Which NOCO Genius1 or Genius2 Mode Should You Use?
3 lessons in this series, 7 min in total
- How Long Does a NOCO Genius1 or Genius2 Take to Charge? 2 min read
- Which NOCO Genius1 or Genius2 Mode Should You Use? 2 min read
- NOCO Genius1 vs Genius2: Which Charger Do You Need? 3 min read
Modes and voltages come from both NOCO user guides and the GENIUS1 data sheet; the metric conversion is ours. See how we research.
The six modes and what each is for
Both user guides list the same six modes, picked with the mode button. The voltages are NOCO’s peak charge figures at 77°F (25°C).
| Mode | Charge voltage | For |
|---|---|---|
| 12V | 14.5V | 12V wet, gel, EFB, maintenance-free and calcium |
| 12V AGM | 14.8V | 12V AGM |
| 12V Lithium | 14.6V | 12V lithium-ion, including LiFePO4, with a built-in BMS only |
| 6V (hold 3 seconds) | 7.25V | 6V wet, gel, EFB, maintenance-free and calcium |
| Force (hold 5 seconds) | Same as the mode you select | Batteries below 1V, for 5 minutes |
| Standby | No power | Charger idle |
Across 6V and 12V, NOCO lists wet, gel, maintenance-free, calcium, EFB, AGM and lithium batteries, including LiFePO4, so match the mode to the type on the battery’s label.
12V Lithium: only with a built-in BMS
A BMS, or battery management system, is the electronics built into a lithium battery that monitor and protect its cells. NOCO’s guides say to use the 12V Lithium mode only on 12V lithium-ion batteries, including LiFePO4, that have one. Neither charger has a 6V lithium mode.
The guides also say to ask the battery maker for its recommended charge rates and voltages first, and to use the mode with extreme care.
This is the mode for a 12V lithium motorcycle or powersports battery with a BMS. If you can’t confirm the battery has one, check with its maker before you charge it.
Force Mode: for batteries below 1V
Both chargers detect batteries down to 1V. Below that, a 5-second press of the mode button starts Force Mode.
Force Mode turns off the charger’s safety features, and NOCO says live power is present at the connectors. So make every connection before you start it. After 5 minutes, the charger goes back to normal charging.
With the battery in a negative-ground vehicle, as most are, both guides say to clamp red to the positive (+) terminal and black to the chassis or engine block, away from the battery. Plug the charger in last, and for the full routine see can you charge a car battery without disconnecting it.
No Repair mode, and the mode memory
Neither charger has a Repair mode. The guides list only the six modes above, and none is a repair or desulfation mode you can select.
On first use, both guides say the charger starts in Standby until you press the mode button. They also say the charger returns to its last mode when it’s connected again.
That memory can catch you out across vehicles: if you move the charger from an AGM car battery to a lithium bike battery, check the mode each time. Then see which Genius fits your battery, or go back to how long a charge takes.
