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Plug & Pylon

Head to head

J+ Booster 2 vs Lectron portable charger

Both live in your trunk and turn a 240-volt outlet into Level 2 charging. One is built to be driven over; the other is the simpler, lower-power option.

By Sawyer V. · Published September 10, 2026

A charging connector plugged into an electric car's charge port
Illustrative photo, not either of the units compared.

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A portable charger's whole job is to work on outlets you did not choose. That makes a different set of specs matter than on a wall unit: how far down the current adjusts, how much abuse the body takes, and which adapters come with it.

The two units

Ranked for a first home charger. Every row jumps to the full write-up below.

#ProductBest forMax outputPrice
1J+ Booster 2The best portable overall. J1772, 25 ft cable.The best portable overall40 A9.6 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded
2Lectron portable Level 2 chargerTravel and rentals. J1772, 21 ft cable.Travel and rentals32 A7.7 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

The specifications, side by side

Published specifications
J+ Booster 2Lectron portable
Maximum output40 A / 9.6 kW32 A / 7.7 kW
Current settings6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 or 40 ANot published here
ConnectorJ1772J1772
Adapters includedNEMA 14-50 and 5-15NEMA 14-50 plug, 5-15 adapter
Further adapters5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 6-50, TT-30Not published here
BodyAluminum, IP67, drive-over resistant to 6,600 lbPortable, weather-resistant
Weight2.2 lb without cablesNot published here
CertificationETL certified to UL standardsCheck the current listing
Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure in the sources we used, the table says so rather than filling the gap.

What the speed gap is worth

On a NEMA 14-50

J+ Booster 2 at 40 A: 40 x 240 = 9.6 kW, about 34 miles of range per hour

Lectron at 32 A: 32 x 240 = 7.7 kW, about 27 miles per hour

Over a ten-hour night: about 340 miles against 270

Both refill a car overnight. The gap matters on a road trip where you have six hours at a campground rather than ten at home -- the RV and campground guide runs that case.

Why adjustability matters more here

At home you know your circuit. On the road you do not. A unit that steps down to 12 or 16 amps can use an old or unfamiliar circuit gently rather than pulling its maximum from wiring you have never seen. The J+ Booster 2 publishes eight settings; that is the single feature we would pay for on a travel charger.

Both units in full

Full specifications and the case against each.

1. The best portable overall

J+ Booster 2

J+ Americas · J1772 · 40 A / 9.6 kW · 25 ft cable

A 40 A portable in a military-grade aluminum body, ETL certified to UL standards and IP67 rated, weighing 2.2 lb without cables. The portable that behaves like a wall unit.

What is good

  • 40 A, matching many wall-mounted units
  • Eight amperage settings from 6 A to 40 A, so it fits almost any outlet
  • Adapters for a wide range of outlets, including NEMA TT-30 for campgrounds
  • IP67 and drive-over resistant, which portables usually are not
  • 2.2 lb without cables, so it genuinely travels

What is not

  • Costs more than most portables, and more than some wall units
  • Every extra outlet adapter is a separate purchase
  • Still a portable, so it is not rated for permanent outdoor mounting
Published specifications for the J+ Booster 2
Maximum output40 A / 9.6 kW at 240 V
Adjustable6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 or 40 A
Power range1.4 kW to 9.6 kW
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cable21 ft or 25 ft, depending on version
Adapters includedNEMA 14-50 and 5-15
Further adapters available5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 6-50, TT-30
Weight2.2 lb without cables; 7 lb with cables and adapters
BodyMilitary-grade aluminum, drive-over resistant to 6,600 lb wheel loads
RatingIP67 waterproof and dustproof
CertificationETL certified to UL standards

Skip this if: Skip it if you only ever charge in one place. A hardwired wall unit is cheaper for a fixed installation.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: J+ Americas. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

2. Travel and rentals

Lectron portable Level 2 charger

Lectron · J1772 · 32 A / 7.7 kW · 21 ft cable

A plug-in portable that runs at Level 2 speed from a NEMA 14-50 and drops to a standard wall outlet with the included adapter. The travel unit, not the garage unit.

What is good

  • Level 2 speed from a NEMA 14-50 without an installed charger
  • Falls back to a standard household outlet with the adapter
  • Small enough to keep in the trunk

What is not

  • 32 A ceiling, meaningfully slower than a 48 A wall unit
  • Not weather-rated for permanent outdoor mounting
  • Repeated plugging and unplugging wears a NEMA 14-50 receptacle faster than a hardwired unit
Published specifications for the Lectron portable Level 2 charger
Maximum output32 A / 7.7 kW at 240 V
ConnectorSAE J1772
PlugNEMA 14-50, with an adapter for a standard outlet
UsePortable. Lives in the car, not on the wall

Skip this if: Skip it if this is your only charger and you have a garage. A wall unit is faster and does not live in your trunk.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Lectron. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

The verdict

J+ Booster 2 if the charger will genuinely travel, or you want wall-unit speed from a portable. Lectron if it will mostly sit at one 14-50 and you want the simpler, lower-cost unit.

FAQ

Questions people actually ask

Is the J+ Booster 2 or Lectron portable charger better?
The J+ Booster 2 for travel -- 40 A, eight current settings, IP67 and a verifiable ETL certification. The Lectron if you mostly use one NEMA 14-50 and want the simpler 32 A unit.
How much faster is the J+ Booster 2 than the Lectron?
On a NEMA 14-50, about seven miles of range per hour: 9.6 kW against 7.7 kW.
Can either portable charger be left outside?
Not permanently. Both are for use, not permanent outdoor mounting.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. Portable Level 2 EV charger 40A (UL) -- J+ Booster 2 — J+ AmericasCurrent settings, adapters, weight, IP rating and certification.
  2. Lectron Level 2 EV chargers — LectronPublished output, plug type and included adapter.
  3. NEC Article 625: EV charging equipment — WireRef

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