C-Tek Charger

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jebusRS

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Have been getting the electrical system low warning lately, short journeys and cold weather not be helping. So im thinking of getting a c-tek charger. Couple of questions though.

I would only be able to charge it overnight while at work so 2 nights per week, is this fine?

I notice there are quite a few options for these so, Which one should i get?

How long is the cable as i see you can buy an extension?

Do you just connect it in the boot and leave it to do its thing?

I take it the boot shuts fine?

cheers folks

And have a happy new year when it comes :beercheers:
 
Every thing a CTEK does plus a display !!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/16028331302

At a bargain price .

Screenshot 2018 03 05 16 37 46
 
jebusRS said:
Have been getting the electrical system low warning lately, short journeys and cold weather not be helping. So im thinking of getting a c-tek charger. Couple of questions though.

I would only be able to charge it overnight while at work so 2 nights per week, is this fine?

I notice there are quite a few options for these so, Which one should i get?

How long is the cable as i see you can buy an extension?

Do you just connect it in the boot and leave it to do its thing?

I take it the boot shuts fine?

cheers folks

And have a happy new year when it comes :beercheers:
Click to expand...
You don't need to charge it that often. Maybe once every 2 months if like you are doing 1 or 2 10 mile journeys a week.

You can buy a ctek extension cable which I'd recommend, means I can put my ctek charger in the garage and as its thin its fine when you shut thr boot.

I use a normal extension cable which plugs into a 30 amp rcs socket in the garage

Boot shuts fine with the ctek extension cable.

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jebusRS said:
Have been getting the electrical system low warning lately, short journeys and cold weather not be helping. So im thinking of getting a c-tek charger. Couple of questions though.

I would only be able to charge it overnight while at work so 2 nights per week, is this fine?

I notice there are quite a few options for these so, Which one should i get?

How long is the cable as i see you can buy an extension?

Do you just connect it in the boot and leave it to do its thing?

I take it the boot shuts fine?

cheers folks

And have a happy new year when it comes :beercheers:
Click to expand...
I have the ctek 7.0, think the 5.0 is fine but 7.0 wasn't much more.

They are brilliant. You can leave then on 24x7 but I just use mine about once every 2 to 6 months

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royalsteve68 said:
You don't need to charge it that often. Maybe once every 2 months if like you are doing 1 or 2 10 mile journeys a week.

You can buy a ctek extension cable which I'd recommend, means I can put my ctek charger in the garage and as its thin its fine when you shut thr boot.

I use a normal extension cable which plugs into a 30 amp rcs socket in the garage

Boot shuts fine with the ctek extension cable.

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Click to expand...
Rcd socket nit rcd. Dsmn predictive crap text

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Lol , used it for 3 years , it's on constantly as two cars are off the road and charging as we speak .

Reviews... reviews .

Screenshot 20210104 062205 Chrome
 
Last edited:
re: the Maypo, charger. That's good to know. It isn't the same though as the Maypole offers very limited protection if you connect them the wrong way around (it has an old fashioned in line (wtf)), but i guess you'd have to be a plum to do that anyway. Some people also complain it wont charge flat batteries, where as ctek will.

Seems a good buy though.
 
audi upgrades
ArrEssDrei said:
Just got a CTEK MX5. Can anyone tell me if the battery in a '18 RS3 is an AGM type?
Click to expand...

The CTEK has an AGM mode and the RS3 will have that type of battery.


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used it today using the charging points under the bonnet, i take it this is the recommended place?

Also if you do use it here and i choose the recon option will this work?
 
jebusRS said:
used it today using the charging points under the bonnet, i take it this is the recommended place?

Also if you do use it here and i choose the recon option will this work?
Click to expand...

Yup under the bonnet passenger side.
Positive under the black cover and earth to the left of it.

Recond mode only really for dead batteries.

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I have the CTEK MSX 10, had it about 3 years now. No display, but plenty of LEDs to tell you what it’s doing.

Just connect it, and it automatically select the optimum charging level, including for AGM batteries.

I have mine connected direct to the battery in the boot, using one of their (many) connection options, with a quick disconnect plug/socket arrangement, and use one of their extension leads. The actual charger is mounted on the garage wall.

I’m often away for months with work (Pre-COVID :blink:) and leave the car connected. No issues and car fully charged and ready to go, even after 6 months of standing.

:racer:
 
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Mx5 user here, like as been said it automatically selects the correct battery for your car and has stage lights along the charging unit to show you what stage you are at. Explained in the user instructions.
Would not look for aftermarket cheap copies for something like this

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DW81 said:
Mx5 user here, like as been said it automatically selects the correct battery for your car and has stage lights along the charging unit to show you what stage you are at. Explained in the user instructions.
Would not look for aftermarket cheap copies for something like this

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Click to expand...

Apparently if it doesn’t have a display it’s no good


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I want to ****** know what the starting and resulting voltages are , it's a great indication of battery condition .

I can't believe these over priced devices don't have a display .
 
