Black and Decker Car Battery Charger Reviews [2023]

July 23, 2023

Black and Decker Car Battery Charger Reviews & Comparisons

The Black and Decker car battery charger range has grown to encompass a good selection of units that all offer something slightly different. The best part about this range though is the fact that all of the units come with a strong reputation for excellent build quality and being reliable products that will last you a long time.

Black and Decker has been in the power tool industry for over 100 years now. The manufacturer has grown with the world to keep up with changes in technology and even stand at the forefront of innovations in engineering. Their range of car battery chargers and maintainers show off this history of innovation and the company’s impressive focus on making devices that are easy for the general public to use. This is evident in the fact that most of their chargers are actually fully automatic and will do all the work for you once they are connected to a battery.

The Features We Compare in the Black and Decker Car Battery Charger Range

When performing our car battery charger reviews, we take into account several factors that we believe are important criteria for comparing. These are:

  • What it charges – A charger that only charges one particular type of battery is not really that useful because you are limited quite significantly. The more options that one unit can provide, the quicker you are going to see a return on your investment. A truly versatile charger will be able to work on a wide range of battery types, as well as a wide range of vehicle types.
  • Smart technology – Not all chargers are created equal, but the good news is that many of them now come with at least basic automatic functionality. This is a fairly essential element to a charger because knowing that it can detect the level of charge within a battery and won’t overcharge or damage your battery thanks to this is a great relief to many users. There are also plenty of different bells and whistles that are worth comparing when it comes to smart technology in a car battery charger and maintainer. We’ll cover all of the options that are available in our reviews below.
  • Added extras – If a battery charger can offer the user something more than just the expected, this can often put the unit above the pack as one to buy. We take a look at what the extras are and if they actually make the unit better because they are well executed or if they are simply there as a marketing device or selling point and don’t add much real value.
  • Portability and functionality – The portability of a car battery charger and the functionality that it offers can have a big impact on whether or not it suits your particular needs. This is why we always cover these elements in a review. For example, a device that works when connected via an extension cord or is safe to use outside makes it a bit more versatile and possibly more appealing to some buyers.

Now that you know what we believe is important to compare and consider, let’s take a look at our Black and Decker car battery charger reviews to help you pick the right option for your needs.

1. BLACK+DECKER BC15BD Fully Automatic 15 Amp 12V Bench Battery Charger/Maintainer

Our rating: (4/5)

The BC15BD is a good package for those who want to take complete care of their vehicle batteries in a workshop or home garage setting. It’s a bench unit, weighing 3.45 pounds and has a robust case to stand up to life in a working environment. It also comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty and is ETL certified for performance and safety and CEC compliant.

The device gives you three functionalities: charging, maintenance and quick charge. The last option uses Black and Decker’s 40-amp Engine Start technology that essentially gives your vehicle a jumpstart by getting enough charge into your battery to get the engine going. It’s so powerful, it works in under 90 seconds. Then, for long-term use, the unit has a fast charging setting that gets a battery from flat to full in good time. The device then automatically switches to maintenance mode, where it provides a trickle charge to keep the battery at a high capacity until it is disconnected.

You get another great feature with the BC15BD: the Black and Decker patented alternator check. This keeps an eye on the vehicle’s alternator and tells you if it is not charging your battery sufficiently while the vehicle is in use. The device also has one-touch automatic charging plus reverse polarity protection, making it easy and safe to use.

2. BLACK+DECKER BC6BDW Fully Automatic 6 Amp 12V Waterproof Battery Charger/Maintainer

Our rating: (4/5)

If you’re after a compact but highly robust fully automatic car battery charger, then this is an excellent choice for you. It’s small and weighs only three pounds. It also comes with a magnetic backing on the casing and a hanging hook, to make it convenient to use in a range of different situations. However, the most important feature on this unit is the robust, fully sealed casing. It has an IP67 rating, which certifies that the casing is waterproof and dust proof, and can be used outdoors or around dirt and oil.

On the downside, this charger is quite small and isn’t suitable for use on larger vehicles. It’ll work nicely on anything up to a medium-sized car battery, but anything bigger will need a more powerful charger.

The unit is fully smart, meaning it will detect the level of charge in the battery it’s connected to. The charger can then adjust from full charging mode to trickle charging mode whenever it needs to. You don’t have to be around to monitor the process. You can also leave it outdoors, connected via extension cords if you need to – it’s that robust.

Read our full review on the BC6BDW here.

3. BLACK+DECKER BC25BD Fully Automatic 25 Amp 12V Bench Battery Charger/Maintainer

Our rating: (4.5/5)

This unit is the big brother of the BC15BD, offering the same extra features to make it more than just a simple charger, plus more power at 25 amps. It’s a fully automatic charger that includes a maintenance mode for long-term use. It also features Black and Decker’s patented alternator check system, the battery reconditioning system and a powerful 75-amp Engine Start system.

