NOCO Genius 10

It ranks #4 (B tier) on our consolidated car battery chargers board, drawn from 4 independent outlets.

High-output 10 A can be overkill. Price premium not justified.

Someone who charges larger batteries, such as those in trucks, SUVs, boats or caravans, and wants a quick top-up. Its 10-amp output and smart charging that prevents overcharge earned it B tier on our car battery chargers board, with the same durable design as the NOCO Genius 1. Reviewers judged the high output overkill for a normal car and the premium unjustified, so for an everyday car the CTEK MXS 5.0 at the top of the board is the better buy, and for simple maintenance the NOCO Genius 1 costs less.

For a normal car battery it is more than you need rather than dangerous, because the smart charging steps the current down as the battery fills and prevents overcharge. Our research called the output overkill for typical use. Small motorcycle and lawn mower batteries are a different matter: charge those at a lower rate if the charger offers one, or use a smaller charger.

At 10 amps a typical 60 amp hour car battery that is half flat takes roughly three to four hours, about half the time of the 5-amp CTEK MXS 5.0. A large 100 amp hour leisure battery takes six to eight hours from half flat. The final absorption stage runs at reduced current, so the last ten percent takes longest.

It shares the durable design that earned the NOCO Genius 1 praise for withstanding long-term use, and NOCO sells it with the same three-year parts and labour warranty. Our research recorded no durability complaints. Keep the clamps clean and the unit dry and it should serve for years.

Yes. Its smart charging features prevent overcharge, so once the battery is full it drops to a maintenance current and can stay connected through a winter layup. Mount it off the floor and away from water, and connect the black clamp to bare chassis metal rather than the negative terminal.