
Buyers who value lightweight, compact designs need to consider ADPOW’s 5A 12V Automatic Smart Battery Charger. This deep cycle battery charger was built with portability to ensure transporting the device was a piece of cake.
I was also intrigued by the model’s various safety protections, including precautions against short circuits, OCP, overloads, OVP, reverse polarity, and much more. Users will never have to worry about a dangerous malfunction with these built-in aspects.
You will find the intelligent charging mode rather impressive as well. It’s a 7-stage automatic charging process, which has proven to be extremely effective. It doesn’t hurt that users can monitor the entire situation through the LED indicator, either.
In fact, this LED indicator will provide visual feedback about vital diagnostic info and battery capacity. These pieces of info will help increase your battery’s lifespan. It’s a nice addition to ensure you aren’t buying a new RV battery anytime soon.
ADPOW made sure to make this product rather adaptable, too, considering its wide application, water-resistance, and dust-resistance. Each of these aspects makes sure this product can work in any situation that presents itself.
In any case, you might think all these features would raise the product’s price significantly. But ADPOW managed to keep it affordable for us bargain buyers. I can’t thank them enough because this model couldn’t be anymore top-tier. It might represent the best deal on our entire list.
But I was slightly annoyed by this product’s direction manual, which features instructions that may be a bit difficult to follow, especially for newbies. This experience was something that a lot of users complained about in their customer reviews.
It might be wise for first-time buyers or users to look elsewhere because of this potential issue. Otherwise, I don’t see how someone confident in using these products would pass this bargain up. It’s almost too good to be true.
6. Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger
The Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger has a reputation for being an effortless device to use. It has an extensive list of features catering to ensuring this model reaches peak levels of convenience.
An obvious example is the product’s LED charging gauge, which comes with an LCD display. It ensures the user can examine the entire charging process within the palm of their hand. Using these devices can’t get as convenient as what you encounter with this one.
You should also enjoy this product’s quick-set button selections that further ensure that using the device doesn’t cause any hassles. These types of features make this model a hard one to match and a favorite among rig owners.
This Optima battery charger’s built-in health mode tends to be another favorite within the buyer reviews. It gains a significant amount of praise because this mode helps lengthen your battery’s lifespan and maximizes its performance.
This model can be counted on to function excellently when recovering discharged or weak AGM batteries as well. It has a reputation for restoring batteries other marine battery chargers have no chance at recovering.
As with our prior options, this model was built with spark-proof technology to ensure a safe using process. It doesn’t just have safety measures against sparking, though. It’ll also prevent issues with reverse polarity and can diagnose several failures related to overcharging.
You shouldn’t overlook its capability of working in many situations, either. People have reported it being a capable motorcycle, RV, marine, and AGM batteries charger. Honestly, there isn’t much more a rig owner could ask for from one of these devices than what this one provides.
However, anyone who wants to benefit from all these features will have to pay some more money. This product is among our most expensive, which may make it a hard sell for bargain buyers. But rig owners willing to spend extra for the best charger will think it’s worth it.
7. Schumacher SC1280 6/12V Rapid Battery Charger
Are you looking for a device capable of being a deep cycle marine battery charger as well as an RV deep cycle battery charger? Schumacher’s SC1280 6/12V Rapid Battery Charger can fill both roles with ease thanks to its well-constructed design.
Honestly, this particular Schumacher deep cycle battery charger’s features make it capable of thriving in these situations. One of these is its easy using process, which comes from aspects like its digital display, LED indicators, push-button controls, and start/stop interface.
Each of these aspects makes sure even someone like me would have no trouble operating it. It was a bit shocking to me how easy it was, given my past issues setting up electronic devices. I wasn’t the only one to feel this way. Multiple buyers backed up these findings within this Schumacher battery charger’s reviews.
I was also thrilled with this product’s built-in reverse hook-up protection. This aspect will come in handy for anyone who accidentally reserves the clamps during the setup process. In this situation, it’ll ensure the charger doesn’t turn on and cause any severe issues.
Aside from these features, it has a few other convenient aspects customers tend to adore. These qualities include compatibility with multiple battery types, auto voltage detection, two buying options, and an ability to select charge rate automatically.
