Which Ctek model?
Discussion
Hi folks
I've had my trusty old ctek mx5.0 for around 10 years, for trickle charging the toy and then rescuing the other motors if needed. I even made up a tow socket adapter with a spare comfort connector for my disco during lockdown.
Unfortunately, it's now refusing to go beyond stage 5. This is on a brand new battery on my 996 comfort connector (the old one died because the ctek errored and i didn't know it) and on another car i tested it on using the croc clips. So i assume the ctek is faulty.
Back then there were 2 models to choose from. the 3.6 for motorbikes and the 5.0 for cars. Now theres a bewildering array from 0.8, 3.6, 5.0, 7.0 and 10.0
Anyone give me any clue what the 7 or 10 adds that a 5 doesn't? Anyone any experiences out there for what i should get next?
Cheers
I've had my trusty old ctek mx5.0 for around 10 years, for trickle charging the toy and then rescuing the other motors if needed. I even made up a tow socket adapter with a spare comfort connector for my disco during lockdown.
Unfortunately, it's now refusing to go beyond stage 5. This is on a brand new battery on my 996 comfort connector (the old one died because the ctek errored and i didn't know it) and on another car i tested it on using the croc clips. So i assume the ctek is faulty.
Back then there were 2 models to choose from. the 3.6 for motorbikes and the 5.0 for cars. Now theres a bewildering array from 0.8, 3.6, 5.0, 7.0 and 10.0
Anyone give me any clue what the 7 or 10 adds that a 5 doesn't? Anyone any experiences out there for what i should get next?
Cheers
I can't offer much but I have a CTEK 3.8 which served me well for years.. but might have played a part in killing the batteries in my cars as I did not realise that charging an AGM battery with a charger without AGM modes can harm the battery.
If you have AGM batteries this might be a requirement.
If you have AGM batteries this might be a requirement.
No stop-start batteries (yet) other than the wife's Ionic Hybrid. But tht thing can jump the 12v starter from the EV battery anyway, so not likely to be needed for that.
Interesting side note, the "winter" mode on the old school 5.0, according to the ctek website, can serve as an AGM moe, my father in law borrowed it to ressurrect the AGM on his stop/start Focus after it dies with the Covid.
Interesting side note, the "winter" mode on the old school 5.0, according to the ctek website, can serve as an AGM moe, my father in law borrowed it to ressurrect the AGM on his stop/start Focus after it dies with the Covid.
I bought a 5.0 a few years back to trickle charge my BMW (with AGM battery) when I had a few month's holiday from driving it. TBH, it does everything well and if it broke tomorrow, I'd probably replace it with the same again. Looking up the 7 and 10, it just looks like they are designed for bigger capacity batteries?
Chris
Chris
Nowadays you can get battery maintainers with Bluetooth status reporting built-in or as an add-on. Mine is Victron brand, but I think many of the other brands have something similar. I think that's useful to reassure you that the battery is being maintained and warn you if something goes wrong, so you don't lose the battery.
I'd replace with the 5.0.
The 0.8 is what I'd go for if I was getting a dedicated charger for my motorbike (although I use my 5.0 for it as it has a bike setting). there may be more features too, but struggle to think what else I'd want from a battery charger that is offered by my 5.0. (maybe dumb charging if a battery is completely dead, but I'd just connect 2 batteries in that case anyway).
The numbers are just the amps.
The 0.8 is what I'd go for if I was getting a dedicated charger for my motorbike (although I use my 5.0 for it as it has a bike setting). there may be more features too, but struggle to think what else I'd want from a battery charger that is offered by my 5.0. (maybe dumb charging if a battery is completely dead, but I'd just connect 2 batteries in that case anyway).
The numbers are just the amps.
ScoobyChris said:
I bought a 5.0 a few years back to trickle charge my BMW (with AGM battery) when I had a few month's holiday from driving it. TBH, it does everything well and if it broke tomorrow, I'd probably replace it with the same again. Looking up the 7 and 10, it just looks like they are designed for bigger capacity batteries?
Chris
Exactly this. 7 and 10 are designed for bigger capacity batteries. 10 is required for boats.Chris
I have a 5.0 but when I got the SLK55 with the bigger battery, I bought a 7 which is more effective. The 5.0 would had sufficed but I bought an extended comfort connector and it didn't work with the 5.0 (would not charge fully).
I think this was more an issue with the cheap connector I bought from Amazon. Anyway it did show the limit of the 5 compared to the 7.
I don't use the extended connector in case it burns out.
If you have a bigger capacity battery then you could push out the boat and buy a 7 because the price difference is small compared to the years of use, but generally a 5 should suffice.
Phunk said:
Email CTEK, my 5.0 gave up the ghost after several years. They sent me out a new one with no quibbles and didn't even ask for proof of purchase.
They must've liked you. My old 3.6 (iirc) was not long outside the 5 year warranty and not replaced. I bought a Ctek 5.0 which I've used for a couple of years on the Z4. It has a battery fault indicator and regen function, but the leads are shorter than the old one. They sell you an extension for £12.99 or thereabouts. If you've several vehicles you can buy a comfort indicator which fits into the power point/cigarette lighter, but only if it's constant live https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-56-870-Comfort-Indic...
I've had an MXS5.0 for about 5.5 years using it on my car and motorcycle (both AGM batteries). A few months ago it started failing a lot (usually either in stage 5 or stage 1 or 2). I found out that it still works fine without the extension lead I used to use (a genuine CTEK one).
At the moment I use it every 14 days or so on both vehicles as I am not using them much.
At the moment I use it every 14 days or so on both vehicles as I am not using them much.
I had the same problem with mine (except mine was only 12 months old).
On mine the prongs on one of the connector sockets weren't making full contact. A squeeze on the 'male' connectors with a pair of pliers (ensuring that everything was disconnected from both ends first) to improve contact and my charger is now working again.
Worth a go?
On mine the prongs on one of the connector sockets weren't making full contact. A squeeze on the 'male' connectors with a pair of pliers (ensuring that everything was disconnected from both ends first) to improve contact and my charger is now working again.
Worth a go?
Welsh Pirate said:
I had the same problem with mine (except mine was only 12 months old).
On mine the prongs on one of the connector sockets weren't making full contact. A squeeze on the 'male' connectors with a pair of pliers (ensuring that everything was disconnected from both ends first) to improve contact and my charger is now working again.
Worth a go?
Yes absolutely. I’ll give that a whirl. Cheers On mine the prongs on one of the connector sockets weren't making full contact. A squeeze on the 'male' connectors with a pair of pliers (ensuring that everything was disconnected from both ends first) to improve contact and my charger is now working again.
Worth a go?
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