A fast, simple charger for owners of cars, trucks and boats who want to recharge flat 12 V batteries quickly with a long warranty.
Amazon $106The Battery Tender 15 A Charger is the better battery charger overall, rated 3.8 to 3.2. The Battery Tender 15 A Charger leads on warranty. The Schumacher SC1280 wins on value. The Schumacher SC1280 costs $41.01 less ($64.99 vs $106).
A cheap, fast charger for lead acid car, truck and boat batteries. Lithium owners should look elsewhere.
Amazon $64.99Prices were last checked October 31, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Battery Tender 15 A Charger for warranty (5-year warranty vs 1-year warranty).
- Choose the Schumacher SC1280 for value ($4.33 per amp ($64.99, 15 A) vs $7.07 per amp ($106, 15 A)).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every over 5 A battery charger; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Battery Tender 15 A Charger | Schumacher SC1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.8/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Value 35% | 72 $7.07 per amp ($106, 15 A) | 96 $4.33 per amp ($64.99, 15 A) |
| Charge current 20% | 41 15 A | 41 15 A |
| Features 25% | 50 features not published (neutral score used) | 25 repair mode |
| Warranty 20% | 100 5-year warranty | 0 1-year warranty |
Specifications
| Battery Tender 15 A Charger | Schumacher SC1280 | |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | ||
| Charge current | 15 A | 15 A |
| Voltage | 12 V | 6/12 V |
| Lithium mode | - | No |
| AGM mode | Yes | No |
| Temperature compensation | - | No |
| Repair mode | - | Yes |
| Power supply mode | - | No |
| Build | ||
| Weight | - | 2.7 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year |
| Released | 2020-06-01 | 2018-06 |