The inclusion of these features ensures this model will be a rig owner’s dream. There shouldn’t be any difficulty charging and maintaining your RV battery for years to come.
8. CTEK MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger
If you’re looking for a hands-off battery charger, CTEK’s MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger needs to be on your list. It features an 8-step automatic charging process, which means you don’t have to keep a watchful eye when it’s being used.
You can instead sit back and relax while this CTEK battery charger does all the work. This model even comes with mounting holes for permanent assembly, which ensures peak levels of convenience. It’s an ideal choice when living an RVing lifestyle.
I was pleased by this product’s maintenance pulse charging as well. This feature will increase both your battery’s performance and lifespan to ensure top-tier results. You can expect your battery to last three times longer when charging it with this device.
Buyers should find this product’s design appealing, too, as it’s shockproof and dustproof. As a result, this product’s suitable for outdoor usage when it’s needed. These two aspects will also increase its overall durability to ensure long-term usage.
The lightweight construction isn’t something to undervalue, either. It’ll make transporting the model much easier than other options. It’s just another thing that someone who buys this product doesn’t have to worry about when using it.
You’ll also be able to choose from several modes during its usage. These include normal mode, cold weather model, supply mode, and recond mode. Each of them serves their own specific purpose, which will offer some benefit to your life.
But I found two annoying flaws with this product, which are worth mentioning. The first one is rather obvious: its inflated price tag. You’ll need to weigh whether the superior performance provided by this model is worth its increased price.
In my opinion, I would consider it well worth spending a bit of extra money. But you’ll also need to recognize that some buyers felt CTEK’s customer service wasn’t really up to par with other brands. This issue isn’t a good look for a company, which has such a stellar reputation.
9. Battery Tender Plus 12V 1.25 Amp Powersport Battery Charger
Rig owners who value efficiency in their battery chargers will have to consider Battery Tender Plus’ 12V 1.25 Amp Powersport Battery Charger. It might be the most efficient on this list, considering it can outperform virtually every 3-amp model using only 1.25 amps.
But the product’s efficiency isn’t its only good trait. I was also enthralled by its protective measures against sparking, reverse polarity, and short-circuiting. These aspects should cure any worry a person might have about using the device.
The product’s quick-connect harness should make its entire using process much easier as well. Several other buyers found this aspect made even the toughest connections straightforward. In these situations, a feature like this one can relieve a notable amount of frustration.
I found this product’s feature of automatically changing to float mode when a battery reaches full capacity to be another appealing one. It’s a beneficial feature because the change over will ensure an overcharge doesn’t occur, which could’ve caused severe problems.
This product coming with ring terminals and alligator chips is very helpful. Both these inclusions will make the setup process much easier, which is always a good thing. Plus, it makes the entire device more convenient, considering you won’t have to buy these items separately.
You don’t have to worry that their inclusion will make the price tag too high either. This model’s cost falls around the average for these devices. Due to this, I would consider this option a bargain based on its price and quality of features.
I do have a concern about the product’s durability, which was brought a few times in the buyer reviews. In some cases, this option ended up breaking down a little sooner than expected. But these could be isolated incidents as most people were more than happy with their purchase.
10. Clore Automotive Solar Pro-Logix 6/12V Battery Charger
Clore Automotive’s Solar Pro-Logix 6/12V Battery Charger is another option capable of charging both 6-volt and 12-volt batteries. In both situations, this product is known to provide useful and reliable performance throughout the charging process.
You can attribute these results to its advanced, multi-stage charging regime. This regime allows the product to be a practical charger for any lead-acid battery, regardless of type or size. It ends up being a rather versatile and useful device to have around during an RVing trip.
It also helps that this product has a fully automatic operation, which makes using it an absolute breeze. All you would need to do is set the battery type, charge rate, and voltage. This charger will do everything else and ensure your battery’s charge requirements are met.
After this device charges your battery, it’ll enter into an advanced maintenance model. This aspect caught my eye because it prolongs battery lifespan and ensures it remains in stellar condition.
It’s vital to mention this product offers a bit more choice than our other models. You can choose between five buying options, which ensures this option will better meet a buyer’s exact needs.
