Battery Tender 1.25 Amp Vs. 4 Amp Vs. 5 Amp: How big of a Tender do I need?

Batteries are tricky contraptions sometimes; one minute they hold a perfect charge, and the next, they are empty when you need them most, like just before you leave for work. Happily, devices like Battery Tenders can stave off this problem and keep you rolling.

Battery chargers and maintainers are much like a combination of jumper cable and phone charger, as they plug into the wall and slowly charge a battery over a period of time. They’re also intelligent enough to know when to reduce or completely stop the flow of power to keep the battery safe. 

While these three Battery Tenders/chargers all do the same job, they have different attributes that make them individuals. In this review, we will look at all three chargers and recommend the best one.

AT A GLANCE: QUICK COMPARISON OF BATTERY TENDER 1.25A, 4A, AND 5A

Battery Tender 1.25A
Battery Tender 1.25A
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Battery Tender 4A
Battery Tender 4A
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Battery Tender 5A
Battery Tender 5A
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Customer Rating
4.8
4.7
4.7
PriceBattery Tender 1.25A priceBattery Tender 4A priceBattery Tender 5A price
Charging current1.25A4A5A
Type of charger4 step, fully automatic4 step, fully automatic4 step, fully automatic
Supported vehiclesPower sport vehicles and motorbikePower sport, automotive, marine vehiclesPower sport, automotive, marine vehicles
Reverse polarity protection
Overcharging prevention
Ability to charge car batteries--
Charge 12V Lithium batteries ----
Reconditioning function----
Thermal compensation----
Pros+ Can charge power sport vehicles
+ Small overall size
+ Thermal Compensation
+ Reasonable price
+ Can charge both 6 and 12-volt battery systems
+ Can charge and maintain car batteries
+ Small overall size
+ Powerful enough to charge and maintain car and RV batteries
+ Designed with lower energy consumption
+ Allow faster charging
Cons- Cannot charge a car battery- No temperature sensitive charging control- Cannot revive deeply discharged batteries
Warranty5 years5 years5 years
Score9.59.58

Battery Tender 1.25A, 4A & 5A: What Are Similarities?

Each charger has the goal of charging/maintaining your battery, so common features are inevitable. Safety, durability, and longevity features are common across all three chargers.

Battery Tender 1.25A vs 4A vs 5A have some similarities: 5 year warranty, 2 connection methods to choose, and safty features to protect your battery.
Key similarities of the 3 Battery Tender models are safety, durability, and longevity features.

2 Connection Methods

The connection method for each charger is the same: crocodile clips and optional eyelets.

If you want to leave them connected to the battery, run the leads through the grille and plug in without having to open the hood every time, or run them through complicated bodywork on offroad equipment. 

Safety Features

Each charger has features to prevent overcharging and reverse polarity, which occurs when the clips are hooked up in the wrong order. If they are, then the charger simply does not deliver any power, to avoid damaging the battery.

Each charger also has a feature to prevent overcharging, in essence, “float” charging, where the charger maintains a full or near full charge level.

All three trickle chargers have the ability to detect when a battery is too damaged to be safely recharged or reused, and will flash a light to let you know the battery is no longer safe to use in any capacity.

These chargers also feature sealed cases to protect against spills and dust, along with spark protection. This is important as cars feature flammable liquids that occasionally leak. Still, do not use the charger near flammable liquids if possible.

5-Year Warranty

All three chargers come from Battery Tender with a factory 5-year warranty.

What Are The Key Differences?

Battery Tenders overall serve exactly the same purpose, regardless of charging voltage or case style. We’ve addressed common features and attributes that each Battery Tender shares, and now we move to the differences they have.

What are differences between Battery Tender Plus vs 4 Amp vs 5 Amp
If you only need a charger for ATV, motorcycles, then the Battery Plus 1.25A will serve you well. But for charging something larger like cars, you will want the Tender 4A or even 5A. 

Supported Vehicles/Batteries

Unfortunately, the Battery Tender 1.25A cannot charge anything larger than an ATV battery. You can use it to maintain the car battery, but do not expect it to charge it.

The Battery Tender 4 Amp can charge both 6 and 12 volt systems and is powerful enough to charge a car. If you can only have one charger out of this trio, it will be this one. 

Finally, the Battery Tender 5 Amp is powerful enough to charge a car battery or maintain an RV battery but can only charge 12 volt systems. 

If you only need a charger for your equipment like ATV’s, motorcycles, and various outdoor toys, then the Battery Plus 1.25A will serve you well. But for charging something larger, you will want the Tender 4A or even 5A. 

