Whether you need a handy battery charging replacement or you’re getting your first, not everybody knows what to look for to get the best product for the money they spend. It’s important to get a charger that’ll work with your battery, and in turn your ATV, so that you can keep using it for longer without coming across any problems.
To help you find the best ATV battery charger, we’ve taken five examples of chargers that can charge batteries compatible with ATVs and have displayed them below. Each one has a small writeup where you’ll find their pros and cons listed out in a format that’s easy to understand at a glance.
Before or during your purchase, you can also read the below buyers’ guide and use it to inform your decision on which product you want. Check it out below if you’re interested in learning what we consider to be the top ATV battery chargers, and get to know the ins and outs before confirming a choice.
In a hurry? This is our Winner!
Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer
- Solid-state two-color LED lights indicate charge level.
- Spark-proof and detects reverse polarity during lead connection.
- Low maintenance design to charge fast in small storage spaces.
In a hurry?
If you’re after a battery charger but don’t want to spend too long searching through all of your options, then let us show you our favorite so you can check it out and see what you think. That’d be the Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer, a very popular charging model with many convenience and compatibility features that make it ideal for the average user. See some points below:
- These are 1.25-amp battery chargers that are generally safe to use, avoiding overcharge by switching between modes when needed. Those modes are the beginning initialization mode, its bulk charging phase, absorption phase, and power-saving float mode.
- These chargers are spark-proof and are even able to detect when a reverse polarity is occurring when you’re connecting leads. This means the battery won’t have a catastrophic failure as a result of poor connections. The chargers are also compatible with all kinds of batteries, from lead-acid to flooded and sealed models.
- Physical charger design is intuitive, being suitably small to fit into narrow storage spaces whilst having a solid-state, two-color LED light that switches colors based on the charge level of the battery.
ATV Battery Chargers – Top Model Compared
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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OUR TOP PICK
|
Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
EDITOR’S CHOICE
|
BatteryMINDer 2012: 12 Volt-2 Amp Battery Charger |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
BEST VALUE
|
Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
RUNNER UP
|
Schumacher Battery Charger with Engine Starter |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
RUNNER UP
|
BLACK+DECKER BM3B Fully Automatic 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintaine |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
Top 5 ATV Battery Chargers
1. OUR TOP PICK: Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
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Summary
In the first place, we have a very, very popular battery charger, having almost 7,500 ratings at the time of writing on Amazon alone. We’re talking about the Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer, and it’s rated by so many people yet manages to sustain an average four-and-a-half-star rating.
This 1.25-amp battery charger has the largest amperage of Battery Tender’s catalog, and it’s smart enough to automatically switch modes when charging so that the battery doesn’t get overcharged and loses power-efficiency. There are four of these modes, those being an initialization period, the main bulk charging mode, a charge-finishing absorption mode, and then the float mode where the battery cannot be overcharged.
In the event it did get overcharged or have any other problems, a short circuit protector keeps everything in order. It’s also spark-proof and is capable of detecting reverse polarity during lead connection, avoiding any trouble when first setting up the battery.
This charger is compatible with many of the batteries that you’ll be wanting to use, such as lead-acid, flooded, and sealed batteries like gel cells or AGM models. That’s why this charger is one of the most popular options for battery charging, because it’s compatible with so many battery types.
The physical design of the battery charger itself is also something that deserves attention. It has a relatively low maintenance design when compared to others out there, with it fitting into smaller storage spaces and being designed to deliver a fast charge. When charging, a solid-state, two-color LED light lets you know whether the connected battery is charged or not.
There are a lot of instructions, which can’t be a bad thing right? It isn’t much of a problem, but it does mean key info is buried in the accompanying guide. One very important detail that gets buried in the manual is that the batteries need a minimum of three volts of charge for the battery to work on them. If you are looking for the best battery charger for ATVs, this is the one for you.
Pros
- 25-amp battery charger that automatically switches modes, avoiding battery overcharge.
- Uses four different modes, initialization, bulk charge, absorption mode, and float mode.
- Solid-state two-color LED lights indicate charge level.
- Compatible with lead-acid, flooded, and sealed AGM and gel cell batteries.
- Spark-proof and detects reverse polarity during lead connection.
- Low maintenance design to charge fast in small storage spaces.
Cons
- Lots of instructions that bury the most important information.