There’s even a variation that could function as a 24V deep cycle battery charger. I don’t see how one of these buying options wouldn’t suit any rig owner’s situation perfectly. It seems Clore Automatic tried to cover all their bases when creating this excellent device.
11. TECMATE OptiMATE 12V 5A Sealed Battery Saving Charger
If you’re looking for a durable option, TECMATE’s OptiMATE 12V 5A Sealed Battery Saving Charger would be worth getting. It has a reputation for being more durable than most other battery chargers available.
You can assign this status to the product’s fully sealed cause, which protects it against light rain and spillage. It can even handle working in harsh climates that reach -40 F without much issues or hassle.
Aside from its stability, this charger has a unique ability to save batteries that other options can’t seem to restore. This benefit comes from it being capable of recognizing the difference between dead flat batteries and discharged batteries.
It knows the difference between a battery that needs charging and the one that needs saving. This device also features an ampmatic charge control to ensure it’ll work with any size battery.
You can count on this ampmatic charge control to adjust the charge rate automatically. Therefore, a smaller battery will get less and a larger battery will get more. It’s a feature that’ll go a long way in ensuring your rig’s battery performs to expectations.
The product’s fully automatic operation will help matters, as well. It’ll ensure a rig owner only has to set it up, and the device will take care of the rest. The setup process is not tricky and made easier by this product’s case coming with wall mounts.
Overall, TECMATE did a great job crafting a top-tier option with everyone a person could be looking for in a battery charger. The product being available in many buying options doesn’t hurt its case, either, as it should be more appealing to a broader audience.
12. Ampeak 12V Fully Automatic Smart Battery Charger
The Ampeak 12V Fully Automatic Smart Battery Charger has become a favorite among rig owners due to its quick and effective results. These results haven’t only impressed RVers, though, as it’s proven to work well with boats, power-sport, motorcycles, cars, etc.
It can work well in these situations because of its many incredible features, such as its intelligent microprocessor. This aspect monitors your battery’s voltage level and can adapt the charging process based on its gathered data.
As a result, this microprocessor quickens charge times by a large amount. It also will prevent possible bugs from occurring like reverse polarity, overheating, short circuits, and overcharging. You can rest easy knowing this aspect will keep the device from having any safety issue.
I found this product’s LCD display appealing, as well. It makes keeping track of the charging process much easier for the person using the device. The info displayed on this screen, which can be an issue with other models, isn’t hard to decipher, either.
This device’s cooling fan and vents were other aspects that caught my attention. Both these design features work together to diffuse heat effectively. It’ll keep the operating temperature down, ensure charge times become quicker, and improve your battery’s lifespan.
Buyers won’t mind the price tag on this product either, considering the features it provides. The price tag itself should fall right into a realistic budget. In some situations, a customer might even consider it a steal.
13. Guest 2711A ChargePro On-Board 12V Battery Charger
RV owners looking for the most advanced battery charger have to take a gander at Guest’s 2711A ChargePro On-Board 12V Battery Charger. This model has absolutely everything a person could find useful in one of these devices.
For instance, this product is waterproof and shock-resistant to ensure it can work in all saltwater and fresh applications. It could double as both a battery charger for both your boat and RV with this design.
You also have to love this product’s long list of protections, including protections against over-temperature, over-voltage, over-current, reverse polarity, and ignition. It even has in-line fuses to offer max DC wire protection.
This product design features heavy-duty strain reliefs for durability purposes. It is built to ensure the cables won’t undergo any unnecessary strain during usage. It’s a design aspect capable of extending the device’s lifespan by a significant amount of time.
Aside from these features, it has several other familiar aspects that I’ve talked about in earlier reviews. These aspects include an LED display, a 5-stage charging method, easy using process, lightweight design, and multiple buying options.
Every one of these features improves the product’s convenience by leaps and bounds. I’d imagine customers will have a hard time finding another battery charger capable of being this convenient. Guest did an excellent job figuring out what people value in these devices and creating a great product based on those needs.
But I was a little confused by why they thought this product didn’t need an instruction manual. Many buyers complained about the lack of one in their reviews. I’d have to concur with my fellow customers as it would’ve been helpful to have some guidance when using the device.
