CTEK Battery Chargers
Discussion
Afternoon all,
After having a quick look at these the other day, Google Adverts have been hammering me with pictures of them and now I feel like I definitely need to buy one, but which one? Any of you chaps have recommendations, or perhaps there's another product I should be considering?
I have a few cars that perhaps don't get used as often as they should, so I was thinking this could be an investment to make sure the batteries are kept in good health. I won't be leaving any of them constantly connected, as it would seem a lot of these CTEK chargers are. I'd prefer to just remove the batteries from the cars and give them a good charge/conditioning now and then.
I guess I'm just looking for some PHer feedback before making the purchase
Cheers,
Dan
After having a quick look at these the other day, Google Adverts have been hammering me with pictures of them and now I feel like I definitely need to buy one, but which one? Any of you chaps have recommendations, or perhaps there's another product I should be considering?
I have a few cars that perhaps don't get used as often as they should, so I was thinking this could be an investment to make sure the batteries are kept in good health. I won't be leaving any of them constantly connected, as it would seem a lot of these CTEK chargers are. I'd prefer to just remove the batteries from the cars and give them a good charge/conditioning now and then.
I guess I'm just looking for some PHer feedback before making the purchase

Cheers,
Dan
dannyDC2 said:
Do any of them allow you to start a car on them? Or does that still need to be separate devices?
I have jump leads for that, as I’m old school. Plenty of boosters that’ll start a car, but I wouldn’t pay a CTEK price for one. One of those lithium battery ones would tempt me. Magic919 said:
dannyDC2 said:
Do any of them allow you to start a car on them? Or does that still need to be separate devices?
I have jump leads for that, as I’m old school. Plenty of boosters that’ll start a car, but I wouldn’t pay a CTEK price for one. One of those lithium battery ones would tempt me. 
dannyDC2 said:
996TT02 said:
If they start healthily every time you try, I don't see the point of faffing about.
They don't. 
Sadly many moderns have quite a high drain on the battery when not in use so the problem of lack of use has grown.
996TT02 said:
dannyDC2 said:
996TT02 said:
If they start healthily every time you try, I don't see the point of faffing about.
They don't. 
Sadly many moderns have quite a high drain on the battery when not in use so the problem of lack of use has grown.
At the moment I do just leave the batteries disconnected on the cars I know will be off the road for a while, but I went to jump in one the other day to find its battery flat. This car has a tracker, so it's no surprise really. It had been left for around 6 weeks. Wasn't totally dead, but didn't have enough power to start unfortunately.
The garage it's in doesn't have power, but I could run a cable from the house to leave the CTEK plugged in for a few days at a time.
What has drawn me to the CTEK chargers is their promises to extend the life of batteries. Are they really that 'smart'? The battery on my daily driver doesn't feel too strong, I wonder if a cycle with the CTEK can restore some CCAs

I bought the MXS 5.0 a while ago for a car I have sat in the garage. Just took the battery into the house to keep on a float/pulse charge. It seems a good bit of kit. It can get a battery to a usable level from very low charge in a few hours I think.
Reconditioning it will take a few days.

Reconditioning it will take a few days.

Edited by GregK2 on Monday 27th November 15:31
I have a couple of the smallest CTEK chargers (acquired via things like magazine subscription offers), and they work really well for stopping a battery losing charge.
Haven't tried any other brands, but they do what they say.
Though I've found simply disconnecting the battery works just fine for anything that doesn't need power for radio memory or an alarm.
Haven't tried any other brands, but they do what they say.
Though I've found simply disconnecting the battery works just fine for anything that doesn't need power for radio memory or an alarm.
Cold said:
Are these the brand that had a tendency for catching fire in the past? Is that issue all sorted now?
I'm not aware of the chargers themselves catching fire but not particularly "smart" so under some battery failure conditions they can cause the battery acid to boil, which can cause a fire and/or explosion. I've been quite happy with my MSX 5.0.
I've used a CTEK 5.0 for a few years now. the car has a tracker, and gets no use during autumn and winter, and very little even in the summer. The CTEK has done a fine job of keeping the battery topped up and the car starting whenever needed.
I like the CTEK as it works, the connector is easy to use and cover when not used.
I've also another smaller CTEK on one bike and an Optimate on the other. Again both seem to work just fine and the bikes start when needed. I doubt they'd flatten themselves quickly, but as it can be quite some time between rides, it seems a reasonable way to keep them all going.
Can it be done cheaper, by unplugging the batteries... of course. But in my time vs money calculation they work for me.
I like the CTEK as it works, the connector is easy to use and cover when not used.
I've also another smaller CTEK on one bike and an Optimate on the other. Again both seem to work just fine and the bikes start when needed. I doubt they'd flatten themselves quickly, but as it can be quite some time between rides, it seems a reasonable way to keep them all going.
Can it be done cheaper, by unplugging the batteries... of course. But in my time vs money calculation they work for me.
kambites said:
Cold said:
Are these the brand that had a tendency for catching fire in the past? Is that issue all sorted now?
I'm not aware of the chargers themselves catching fire but not particularly "smart" so under some battery failure conditions they can cause the battery acid to boil, which can cause a fire and/or explosion. I've been quite happy with my MSX 5.0.
I actually remember reading that thread at the time regarding the Bentley, remember the Lara Croft figurine...
Anyway, I presume these NOCO chargers do the same job? Amazon have now started advertising me this, as it's got a few quid off for 'cyber monday'
Noco Genius G3500UK
Anyway, I presume these NOCO chargers do the same job? Amazon have now started advertising me this, as it's got a few quid off for 'cyber monday'
Noco Genius G3500UK
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff