Draper 53491 6V/12V Smart Charger and Battery Maintainer (10A), Black

Product Information

But whilst the glossy touch-sensitive front panel looks great, we suspect its cost robs the unit of more desirable features, such as a better charge process indicator – the single LED only shows if the unit is charging or finished.

But it is a cheapie, so safety aids like low battery, incorrect correction, or dead short warnings are omitted. We love the swish minimalist styling, but a single LED – changing between red (clamps wrong way around), flashing green (charging), and solid green (charged) doesn’t give much of a clue of what’s happening or how long the charge is likely to take.Nothing ruins a modern battery quicker than being left in a low state of charge for a prolonged time. It can provide an “‘Adaptive Boost” jump in up to 15 minutes and stays charged for up to a year: perfect for glovebox storage.

Draper BCI10 6V/12V 10A Smart Charger Battery Maintainer The Draper 53491 BCI10 is a portable 10A smart charger that does more than just charge 6V and 12V vehicle batteries.The unit’s paltry 6Ah of internal charge means it cannot fully charge a big dead battery in one go or away from the mains. Age can give you an indication of whether the battery is completely dead or just flat, but trying to recondition an existing battery with a smart charger is ultimately cheaper than replacing it.

of your vehicle batteries without losing memories or settings for ICE systems, digital clocks, and trip computers from the ECU (engine control unit). How each device charged was also noted, plus we checked for sparks during misuse and for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility, pictured right), and assessed instructions. Amp USB sockets handle tech top ups, Lightening and 28-pin plugs – for Apple users – join the ubiquitous Mini and Micro USB plugs supplied, and a lead with various jack plug ends utilises separate 12 or 19 volt outputs to power countless 12 volt accessories and most laptops. If you’re a flat dweller or your off-street parking doesn’t have convenient access to mains power, you might need to consider a portable or solar power charger. Better still, there's a "Try" indicator, which illuminates when a battery amasses just enough energy to stand a chance of starting an engine – handy when time is tight.The electronics in our vehicles are configured in a very smart way, in that they are almost always powered by the engine.