However, it’s something I can live with considering the results provided by the device. Once the setup was done, I had no trouble as this product was everything I wanted and expected.
14. BLACK+DECKER BC15BD Fully Automatic 12V Bench Battery Charger
BLACK+DECKER’s BC15BD Fully Automatic 12V Bench Battery Charger is another option with automatic operation capable of making your life easier. This model will use a 3-stage charging process to ensure your rig’s battery remains in peak condition.
It can use this charging process to maintain/charge any AGM, WET automotive, GEL, or marine 12V battery. This type of versatility is a welcomed sight in any battery charger I’m considering for purchase.
You can expect its reconditioning feature to help extend your battery’s life, which is always a nice touch. This aspect will ensure your battery remains in good shape for a long time and save you money on a battery replacement.
As with prior options, this device comes equipped with an LCD screen to make tracking the process a much easier task. It displays battery status and charging status through specific icons that are easy to understand.
The product’s compact, lightweight design is another winning trait. Numerous buyers made sure to point this aspect out in their reviews. It’s a vital aspect because this design makes using and setting up the product a less stressful task.
You should also love that this model’s ETL certified, which means it meets their safety and performance regulations. These certifications provide me with a little peace of mind about using a device like this one. Plus, this device’s price tag isn’t too shabby, even with all these fantastic features.
15. KUFUNG 12V 5A Smart Automatic Battery Charger
If you’re looking for an option meant to deal with long-term battery storage, KUFUNG’s 12V 5A Smart Automatic Battery Charger perfectly suits this situation. It contains a maintenance mode that’ll provide a constant pulse current.
This constant pulse current will help maintain a battery’s charge in a storage scenario. You can also rely on this maintenance mode to keep the battery at its optimal level. As a result, it’s the perfect battery charger for preventing battery sulfation and stratification during long storage periods.
I was intrigued by this product’s microprocessor as well. This one monitors the battery level and adjusts the output voltage based on your battery’s charge status. It’ll also ensure the charging will stop automatically when the battery reaches full capacity to prevent overcharging from occurring.
You can keep apprised of this information through the product’s easy-to-read LED display. This aspect will ensure you know exactly where your battery’s charging status lies at all times. It’s a simple way to make sure everything’s working how it’s supposed to during the charging process.
This product isn’t slacking when it comes to safety protections, either. It has everything our prior models had, ranging from overload protection to short-circuit protection. You also don’t have to worry about any sparking issues with this device’s spark-proof design.
But I can’t continue writing any further without talking about this product’s price tag. It’s easily among the least costly options on our entire list. Every bargain buyer reading this article should be jumping at the chance to buy this option.
16. NOCO Genius G15000 12V/24V Pro-Series Battery Charger
Our list’s last product is NOCO’s Genius G15000 12V/24V Pro-Series Battery Charger and Maintainer, which uses some of the safest/advanced technology in our world. Its usage of this tech makes it an extremely adaptable device.
For instance, this NOCO battery charger can work with RVs, marine, automotive, power-sport, and deep cycle batteries with ease. I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t find more than a few uses for this versatile device.
The product’s UV-ray resistant and water-resistant qualities are more than worth mentioning as well. These two aspects make this product usable in almost any scenario where one of these chargers would be useful. It could even survive working in a rain or snowstorm and work its 15-amp magic.
You also benefit from its numerous safety protections against issues like sparking, short-circuits, overcharging, and overheating. These precautions will help increase its lifespan to ensure this product can offer useful results for many years.
The device’s rubberized base and external mounting will help in this area as well. Both these aspects will limit the chances of the product encountering scratches or any surface slipping. It’s just another way to ensure this device remains as durable as possible.
But none of these features matter without the device having a smart battery inside it. This battery makes sure the product uses the smallest amount of energy needed while increasing your RV battery’s lifespan and overall performance.
If these features weren’t enough to sell you, the device also comes with an LED indicator, X-connect battery clamps, and integrated eyelet terminals. These included aspects make using the device much more straightforward.