Battery Tender 4A With Ability to Charge 6 Volt Systems

While all three chargers can charge 12 volt systems, only the Battery Tender 4A can handle both 12 and 6 volt systems, although not at the same time. This is especially useful as it means you will only need one charger for all your vehicular charging needs; motorcycle, auto, or marine. 

Design

As all three chargers come from the same manufacturer and are from the same model line, they all look identical. Battery chargers and maintainers all look quite similar anyway, and the Battery Tender lineup we have here is no different. 

Still, the Battery Tender 1.25A measures at 9x4x11 inches, the Battery Tender 4A comes in at 69.×3.33×1.91 inches, and, finally, the Battery Tender 5A is measured at 8.2×3.9×2.3 inches. 

The Battery Tender 4A is the group’s heavyweight, weighing in at 2.52 pounds, while the Battery Tender 5A and 1.25A weigh 1.45 and 1.25 pounds, respectively.

Additional Features

Unfortunately, none of these chargers is capable of reconditioning a dead battery to make it last longer. Additionally, none of the three can function as a secondary power source; they only charge and maintain batteries. 

However, the Battery Tender 1.25A Plus comes with a Thermal Compensation feature that lowers or raises charging voltage, depending on the external temperature. This is a handy feature if you live in a climate with big temperature swings.

Which Battery Tender Should You Buy?

Battery Tender 1.25A: An affordable investment for maintaining your vehicle batteries in the pandemic

Battery Tender Plus
Battery Tender Plus 1.25A 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer
4.8
Battery Tender Plus 1.25A is a 5-star device to keep a rarely used battery in a fully charged state with ease. It works as advertised! Keep putting it on the charger after every ride, and there will be no more jumper cables each morning.

Pros

  • Can charge power sport vehicles (boats, etc.)
  • Small overall size
  • Afforadable price at around $50
  • Thermal Compensation feature

Cons

  • Not powerful enough to charge a car battery

The Battery Tender 1.25A is a solid charger but not powerful enough to charge a car battery and lacks some smart charging features. It is a good charger, but consider other options before buying. 

However, it does work well as a maintainer, which, in a pandemic, is a very useful option in cases where cars do not get driven for long periods.

RELATED: Schumacher SC1343 vs Battery Tender Plus vs Noco Genius2: Which Is The Best Trickle Charger?

Battery Tender 4A: This versatile item will pay for itself in no time

Battery Tender 4 AMP
Battery Tender 4A 6V/12V Battery Charger and Maintainer
4.7
Battery Tender 4A is a versatile device that can charge both 6V and 12V battery systems regardless of lead-acid or lithium ones. It’s an outstanding charger for most vehicles in your garage.

Pros

  • Can charge both 6 and 12-volt battery systems
  • Powerful enough to charge and maintain car batteries
  • Charge 12V Lithium batteries
  • Small overall size

Cons

  • No temperature sensitive charging control

The Battery Tender 4A is a solid charger with plenty of features and the ability to charge both 6 and 12 volt systems. If you have to have only one charger around the property, this is an excellent choice.

Battery Tender 5A: An upgraded version of Battery Tender Junior

Battery Tender 5A
Battery Tender 5A 12V Automotive Battery Charger
4.7
Battery Tender 5A improves the “slow recharging” disadvantage of the other Battery Tender units. Highly recommend it for cars that are heavy in electronics or if you need a versatile charger for all jobs in your garage.

Pros

  • Powerful enough to charge and maintain car and RV batteries
  • Allow faster charging of larger batteries without overcharging them
  • It’s an energy efficient version

Cons

  • Cannot charge 6 volt systems
  • No temperature sensor

The Battery Tender 5A is the charger to have if you need to charge car batteries and have larger equipment that needs to have its batteries maintained over a while. This is the charger to have, but remember that it cannot charge 6 volt systems.

FAQs

What types of batteries can I charge?

  • Battery Tender 1.25A: Can charge any small 12-volt battery, such as an ATV battery or motorcycle battery, but can only maintain a charge on a car battery. 
  • Battery Tender 4A: Can both charge and maintain any 6 or 12-volt battery, up to an RV-size vehicle. 
  • Battery Tender 5A: Can charge and maintain any size 12-volt battery up to an RV-size vehicle.

Are these Tender chargers waterproof?

To a point. They will be fine if you accidentally spill a few drops of water on them or carry it from one building to another in the rain, but they will not survive being completely submerged.

Can I leave the eyelets on the battery?

Depending on how often you like to charge or maintain the battery, you can leave the eyelets connected to the terminals, even when the charger is not hooked up, and they will be okay.

RELATED: Battery Tender® Junior vs. Battery Tender® Plus vs. Battery Tender® 800: Which battery charger do you need?

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