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Ranked #5 of 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 19, 2026

BLACK+DECKER BC15BD

Averaged from + undefined
The verdict

The BC15BD is the all-in-one bench charger pick. The 40A engine-start function is unique in this round-up — when a battery is too dead to start the car, this charger can jump it. The LCD display is more informative than the NOCO Genius LEDs or the CTEK's status lights, and the Alternator Check is a useful diagnostic. Trade-offs: 12V lead-acid only (no lithium, no 6V), bench-style form factor, and the shortest warranty in this lineup (1 year).

BLACK+DECKER BC15BD

Strengths

  • +Built-in 40A engine-start function — only pick here that can jump-start a car
  • +Backlit LCD with charging-status icons and voltage display
  • +Patented Alternator Check evaluates battery voltage under load
  • +ETL-certified for safety; reverse polarity protection
  • +Charges 40% faster than conventional chargers per BLACK+DECKER's spec

Watch-outs

  • −12V only — no 6V support like the NOCO Genius series or Schumacher SC1280
  • −No lithium battery support — lead-acid (incl. AGM, gel, deep-cycle) only
  • −Bench-style design needs flat workspace — not as mountable as the NOCO chargers
  • −1-year warranty — shortest in this lineup

How it compares

Only pick with built-in engine-start. Tied with the Schumacher SC1280 on 15A speed and on lead-acid-only chemistry. Shortest warranty in this lineup (1-year vs 2-year Schumacher, 3-year NOCO Genius 5/10, 5-year CTEK MXS 5.0). LCD display more informative than the LEDs on the NOCO Genius 5/10 or CTEK MXS 5.0.

Who this is for

At a glance: garage workshop users who want a bench charger that doubles as a jump-starter for stubborn dead batteries.

Why you’d buy the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD

  • Built-in 40A engine-start function — only pick here that can jump-start a car.
  • Backlit LCD with charging-status icons and voltage display.
  • Patented Alternator Check evaluates battery voltage under load.

Why you’d skip it

  • 12V only — no 6V support like the NOCO Genius series or Schumacher SC1280.
  • No lithium battery support — lead-acid (incl. AGM, gel, deep-cycle) only.
  • Bench-style design needs flat workspace — not as mountable as the NOCO chargers.

Rating sources

automoblog
4.4/5
“The Black and Decker BC 15 BD intuitively reads the current charge and determines the right amperage to send to the battery.”

Our 4.4 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Is the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD worth buying?
The BC15BD is the all-in-one bench charger pick. The 40A engine-start function is unique in this round-up — when a battery is too dead to start the car, this charger can jump it. The LCD display is more informative than the NOCO Genius LEDs or the CTEK's status lights, and the Alternator Check is a useful diagnostic. Trade-offs: 12V lead-acid only (no lithium, no 6V), bench-style form factor, and the shortest warranty in this lineup (1 year).
What is the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD's biggest strength?
Built-in 40A engine-start function — only pick here that can jump-start a car
What is the main drawback of the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD?
12V only — no 6V support like the NOCO Genius series or Schumacher SC1280
What sources back the 4.4/5 rating?
Our 4.4/5 rating is the average of scores from 1 independent car battery chargers review — automoblog. Click any source on the product page to read the original review.

How it compares

See all 5 →
NOCO Genius 5
#1 · Top Score

NOCO Genius 5

Slowest amp rating in this round-up but most versatile feature set. Beats the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD on battery chemistry support (lithium + lead-acid). Loses on raw amps to the NOCO Genius 10, Schumacher SC1280, and BLACK+DECKER BC15BD. Cheaper than the Genius 10 and CTEK MXS 5.0 by a meaningful margin.

NOCO Genius 10
#2

NOCO Genius 10

2x faster than the NOCO Genius 5; slower than the Schumacher SC1280's 15A or BLACK+DECKER BC15BD's 15A. Lithium support beats the Schumacher and BLACK+DECKER (both 12V lead-acid only). More expensive than the Genius 5 and BLACK+DECKER, cheaper than the CTEK MXS 5.0.

CTEK MXS 5.0
#3

CTEK MXS 5.0

Best AGM/storage maintenance pick. Most sophisticated charging algorithm among these — beats the simpler 3-stage NOCO Genius 5/10, Schumacher SC1280, and BLACK+DECKER BC15BD. Slowest amp rating (4.3A) but the longest warranty. 12V-only — NOCO and Schumacher picks here support 6V too.

Schumacher SC1280
#4

Schumacher SC1280

Fastest pick here. Beats the NOCO Genius 5 and CTEK MXS 5.0 on raw amps; ties with the BLACK+DECKER BC15BD at 15A. No lithium support — the NOCO Genius 5 and Genius 10 are the only picks here that handle lithium. 2-year warranty falls between the NOCO Genius 5/10 (3-year) and CTEK MXS 5.0 (5-year).

BLACK+DECKER BC15BD
4.4/5· $80
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