Deep Cycle Battery Charger Buyer’s Guide
Rig owners who need to buy a deep cycle battery charger will need to consider several factors. This section will discuss each of these factors to ensure you make the right choice for your situation.
Cost
The most apparent deciding factor will be each product’s cost. Every option will feature a slightly different price tag than the other ones. As a result, you should build a budget around what features are absolutely necessary for your deep cycle battery charger.
Your budget will be immensely helpful because it will limit the number of choices down to a more manageable number. This benefit will ensure the entire process becomes much less stressful for everyone who’s involved.
But the main reason behind having a budget is finding the lowest priced choice, which still has every feature you seek. Due to this, it’s essential to make sure you remain realistic about what aspects you need and the cost of those required qualities.
For instance, a person looking for chargers capable of monitoring its battery life will need higher budget ranges than someone buying a traditional model. Little details like this one will end up structuring your budget and make your life much easier.
Construction
A charger’s construction will have a lot to do with how well it can meet your needs. You’ll need to think about what design aspects are necessary in your chosen charger. This action will ensure you have a better chance of picking the right choice.
Some choices will include features capable of making the device usable in outdoor situations, such as UV-ray resistant and waterproof abilities. On the other hand, other options can’t function well in questionable circumstances like a rainstorm or snowstorm.
Therefore, a person who wants a charger capable of working in these situations will need to accept these options cost more. I’d suggest biting this bullet and paying a little extra for these aspects. It’s always nice to know you can use your charger whenever it’s needed.
After all, nobody wants to encounter a downpour without a usable battery. As a result, cough up a little more money and ensure your chosen charger has these qualities. I promise this investment will be more than worth it in the future.
Monitoring Abilities
If you aren’t interested in having your battery die unexpectedly, buying a charger fitted with monitoring capabilities would be an excellent idea. These devices will ensure you can keep tabs on the charge level without any issue.
In fact, chargers with monitoring abilities will automatically distribute some extra power when the battery gets a little low. But it’s essential to note that this feature will heighten the price by a significant margin over standard models.
This advanced charger will be worth it, though. It makes using your battery a lot more convenient by ensuring you don’t have to keep checking its charge level. As a lazy person, I couldn’t think of a more useful aspect in a deep cycle battery charger.
Battery Type
Your battery’s type will have a large impact on what ends up being the perfect charger. In other words, some options are only used for certain kinds of batteries.
A typical example would be a model capable of charging lead-acid battery types but doesn’t work on gel ones. If someone used one on gel batteries, the consequences would be severe. It’s not something a rig owner would ever want to experience during their RVing trip. But it’s important to realize that some chargers capable of charging lead-acid types will work on gel types.
This variation among these devices makes reading each product’s customer reviews and description a necessity. Knowing what your RV battery’s type is would also be something to figure during this process.
Durability
You’re going to want a deep cycle battery charger capable of lasting a long time. This device shouldn’t be something that you’re replacing any time soon. Due to this, a rig owner must ensure their chosen option is made from top-tier materials.
I’d suggest going through various customer reviews to evaluate how well each product performs. These discussions will be invaluable and should provide some insight into the charger’s performance in many situations.
As a result, these insights should keep you from making a bad decision about your next deep cycle battery charger. It’s an effective way to ensure you aren’t writing a negative review in the future.
Equalizing
The best RV battery charger will have an equalizing feature. This is a valuable addition because it means the device can make your battery last longer by balancing its charge, reversing the damage caused by sulfation.
As you can imagine, this feature is crucial in getting the most from a charger. But this feature is another one capable of increasing the overall price. However, I don’t think anyone could argue it isn’t worth it.
Honestly, I’d suggest buying an option with this ability over any bargain out there. But if you somehow manage to find a bargain with the equalizing feature, this situation is a buyer’s dream. You shouldn’t hesitate to purchase that charger.
Battery Size
Your battery’s size will be another thing to impact this decision. This factor isn’t measured by physical dimensions, as a person might assume. It’s instead measured by how many amp-hours the battery can store.
In typical cases, these batteries will be able to store about 50AH (amp hours). This type of battery will need about 6 hours to fully charge with a 10A battery charger. People who have 100A marine batteries should expect it to take 11 hours with this same charger.
