Procharger 1.000 Review: Easy-To-Use Smart Charger Tested

While Optimate is considered by many to be the go-to in the world of smart chargers that are great for motorbikes, there are many other options out there. One of those is Procharger, which sells various chargers including the 1.000 I’ve had on test for the last few months, used on both motorcycle and car batteries.

Procharger is one of several brands exclusive to German mega-retailer Louis Moto, which delivers to the UK and offers to reimburse customers for any unexpected customs bills.

Key features

• 6-volt/12-vold compatibility
• Desulhating function
• Overcharge protection
• Automatic current adaptation
• Easy-to-read LED lights

The unit itself is small and light, featuring a series of easy-to-understand LED lights indicating things like charge status (either regeneration for excessively discharged batteries, charging, or full) and voltage. Included in the box are two cables, one featuring the usual terminal clamps, and the other a semi-permanent hook-up that can be bolted under the battery terminal screws and poked out the side of the seat should you wish to keep your bike charging through periods of disuse.

What you don’t get in the box is a UK adaptor for the two-pin European plug the charger is wired into, so you’ll need to source one of those. It’s also worth noting that the connector is proprietary, so if you already have a bike with an SAE connection on it, as used by Optimate chargers, you’ll need an adaptor. We had an adaptor on test with the charger, which costs £8.23.

Also worth noting is that the clip that secures the connection fell off on first use, which was a little disappointing, but the join seems sturdy enough without it.

The charger is extremely easy to use given its automatic adaptation - it’s just a case of plugging it in and letting it work everything out. The clamps are nicely judged, being robust yet not so chunky that they’re difficult to fit around often hard-to-reach motorbike battery terminals.

Should you buy a Procharger 1.000?

Coming in at a similar price to low to mid-range smart chargers from better-known brands like Optimate and Ctek (RRP £64.31), it’d be easy to overlook the 1.000. Other than the connector clip making a bid for freedom, though, the 1.000 hasn’t yet presented any reasons not to buy it. Delivery from Germany is typically fast and reasonably cheap at £8.25 (free on orders over £199), and the offer to pay customs fees takes away a big potential headache. Offers are also frequent - at the time of writing, the 1.000 is on sale for £47.81.

It’s worth keeping an eye on prices, though - these seem to fluctuate significantly on the Louis site, so it might be worth waiting for a good deal that’d see the 1.000 undercut its better-known rivals.