Which Is The Best Noco Battery Charger? 4 Awesome Choices
Winter is on the way, which means it’s time to get the motorized toys put away. Whether you have a car, boat, lawn tractor, or anything else that uses a battery, if it’s gonna sit all winter, it’s a good idea to use a Noco battery charger to maintain and protect your investment.
Keep your battery in shape over the winter months and avoid needing a new one in spring, it’s as simple as that. This article will help you choose the right NOCO battery maintainer/charger for your needs and budget so you can “set it, and forget it.”
Let’s get started…
Quick Information about Noco
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Company name: NOCO
Price: Typically between $30.00 and $300.00 depending on the model
Overall Rank: 9/10
Contact information:
In a hurry? Here’s the top picks…
What is a battery maintainer, and who should use one?
As batteries sit for extended periods they begin to discharge and lose their ability to provide the amperage and voltage they need to start a vehicle or operate electronics. A battery maintainer keeps the battery in a stable state of charge, drastically increasing it’s life span.
A battery maintainer is a small battery charger that can not only charge up a dead battery, it can also stay connected to the vehicle for extended periods. A Noco battery charger constantly monitors the condition of the battery, keeping it at the optimal voltage.
Once a battery maintainer is set up, it spends its days constantly monitoring and maintaining proper battery voltage, trickle charging the battery, and discharging it in cycles. Anyone who has a vehicle parked for an extended period can benefit from having a good quality battery maintainer.
Why deal with dead batteries when it’s time to start your summer ride? Battery maintainers are not only for car collectors either, there are many places you can benefit from using a Noco battery maintainer.
The bottom line? A battery maintainer eliminates the question of whether or not the battery will be dead when you need it most.
How does a Noco battery maintainer work?
The Noco battery charger/maintainer works by continuously monitoring the voltage of the battery it’s connected to, even if a vehicle has a battery draw the maintainer will start a charging cycle until the battery reaches the correct voltage. This is all done automatically and safely. The charger also senses temperature and can desulfurize to bring many batteries back to life.
What comes in the box?
Noco battery chargers and jump starters come equipped with everything you need to either hardwire the unit to your vehicle or just charge a battery with the supplied clamps.
How are Noco battery chargers connected to the battery?
There are a few ways to attach these chargers. The first is simply using the alligator clips to hook up to the battery posts and you are done.
A more permenent apporoach is using the supplied eyelets to bolt a Noco pig tail connector directly to the battery, this allows you to quickly plug and unplug the charger in without removing access panels to get to the battery terminals.
Below is an older model I installed in a Jaguar XKR.
There is also a cigarette lighter adapter that really makes things easy, however I have never been a fan of these.
What are the top 4 Noco battery charger models for the money?
Now that we have covered what a Noco battery charger/maintainer is, let’s break down the 5 top models recommended. These have the best bang for the buck for any budget and you really can’t go wrong with any of these.
Best on a budget : NOCO GENIUS1, 1A Smart Car Battery Charger
The Genius 1 is a great choice for anyone that is looking for a simple, and effective battery maintainer. This is a top-rated product on Amazon for good reason.
With over 43,000 5-star ratings and a price tag of around $30 bucks, this charger is a no-brainer. The Genius 1 is an updated version of the G750, it’s smaller and delivers 35% more power than its predecessor.
This unit will charge, maintain, desulfate, and trickle charge pretty much any battery you can throw at it.
Charges all types of gas and diesel vehicles, cars, automobiles, motorcycles, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, lawnmowers, ATVs, UTVs, tractors, trucks, SUVs, RVs, campers, trailers, boats, PWCs, jet skis, snowmobiles, golf carts, classic cars, and more. Not bad for a charger under $50 bucks.
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Best for marine use: NOCO Genius GENPRO10X3, 3-Bank, 30A
If you own a boat you know how important it is to keep your batteries maintained and the electrical system of your vessel in good working order.
Deep-cycle marine batteries need a bit more power to keep them fully charged. The Noco GENPRO is a perfect choice.
This unit features much of the same versatility as the Genius 1, however, this packs way more power. On top of that, It will charge 3 banks (batteries) with 10 amps of power each, yes EACH.
This noco battery charger is by far one of the best marine battery products ever made. With a price tag of $291.00 dollars right now with a 30% discount, this charger is the best of the best for the cash.
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Best for emergencies: NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter
With this, we are going to shift gears a bit. The Noco Boost Plus isn’t a battery charger, it’s the jump start you need in a jam. This compact and powerful battery boost pack a 1000-amp starting capability.
With this boost pack, you can jump-start 20 cars on a single charge. I’m not sure I believe that this unit can do this, what I can say is if the manufacturer is claiming 20 jumps on a single charge, one or two in a jam shouldn’t be a problem.
One thing I really like about this jump starter is how small and compact it is, you can literally put this thing in your glove box and have a way out of a big emergency.
The safety feature is built in to avoid shorts or crossing terminals. Not everyone is a mechanic and it’s nice to know you can send the kids to college with one of these and there is no worry of them getting hurt or shorting out the car. If you have ever seen a battery get shorted out by crossing terminals I don’t need to say any more here.
The unit is spark-proof and has reverse polarity protection built right in.
This is not only a jump starter, it’s a portable power bank, and LED flashlight. USB devices can easily be charged with this tool as well! For added roadside safety an integrated 100-lumen LED flashlight with seven light modes, including emergency strobe and SOS is a plus in a roadside emergency
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Best all around: NOCO GENIUS5, 5A Smart Car Battery Charger
Here’s a perfect space between the more expensive GENPRO model and the Genius 1. The Genius 5 has everything you need with a little more power than the Genius 1.
This charger features everything you can expect from Noco, at a great price. This is my top all-around choice simply because it has all of the things you need in a battery maintainer, but still has enough power to charge up a battery faster than the Genius 1.
The Noco Genius 5 has everything you need in a small package. This will maintain your battery and keep things fresh on its own. Just hook it up and walk away.
Another awesome feature is the advanced battery repair mode. The charger uses slow pulse reconditioning technology to detect battery sulfation and restore lost battery performance for stronger engine starts and extended battery life.
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Wrapping up the 4 best NOCO Battery chargers
Whether you are a hardcore car collector or you have 3 deep cycle batteries in your boat to keep alive, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. I hope this article sheds some light on the different options and situations so you can keep your batteries fresh and ready to go, or even get you or a loved one out of a dead battery jam.
Have you had any experience with NOCO battery chargers or maintainers? Comment below and let me know your thoughts.