Deep Cycle Battery Charger FAQs
Our FAQ section will attempt to cover any remaining concerns or questions a buyer might have about this process. It should provide some essential insight into why these chargers are such a useful commodity for rig owners.
Who is this for?
Understanding who might benefit from these battery chargers requires knowing what these products do. These chargers’ purpose is rather simple to understand; it’s an item made to charge up deep cycle batteries.
As you can imagine, these chargers have certain aspects to ensure this task goes smoothly. One of these aspects is having thicker plates than what a person would see with similar battery chargers made for lead-acid batteries.
You can also expect these plates to be sturdy and solid, unlike other chargers that are kind of spongy. These distinct aspects help ensure the charging process of a deep cycle battery goes much faster.
Overall, a deep cycle battery charger’s main objective is to make sure your rig’s battery is charged quickly and effectively. This purpose alone should convey how vital finding a top-tier one is for an RVer. It’ll make your RVing lifestyle much more convenient and ensures your rig’s battery never stays undercharged.
Advantages of using deep cycle battery chargers
People buy these devices because their 12V car battery charger can’t be used for deep cycle battery types. In other words, these batteries are much different than what you’d expect from a traditional car battery.
As a result, the advantage of using these chargers is that they let rig owners charge their RV batteries effectively. This purpose is vital because these batteries contain lead acid that will spend a long time being discharged.
You’ll find uses for these chargers outside the rig, as well. Deep cycle batteries are found in many appliances/equipment, such as:
- RVs
- Solar power equipment
- Audio equipment
- Electric wheelchairs
- Trolling motors
Of course, these are only a few of the devices or appliances that contain deep cycle batteries. This reality means deep cycle battery chargers can be rather versatile and serve many purposes during your trip.
What is the best charger for a deep cycle battery?
I would consider any charger within our product review section contender for best deep cycle battery charger. But NOCO Genius G15000 12V/24V Pro-Series Battery Charger and Maintainer was the one which left a massive impression on me.
Everything about this device seems more than ready to keep your deep cycle battery in good condition. The price is a little expensive, but its versatility and performance level make paying this extra money more than worth it.
Do deep cycle batteries need a special charger?
Deep cycle batteries will sometimes have their charge level dip below what’s needed to run boats, electronics, or an RV. Charging them back up requires using a special charger to return the battery to its proper voltage.
As you can see from our article, plenty of these special chargers are available today. But information learned here should make choosing the right one rather easy. I can’t imagine why you won’t be charging your RV batteries effectively shortly.
How to read a battery charger amp meter?
Reading a battery charger amp meter is more complicated than people assume. But I’ll walk you through the process to ensure it becomes a breeze.
- Locate and put on some goggles, gloves, and other protective gear.
- Find the socket to plug in your battery charger.
- Turn on its amp meter.
- Once it’s turned on, there should be some noticeable movement with the needle jumping from side to side. If you don’t see this motion, there’s probably something wrong with your battery charger amp meter.
- Your amp meter will then need a few moments to correct itself after being plugged in. There’s no reason to panic if yours isn’t providing results right away. It’s a normal part of the process.
- Next, you’ll need to select between your charger’s two amp settings. Look at your battery’s label or manual to see its proper charge rate and select the right one. If done correctly, you’ll see the needle gradually move toward the selected amp setting.
- Your battery amp meter will continue going down until it reaches zero. Once the needle or indicator reaches zero, the charging is done.
What amp charger is best for deep cycle battery?
The best battery charger for deep cycle battery charging is often one with 6-amps or more. But it’ll change from battery to battery.
If you’re concerned about finding a charger with suitable amps, it shouldn’t be difficult. Most manufacturers make it easy by putting the information right in the product description.
Will a battery tender charge a deep cycle battery?
Battery Tender battery chargers are made to maintain and charge a wide range of battery types, including deep cycle. These options tend to be popular among rig owners who use their RVs as seasonal vehicles rather than year-round.
A Battery Tender battery charger will ensure your rig’s battery stays fresh during those storage months. It’ll provide this essential benefit without offering the potentially damaging effects caused by a lot of trickle chargers.