As a car battery maintainer from Black and Decker, this unit is designed as a bench charger and maintainer. It’s the largest and heaviest in this home-use range and is less portable than the others, especially considering that the casing isn’t waterproof. However, it is sturdy and robust, making it ideal for use in a home garage or a mechanic’s garage. It also features an AV low-voltage compensation system, so you can connect it to the mains supply via extension cords.

One of the most useful features on this device is the Black and Decker jump starter system. It uses 75 amps to give even a completely flat battery a boost that will get your vehicle started in under 90 seconds. All of this makes the BC25BD a powerful, versatile and reliable unit that can be used in your home or in a professional garage.

4. BLACK+DECKER PPRH5B 1000 Peak Amp Professional Power Station with 120psi Air Compressor

Our rating: (3.5/5)

The PPRH5B from Black and Decker is a highly useful portable power station that works as a car jump starter and more. It also has a built-in air compressor for pumping up tyres and other low-pressure items, and it has a USB port that can be used to charge mobile devices from the inverter in the unit. All of this is wrapped up in a robust casing with an ergonomically designed handle for convenient carrying.

On the downside, this unit is fairly heavy at 20 pounds. A lot of this weight comes from the lead-acid battery housed inside the casing. The battery is also problematic in that it needs to be charged and maintained properly – the same way a vehicle battery needs to be. The good news is, the unit is easy to charge because you can use any regular extension cord plugged into the mains power at your home.

With the PPRH5B, you get a versatile and powerful unit that will get you out of a tricky spot with a flat battery or a flat tyre. It’s not quite as convenient to use as other portable options due to the lead-acid battery, but if you look after it properly, you’ll be glad you have it when you’re out on the road.

5. BLACK+DECKER BM3B Fully Automatic 6V/12V Battery Charger/Maintainer

Our rating: (4/5)

If you need something that’s compact enough that it doesn’t take up much space and will stay plugged in and working on a vehicle battery, then the BM3B Black and Decker car battery charger and maintainer is the right choice for you. It’s small – 5 x 3 x 9.8 inches – and lightweight – 1.3 pounds – and you can easily hang it from the wall thanks to the built-in mounting bracket on the casing.

The unit isn’t very powerful, only going up to 1.5 amps. However, it is smart and fully automatic, meaning it can be left attached to a vehicle battery long term and you won’t have to worry about any damage from overcharging. The BM3B is actually designed for just this – being left to charge and maintain the battery of a recreational or season-specific vehicle that is kept in storage until needed.

It has two modes – charging and float. The unit automatically detects the level of charge in the battery and switches between the two modes as needed. It works on both 6V and 12V AGM, WET and GEL batteries, and is suitable for anything from a lawn mower through to a boat or RV. The BM3B might not have any of the extra bells and whistles that its counterparts reviewed above have, but it is certainly versatile enough for the long-term maintenance of a range of different vehicles.

Choose the Right Black & Decker Charger for Your Needs

Now that you have the low down on the various car battery chargers and maintainers that Black and Decker offers, it’s time to make your decision. The brand is renowned for being reliable and for having excellent after-sales support, so you can feel comfortable that this is a good manufacturer to go with. The question is just which device is right for your particular requirements and which one suits your budget.

In order to work out which charger to pick, it’s important to work out what you actually need it to do. If all you want is something that will stay connected to a battery on a vehicle you only use occasionally or seasonally, then you should probably consider the BM3B. On the other hand, you could get one of the bench chargers (BC15BD or BC25BD) as they give you just a little bit more with the Engine Start systems and the patented alternator checker. These two can also repair batteries with their reconditioning feature.

The downside to the bench chargers is that they don’t have the option to go on the road with you and can’t give you a jumpstart if you’re stuck on the side of the road. If that is a concern, then the PPRH5B power station is an excellent choice as it has what you need to keep moving. The other option for use on the go or outdoors is the BC6BDW. It has a fully waterproof and dust proof casing, and is specially designed for long-term use in situations where the vehicle can’t be protected from the elements.

It’s up to you to work out exactly how and where you want to be able to use your car battery charger and maintainer, and then make your choice. There really is something for everyone in the Black and Decker range.

Just taking a look at the Amazon car battery charger reviews, it’s clear to see that the Black and Decker BC25BD Fully Automatic 25 Amp 12V Bench Battery Charger/Maintainer is a firm favourite. It’s certainly our top contender among the units available from this highly reputable manufacturer.

The BC25BD is a sturdy, powerful and versatile unit that will work for a range of different circumstances. Yes, it is only designed for indoor use. However, it can do a lot for your vehicle – from keeping the battery in tip-top shape in a stored car to giving a flat battery a kickstart to get you on the road immediately. It can even repair a battery and help you to ensure that your vehicle’s alternator is working correctly. The BC25BD definitely offers you great value whether you’re looking for a Black and Decker car battery charger and maintainer for home use or to put to work in a professional garage.

 

James Olive
Zena Racing.com
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