Diesel truck batteries lose their power due to numerous reasons. A great way to prevent your diesel truck battery from dying is to use a battery charger. Because diesel trucks have two batteries to successfully start the engine, you will want to find the charger that would allow dual battery charging. Also, you should know that compared to gas engines, diesel engine batteries require more power.
This article will cover the best battery chargers for a diesel truck.
Best Diesel Truck Battery Charger
The best diesel truck battery charger is the NOCO GENIUS2X4. It is very powerful, and has the ability to power up to four car batteries at a time.
| Name | Voltage | Charging current | Battery capacity | Weight | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOCO GENIUS2X4
best overall |
6 V / 12 V | 8 A | 160 Ah | 3.9 lbs / 1.8 kg | Review |
| Schumacher DSR124
most powerful |
6 V / 12 V / 24 V | 15A | Not applicable | 70 lbs / 31.8 kg | Review |
| NOCO GENIUS 10
cheapest |
6V / 12V | 10 A | 230 Ah | 3.33 lbs / 1.5 kg | Review |
Best diesel truck battery charger reviews
NOCO GENIUS2X4 – best overall
The multi-bank NOCO GENIUS2X4 battery charger, maintainer, and desulfator will help you take care of four batteries at the same time covering a wide range of your needs.
It goes above and beyond what you would expect from a battery charger. It can charge both 6V and 12V batteries. This charger is also very small and compact which allows it to be stored just about anywhere.
It also has a lot of additional features that improve the charging experience. For example, it has a built in zero over charge ability that finishes charging the battery after it reaches full strength. This means you can keep in plugged in without ruining the battery.
There is also a sensor built into the charger that is able to detect the outside temperature. This prevents it from overcharging in hot conditions and undercharging in cold conditions.
Along with charging batteries, it also has the capability to jump start a dead battery. It is able to generate up to 8 amps when charging a battery. Along with diesel truck batteries, it can also charge batteries from just about any other vehicle. It can also charge lawn mower batteries.
You can buy this diesel truck battery charger for around $200 on amazon.
Being a multifunctional and powerful unit, the NOCO GENIUS 5 is the best AGM battery charger that offers the utmost functionality and flawless performance.
Key specs
Voltage, V : 6/12
Charging current, A : 8
Battery capacity, Ah : 160
Output power, W : 120
Weight, lbs/kg : 3.9 / 1.8
Dimensions, inches: 7 x 5 x 11
Pros
Can be used for both 6V and 12V batteries
Has a zero overcharge system which lets you keep the battery charging as long as you want
Cons
- Kind of expensive
- Doesn’t support 24V batteries
Schumacher DSR124 – most powerful
If you are looking for a powerful diesel truck charger, this is your answer. The Schumacher DSR124 is a professional-grade battery charger and engine starter from the ProSeries, specially designed for heavy-duty use.
This charger has 3 charging capability options: 6V, 12V, and 24V. This device produces up to 80 Amps for 330 Ah batteries to be able to jump and crank just about any diesel truck and other big machinery.
It comes with a built in sensor that prevents your battery from overcharging.
There is an LCD display on the top of the battery which makes it very easy to use. It also has a cool safety feature that prevents that charger from releasing power if the cables are not attached to the battery properly.
Key specs
Voltage, V : 6/12/24
Charging current, A : 15
Weight, lbs/kg : 70 / 31.8
Dimensions, inch: 34 x 20 x 16
Pros
Can charge 3 different battery types
Very powerful
Good safety and battery life features
Cons
Pretty big so it might be hard to store
Expensive
NOCO GENIUS 10 – cheapest diesel truck battery charger
If you are looking for a cheap battery charger, you should check out the NOCO GENIUS 10. It only costs around $100 and should be able to charge your diesel truck battery as long as it has a 12V battery.
This charger is very compact and doesn’t take up much space. Aside from charging, it can also provide up to 150W which can jump start a smaller diesel truck.
This charger has many of the same features as the Noco Genius2x4, including battery overcharge prevention and temperature detection. Most importantly, it also has the battery recovery feature which can help restore deterorated batteries.
It can charge your diesel truck batteries in as little as 4 hours.
The NOCO GENIUS 10 is a budget-friendly charger and maintainer that would become your reliable assistant when the batteries of your diesel truck get discharged.
The only real downside of this charger is that some people have reported that it heats up if you charge your battery for a long time.
Key specs
Voltage, V : 6/12
Charging current, A : 10
Battery capacity, Ah : 230
Output power, W : 150
Weight, lbs: 3
Dimensions, inch/cm : 2 x 3 x 7
Pros
Compact but still powerful enough for a diesel truck
Can be used for 6V and 12V batteries
Very affordable
Cons
Heats up heavily during charging
Can’t be used to charge 24V batteries
FAQ
Which battery should you jump your diesel truck off of?
First you should find the battery that has the thicker cables and then connect the battery cables to that one. If the cables are the same size, then either can be jumped.
How do you trickle charge a diesel truck?
First, make sure that both batteries are at full charge as trickle chargers are for maintaining a charge, and not recharging a low battery. Then connect the two negative posts and the two positive battery posts together, and then hook up the trickle charger to one battery.
Will a battery tender charge both batteries on a diesel?
Yes, you can hook your tender up to either of them and it will charge them both.
