CHARGE IT! 4520 12 V 20/10/2 A smart charger review

The CHARGE IT! 4520 is the highest-current model in Clore’s observed 4500-series portable trio. It is a one-output 12 V lead-acid charger/maintainer with 20 A, 10 A and 2 A settings and a seven-segment LED display. Its closest family comparisons are the 12 A 4512 and the 6/12 V 6 A 4506: the 4520 raises the available current ceiling, but it is still 12 V only and offers no documented battery-capacity range. This is an assessment of manufacturer evidence, not hands-on testing.

20 A is a setting, not a universal answer

The exact Clore page lists 20 A fast, 10 A medium and 2 A low charge rates. The control image and shared manual show the rate selection; Clore’s page identifies the product as 12 V. The 4520 does not have the 4506’s 6 V option. A user looking for one charger to cover both 6 V equipment and 12 V cars should compare those needs before choosing the 4520 simply because its maximum is higher.

That maximum needs context. Clore’s manual says small batteries—such as those in motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles and lawn tractors—should use the lowest available setting. For larger vehicle batteries, higher settings may be appropriate, but the manual still directs the user to the battery or vehicle maker’s charging instructions. A 20 A match in the finder means the charger has a documented setting that meets the requested numeric threshold; it does not mean the charger should deliver 20 A to a given battery. Use 10 A or 2 A only when the battery maker’s instructions support that choice.

The shared manual provides STD for conventional/maintenance-free flooded batteries and dedicated AGM and GEL selections, and limits this family to lead-acid batteries. It also discusses spiral-wound and deep-cycle batteries with attention to their underlying construction. The reviewed sources do not establish an EFB or calcium mode, a lithium profile, or any BMS condition. The 4520’s higher current does not broaden its chemistry compatibility.

Automatic charging and storage

Clore describes automatic multi-stage charging, soft start, reverse-polarity and fault protections, and a maintenance stage after the charger reports a full battery. The manual says the charger can remain connected in maintenance mode until it is disconnected. It also requires daily monitoring during extended maintenance. Those statements should be read together: an automatic maintenance stage is useful for a charged battery, but it is not an invitation to leave an unobserved charger installed for a season.

The digital display adds voltage and charge-status indicators; it is a status readout, not a substitute for diagnosis or a capacity test. Its weight is listed as 4.0 lb, a modest weight for a portable AC unit, but the product page does not state the lead length or complete package contents. Confirm the exact model/part number 141-412-000, connector set and usable reach on the specific seller’s offer. Do not assume that a photo of the charger body proves which leads or accessories are included.

Placement and battery safety remain part of the choice

The shared manual specifies a nominal 120 V grounded circuit and calls for a ventilated location. It warns against operating in a closed or restricted area, placing the unit where moisture can drip on it, exposing it to rain or snow, and charging a frozen battery. It says a marine battery must be removed and charged ashore; an onboard marine application needs equipment designed for that use. There is no IP rating in the reviewed exact-page/manual evidence, so the 4520 should not be treated as weatherproof.

Clore lists the 4520’s smart-clamp and polarity-protection features and a one-year limited warranty. The manual also cautions about lead-acid gas, sparks, ventilation, connection order and checking the battery manufacturer’s safety instructions. Those are meaningful operating limits rather than marketing details. An automatic charger still needs correct voltage selection, proper contact, safe placement and supervision.

Comparing the three observed portable models

The 4506 is the only one of the three with selectable 6/12 V output and has 6 A and 2 A settings. The 4512 is a 12 V-only design with 12/6/2 A rates and a digital display. The 4520 is also 12 V only, but reaches 20 A and has 10 A and 2 A settings. These separate configurations make the 4520 most relevant when a battery-compatible setup needs the higher documented ceiling; it is not automatically the best choice for smaller batteries or a 6 V use case.

Clore does not give a minimum or maximum Ah range for the exact 4520 sources reviewed. Do not infer that a battery is in range from its 20 A setting or from the general statement that the series serves cars, trucks and SUVs. Shortlist it for a single 12 V lead-acid job where the chosen current is allowed, a portable dry-location setup works, and manual-required monitoring is acceptable. Look elsewhere for lithium, 6 V or 24 V charging, several independent battery outputs, a specified Ah ceiling, outdoor operation or marine onboard charging.

Read Clore’s official 4520 product page and the shared 4506/4512/4520 owner’s manual with the battery and vehicle instructions before connecting.