Discussion
I've used one of these for the last 8 yrs and very good too.
I can't now park my car near the garage and power point. I've been running a mains extension around 8m, and lobbing it in the boot.
Any reason why I shouldn't extend the lead on the battery side and leave the Ctek in the garage? I think I've some 2 core mains cable somewhere, would this be fit for purpose?
I can't now park my car near the garage and power point. I've been running a mains extension around 8m, and lobbing it in the boot.
Any reason why I shouldn't extend the lead on the battery side and leave the Ctek in the garage? I think I've some 2 core mains cable somewhere, would this be fit for purpose?
Electrically it would be fine, as long as the cable is protected from the elements and from physical damage. Just be aware that anything compromising the cable's insulation would potentially short out the whole battery - it would only need a couple of cracks in the insulation and a bit if water to short it. A fuse at the battery end would protect you from the worst of the danger but any risk of damage to the cable would be a worry. I assume this is on private property with no chance of anyone but you encountering the cable.
You are ok to do that as long as a volt drop is not created, here is the cable rating http://www.ctek.com/mt/en/chargers/Comfort%20Conne...
See this, 2.5 cable is well over the 10 Amp rating so you should be ok http://www.cable-ratings.co.uk/
Penelope Stopit said:
See this, 2.5 cable is well over the 10 Amp rating so you should be ok http://www.cable-ratings.co.uk/
2.5mm cable will be more than adequate but that chart is somewhat irrelevant as it is for "twin and earth" and "steel wired armoured", both are solid core cables (lower capacity than equivalent size multi strand cable) and amp ratings are at mains voltage not 12 volt.phillpot said:
Penelope Stopit said:
See this, 2.5 cable is well over the 10 Amp rating so you should be ok http://www.cable-ratings.co.uk/
2.5mm cable will be more than adequate but that chart is somewhat irrelevant as it is for "twin and earth" and "steel wired armoured", both are solid core cables (lower capacity than equivalent size multi strand cable) and amp ratings are at mains voltage not 12 volt.More Google will find more ratings, the OP will no doubt look around
GreenV8S said:
Penelope Stopit said:
I doubt you will need a fuse in the cable as the unit will have built in protection
Unit will be at the house end - the fuse would be to protect the battery from a short in the cable.A fuse will protect a battery hey. Thats a classic. Thank you very much
PositronicRay said:
eltax91 said:
Are you not better off with a solar trickle charger instead?
I like proper battery conditioners, better than just a trickle charger. Keeps everything tickety boo during winter when this car only gets occasional use. A nice slow charge and then a nice slow discharge is the best way of looking after a stood still battery. Does a CTEK do a charge discharge cycle?
Penelope Stopit said:
GreenV8S said:
Penelope Stopit said:
I doubt you will need a fuse in the cable as the unit will have built in protection
Unit will be at the house end - the fuse would be to protect the battery from a short in the cable.A fuse will protect a battery hey. Thats a classic. Thank you very much
"the fuse would be to protect the battery from a short in the cable"
Means exactly that, if the + & - were shorted out the battery would have a short on it, the fuse in the leads would blow on high current (that is what fuses do) & therefore protect the battery from a short.
PositronicRay said:
eltax91 said:
Are you not better off with a solar trickle charger instead?
I like proper battery conditioners, better than just a trickle charger. Keeps everything tickety boo during winter when this car only gets occasional use. On the car end I've wired one of their permanent battery connectors in to some wire I ran from the fuse box to the front bumper.
When I use the car I now simply connect/ disconnect one of their extensions to each end and off I go
Penelope Stopit said:
PositronicRay said:
eltax91 said:
Are you not better off with a solar trickle charger instead?
I like proper battery conditioners, better than just a trickle charger. Keeps everything tickety boo during winter when this car only gets occasional use. A nice slow charge and then a nice slow discharge is the best way of looking after a stood still battery. Does a CTEK do a charge discharge cycle?
Furthermore, a smart battery charger will stay in constant communication with the battery throughout the procedure, charging only to meet the needs of the battery and therefore eradicating the possibility of over-charging or under-charging the battery and reducing its lifespan as a result."
Penelope Stopit said:
I dont know why people are led to believe that charging and charging and charging a stood still battery is the best thing to do
A nice slow charge and then a nice slow discharge is the best way of looking after a stood still battery. Does a CTEK do a charge discharge cycle?
...yes, and more.A nice slow charge and then a nice slow discharge is the best way of looking after a stood still battery. Does a CTEK do a charge discharge cycle?
eltax91 said:
PositronicRay said:
eltax91 said:
Are you not better off with a solar trickle charger instead?
I like proper battery conditioners, better than just a trickle charger. Keeps everything tickety boo during winter when this car only gets occasional use. On the car end I've wired one of their permanent battery connectors in to some wire I ran from the fuse box to the front bumper.
When I use the car I now simply connect/ disconnect one of their extensions to each end and off I go
I could get my Midget and Alpine down and into the garage. With the SL I'd have to adopt a Daisy Duke style of exit.
Battery in the boot, Ideally I'd like to be able to unplug and go. Without having to coil up a mains cable. The perfect solution would be an outside power point, but not sure it's worth the fuss.
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