HTRC P20

Most car and motorcycle battery chargers cap out around 5 to 10 amps. The HTRC P20 changes that, with a charging current climbing up to 20 amps at 12 volts and 10 amps at 24 volts, spread across three adjustable levels (5A/10A/20A at 12V, 3A/5A/10A at 24V) depending on battery size and how quickly you need it charged. It is, as of now, the most powerful charger in our car and motorcycle selection.

That power does not come at the expense of compatibility. The P20 handles lead-acid batteries in every common form (AGM, gel, EFB, MF, SLA, VRLA, flooded) as well as lithium and LiFePO4 batteries, with four modes selectable at the press of a button: Lithium, AGM/Lead, LiFePO4 and Repair. Its nine-stage charging programme detects the battery's type and condition, desulphates if needed, then switches to trickle charging once the battery is full. The repair mode attempts to revive old or deeply discharged lead-acid batteries, with a minimum activation voltage as low as 2 volts.

The backlit LCD screen continuously shows voltage, charging current, internal temperature and charge level in 20% steps. The unit also switches automatically between summer and winter mode based on ambient temperature, adjusting the charging voltage to avoid undercharging in cold weather. A 3-metre pure copper mains cable and reinforced, capped crocodile clips complete the package, protected against reverse polarity, short circuit, over-voltage, under-voltage and overheating.

Two honest caveats emerge from user feedback across several markets: the cooling fan, needed at full power, is audible and can be intrusive at night in a confined space such as a motorhome; and some independent tests measure a real-world current slightly below the claimed 20A under sustained load. Neither is a dealbreaker for occasional charging or maintenance, but worth knowing if quiet operation matters to you. For a lithium-only need on a tighter budget, the Einhell CE-BC 5 M LiFePO4 remains a solid, proven alternative, if less powerful.