Do trickle chargers work on deep cycle batteries?
Experts don’t recommend using trickle chargers on deep cycle batteries. These devices are more used for topping off the car and other vehicle batteries with thin plates. Due to this, a trickle charge wouldn’t mesh well with the thicker plate construction of deep cycle batteries.
It’ll only cause long-term damage to your battery, which isn’t ideal for anyone. So it’s best to find a deep cycle charger, such as a top-tier equalizing battery charger that’s built to work effectively with those thicker plates. Otherwise, the process will only lead to unneeded consequences.
Is it OK to fast charge a deep cycle battery?
You can fast charge certain deep cycle batteries. For instance, flooded style types will mesh well with fast charging. But GEL or AGM options can shorten their lifespans with fast charging, so it’s not ideal for those batteries.
How fast can you charge a deep cycle battery?
The charge times on deep cycle batteries will vary based on certain factors: your charger, temperature, and battery size. For instance, a 100AH battery at room temperature will usually take around 5-6 hours to reach 80% capacity.
How did I calculate this time frame? Well, I divided the battery’s capacity by my charger’s rating, which provided an estimation of its charging time. It’s worth noting unclean terminals and colder temperatures will slow down your charge times as well.
How to use?
Using one of these devices to charge deep cycle batteries isn’t a tricky process. I’m going to make it even easier by taking you through the steps myself. But first, we have to ensure you have all the necessary materials needed for the task: charger, battery, a hydrometer, gloves, some distilled water, flat-headed screwdriver, and eye protection goggles.
After gathering these materials, it’s time to get the process started:
- Remove your battery and place it in a clean, dry location, which isn’t too cramped or stuffy.
- Pick up your flat-headed screwdriver and remove the cell covers. They’ll either be a massive cap that covers all of the cells or individual plugs. During this process, it’s vital to wear rubber gloves and eye protection goggles/glasses. The acid within these cells has been known to splash out from time to time.
- Take out the hydrometer, put it into a battery cell, and draw some fluid into it. Proceed to examine the hydrometer’s readings by following the directions, which came with it. In some cases, these devices will utilize floating balls when determining whether there’s not enough water in the cells. Other models will instead use some type of needle gauge. If there isn’t enough water within the cell, add the proper amount of distilled water. After making sure each one has sufficient water, recap the cells carefully.
- Bring out your charger and put it to slow charge mode or the trickle. You’ll also need to choose the right battery type: 6V, 12V, or 24V. If you’ve bought a model that lets the user choose the charging process’ voltage, I’d suggest ensuring it’s 20% of your battery’s AH (amp-hour) rating. This rating can be found on the battery’s top or either one of its sides.
- Your next move is attaching the terminal posts to your charger’s cables. The first step would be connecting the positive cable to the positive terminal. These positive sides will have red wire coloring or a + sign, making them easy to identify. You can then do this process with the negative components.
- After both are attached, it’s time to turn the charger on. I’d recommend waiting for about 30 minutes and then checking the charge meter. It should provide enough time for a top-tier charger to offer a proper battery charge level reading. If you’ve bought a charger with an included voltage regulator, the next part will be done for you. This regulator will automatically shut down when the necessary voltage is reached. But people who didn’t will have to check the charge meter on an hourly basis until it’s fully charged. Once your battery reaches the full charge capacity, you can disconnect it.
Any care and maintenance tips?
Caring for a deep cycle battery charger doesn’t take much effort. It comes down to storing it within your rig properly and following the directions laid out in its manual. If you do these two things, I don’t see why this device won’t last a long time and provide effective results.
Conclusion
After reading our article, locating the best deep cycle battery charger should be a relatively easy process. It’s now time to use your new knowledge and conduct your search based on what you’ve learned.
If you do, the right choice should become rather clear quickly. But questions will come up from time to time, which is why we have a comment section. Feel free to leave a post below and let us know of any issues that are bothering you. Thanks for reading!
Hi, I am Dane Heldt, a full-time RVer since 2016. I am always passionate about building and joining an RV community where people share their love for RV lives. This blog is a dream of mine, as I can finally share my experiences to help people who want to start living differently. So, feel free to reach out to me!