2. EDITOR’S CHOICE: BatteryMINDer 12 Volt Battery Charger
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Summary
The second-best battery charger that we’ve put on the list is the BatteryMINDer 12 Volt Battery Charger, a versatile charger that’s able to be used with cars, RVs, boats, motorcycles, and of course, ATVs.
It’s a twelve-volt battery that runs at two amps, but what really sets this charger apart is the fact that it can handle six batteries at once. Now, most customers likely won’t need that much capacity but it’s a feature that’s much appreciated amongst those that do, and if it can simultaneously charge six batteries then it should have no trouble charging your one.
Another great feature that goes above and beyond the duties of the average battery charger is its desulfator function. Always on and working, a patented system of frequency pulse desulfator removes sulfate crystal buildup with no trouble to you. This charger doesn’t just recharge batteries, it rejuvenates them by getting rid of these harmful crystals, adding to the overall longevity of the battery. This kit offers a second chance to even the most sulfated batteries.
The charger comes with an ambient temperature sensor that adjusts the functioning voltage of your batteries based on their temperature readings. This means that the battery will always charge properly instead of being rushed or hampered by environmental conditions. It means you don’t have to worry about a sub-optimal charge due to reverse polarity, short-circuiting, or overheating.
Those above features make it very energy efficient, so it’s no surprise to us that these chargers are certified by the FCC for meeting current efficiency standards. That’s those put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, to be precise.
Pros
- A great 12V/2A charging system that can charge six batteries at once.
- Desulfator reverses sulfation to recondition batteries and prolong their life.
- Ambient temperature sensor compensates for changing battery voltage.
- FCC certified as meeting energy efficiency guidelines.
Cons
- Clips may be too small for certain batteries.
3. BEST VALUE: Battery Tender Junior Charger and Maintainer
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Summary
Coming into the midpoint of our list we have the smaller cousin of our number one battery charging option. It’s the Battery Tender Junior Charger and Maintainer, and it’s one of the cheaper products you’ll find on this list.
Like the previous chargers, it’s a twelve-volt model that’s a popular pick online. It’s not as popular as the Battery Tender Plus but is the better choice for individual riders who want a personal charge kit. It’s also quite versatile despite its smaller scale, catering to lead-acid batteries like flooded and gel whilst also being able to charge lithium-based battery models, like LiFePO4.
Built into the Battery Tender Junior is an ISM microcontroller that’s used to update the charging process of your battery. This smart technology regulates the power coming from and to the battery, ensuring that the vehicle you’re charging won’t get overloaded, something that’s potentially dangerous.
As mentioned, the Junior is considered a smaller version of the Battery Tender Plus, and for good reason. It’s very compact, and lightweight as a result, so it fits into narrow and tight spaces for easy storage. It’s even operational in most environments, being incredibly easy for beginners to get it working since it’s a very low maintenance product.
Like the Battery Tender Plus, the Junior also has many of the in-built safety features like spark-proofing and reverse polarity correction. All of these safety measures are met before the battery charger begins powering, and it only does that after confirming a stable connection to the battery has been achieved.
Whilst the charger is touted as water-resistant, and it is, it’s not resistant to the degree that we’d like. We’d recommend almost exclusively using the charger inside or under shelter so that you don’t have any problems when using this product.
Pros
- A 12V charger that’ll keep your lead-acid and lithium-based batteries fully charged.
- ISM microcontroller updates the charge sequence to optimize the charging process.
- Low maintenance, lightweight, and compact for easy use.
- Spark-proof and polarity-correcting before power gets released.
Cons
- Water-resistant, but still vulnerable to prolonged exposure to it.
4. RUNNER UP: Schumacher SC1352 6/12V Wheeled Battery Charger
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Summary
Next, we have a higher-end charging model with the Schumacher SC1352 6/12V Wheeled Battery Charger. If the wheels weren’t any indication, it’s one of the larger models on this list that requires pulling around.
We’d consider this the professional choice, so know that it’s only this far down because we think it’s beyond what many ATV riders will be looking for, especially since it markets itself as charging the batteries of SUVs and other larger vehicles. That said, it’s versatility with both six and twelve-volt charging should do well in charging the batteries of your ATVs.
The charging action can be set to one of three different settings. Each setting changes the amperage of the charge, from a two-amp trickle charge that takes everywhere from two to twelve hours to a forty-amp, one to three-hour charge, and finally a two-hundred-amp quick charge that should revive dead batteries fast.
Whilst it’s the big-budget, professional choice, it’s surprisingly easy to use because of the animated display that’s built into it. Through this you can get step by step instructions on how you should charge your battery properly, minimizing error and confusion during the process. This charger is also designed for most batteries, including some of the more modern technology like gel cell and deep cycle battery models.
Pros
- A larger, professional unit that charges at both 6V and 12V.
- Three different charging options to cater to your different needs.
- Animated display gives step by step instructions for the battery charging process.
- Designed for new tech batteries, from standard to gel cell and deep-cycle models.
Cons
- The priciest battery charger on this list.
5. RUNNER UP: Black+Decker BM3B 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintainer
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Summary
The last ATV battery charger we have today is the Black+Decker BM3B 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintainer, a charger that comes from yet another reputable brand. Because of this, it’s also well-rated and reviewed by thousands of customers online.
This charger and maintainer set will charge most vehicle battery types, whether they’re AGM, WET, or GEL, and it doesn’t care whether they’re six or twelve-volt either. They’ll charge it all and, when the charger is left to its own devices, it’ll automatically stop charging after a while. This is because the charger monitors the power level inside the battery and puts a stop to the charging process when the battery nears its maximum capacity.
It’s a great product for the individual ATV rider, being very easy to connect and disconnect from batteries safely using clips and O-ring terminals, though it should be said the alligator clips lack teeth so more care needs to be taken with making sure they have a good grip on battery terminals.
By far the standout feature with this product is its price. It’s the cheapest charger and maintainer set here yet has many of the standard features you’d want in a charger. That said, the accompanying cables are short, so we’d advise this charger for close-up tinkering rather than use in a workshop with more space.
Pros
- A charger and maintainer set that works with 6V and 12V AGM, GEL, and WET batteries.
- Automatically stops charging when the battery reaches capacity.
- Easy connection to batteries using clips and O-ring terminals.
- Exceptional value, cheapest charger on this list.
Cons
- Alligator clips lack teeth to grab battery terminals.
- Accompanying cables are short.
Your Helpful Buying Guide
How to choose the right one
If you’re not sure what battery charger to get for your needs, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve written this buyers’ guide for two main purposes. The main one is to educate readers on some of the important buying factors you should consider when looking for ATV battery chargers. The other is that, through reading the guide, you can better understand how we ranked the above products.
In order to properly talk about these chargers, we’ve broken them down into features and qualities that are good to look for. See them detailed in the subheadings below.
Compatibility
In order to “choose the right battery charger,” you first need to make sure you actually have the right charger that works with the vehicle batteries you’ll be working with. There’s no point in looking for quality in products that are fundamentally incompatible with your ATV, after all.
Find the manual to your ATV or the battery you’ve got installed inside it and see if there are any charger recommendations. There should be and, if there is, you should follow these as closely as possible so that there’s more chance whatever you end up getting will work.
Versatility
Versatility can be shown in several ways. One of the main ones is charging capacity, with some chargers being able to charge everywhere from one to six batteries at once. We’d say this is the least important versatility feature, however, when you’re buying for ATVs.
Instead, we find charging modes and other settings much more important, though versatility features are only an important buying factor when you’d prefer them in specific contexts.
Two examples have appeared on the above list, with Battery Tender’s four different charging modes and the Schumacher’s variable power levels.
The four charging modes is more of a precautionary measure that ensures a safe and equal charge, but does so by having four different, automatic charging phases coded into the charger itself. These begin with an initialization stage, bulk charging, and then absorption and float mode to level off the battery charge process.
Schumacher’s variable power levels afford much more control towards the user with three settings, one a slow trickle charge that can take as long as twelve hours whilst the fastest can be done in three with more amperage.
Ease of Use
If you’re a beginner, you’ll definitely want a charger that’s easier to use and won’t give you a headache when operating it. For as long as you take your ATV out for rides, you’ll need to keep charging, so making the process as stress-free as possible is important.
Compact designs tend to be easier to move around and store in smaller spaces within your garage or workshop where they won’t clutter, though obviously some power capacity may get sacrificed there.
A handy maintenance feature that goes above and beyond battery charging is battery desulfation, where a charger removes long-term sulfite crystal buildup from an otherwise irrecoverable battery to restore it to working condition. This not only adds charge to the battery but adds more lifespan to it in the long-term, too. See the second product in the above list if that sounds like something you may be interested in.
Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer
- Solid-state two-color LED lights indicate charge level.
- Spark-proof and detects reverse polarity during lead connection.
- Low maintenance design to charge fast in small storage spaces.