Gazwould said:
I want to ****** know what the starting and resulting voltages are , it's a great indication of battery condition .

I can't believe these over priced devices don't have a display .
Click to expand...

Lol.....

Most owners will connect up and let the CTEK determine what needs to be done, won’t even give a thought to starting and ending voltage of the process.
If someone’s really that bothered they’ll check the battery with a multimeter/VCDS or alike.

In what way is the CTEK overpriced ? Because you can’t buy it for £30 ?


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My recent batteries start from 12.1V and go to 13.4 / 13.6V .

My original strangely not struggling 10 year AGM from 11.7 to 12.1V .

I really like to know .
 
Gazwould said:
My recent batteries start from 12.1V and go to 13.4 / 13.6V .

My original strangely not struggling 10 year AGM from 11.7 to 12.1V .

I really like to know .
Click to expand...

Mine (factory battery) sits around 11.7-12.1 also. I figured it was low/tired as the car doesn't get driven near as much as I'd like to but asking around apparently it's normal for these cars? It's actually a pain for dash cam parking modes with voltage cut off. Reconditioning does seem to have made any difference to the resting voltage, but hopefully it helps battery life.

You can get USB sockets that plug into the cig lighter and read the battery voltage if its something you want to keep an eye on. I only noticed mine when playing with an OBDEleven
 
ArrEssDrei said:
Mine (factory battery) sits around 11.7-12.1 also. I figured it was low/tired as the car doesn't get driven near as much as I'd like to but asking around apparently it's normal for these cars? It's actually a pain for dash cam parking modes with voltage cut off. Reconditioning does seem to have made any difference to the resting voltage, but hopefully it helps battery life.

You can get USB sockets that plug into the cig lighter and read the battery voltage if its something you want to keep an eye on. I only noticed mine when playing with an OBDEleven
Click to expand...

Same here 11.7-12.1
When I do Odis work it displays the voltage and constantly reminds you if you are doing any procedures.


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Any idea why Audi runs such low voltages? I guess most of us would never think much of it, but no parking mode on the dash cam has been a head scratcher for me. Guess I need a battery backup for it... Also leads me to wonder what minimum safe cranking voltage would be?
 
It's not just Audi , my quote is from the Merc , I can only guess it's still working fine at those voltages because it's an AGM battery , a lead acid , no chance .
 
CTEK MXS 5.0 has got to be the only one to go for IMHO

https://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-chargers/ctek/mxs5-0/

As recommended by BMW, Audi, Porsche etc
These are the ones you will find in all the showrooms

PS @jebusRS Not an exact science but if your car car, any car, has stop/start it more than likely has an AGM battery
Put your reg number in Tayna batteries site above & see what the recommended battery replacement is for you car to be 100% sure
 
Bristle Hound said:
CTEK MXS 5.0 has got to be the only one to go for IMHO

https://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-chargers/ctek/mxs5-0/

As recommended by BMW, Audi, Porsche etc
These are the ones you will find in all the showrooms

PS @jebusRS Not an exact science but if your car car, any car, has stop/start it more than likely has an AGM battery
Put your reg number in Tayna batteries site above & see what the recommended battery replacement is for you car to be 100% sure
Click to expand...
cheers, seems to be sorted now having let it do its thing the other day, i did use the AGM mode as that is what i figured it would be from reading on here.
 
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Why would you do that to a battery it's complete negligence .

Too many stories of 3 week lockdown non starts , what did they think was going to happen , you put something to cook on a stove and leave it alone....

It would have to be less than 7.5A for the Maypole not to charge a battery , highly likely at that level it's suffered irreversible damage .

Yesterday I took it off the VW to put on the Merc for the day , then on to the S14 to leave !

Flat battery will only happen to me when it's absolutely at it's lifetimes end , unexpected and sudden , and I'm maxing out well as newer same cars batteries are dead where mine are still going .

Having a screen tells me the starting voltage and final voltage a great tool for understanding it's condition .

20201118 123241


If I did have to charge a battery from sub 7.5A I've an ancient charger with a high / low switch and needle gauge .

Choose life , choose value , choose a screen.
 
Gazwould said:
Why would you do that to a battery it's complete negligence .

Too many stories of 3 week lockdown non starts , what did they think was going to happen , you put something to cook on a stove and leave it alone....

It would have to be less than 7.5A for the Maypole not to charge a battery , highly likely at that level it's suffered irreversible damage .

Yesterday I took it off the VW to put on the Merc for the day , then on to the S14 to leave !

Flat battery will only happen to me when it's absolutely at it's lifetimes end , unexpected and sudden , and I'm maxing out well as newer same cars batteries are dead where mine are still going .

Having a screen tells me the starting voltage and final voltage a great tool for understanding it's condition .

View attachment 214654

If I did have to charge a battery from sub 7.5A I've an ancient charger with a high / low switch and needle gauge .

Choose life , choose value , choose a screen.
Click to expand...

I agree, just going by the reviews so dont shoot the messenger. I used the ctek to periodically charge our 4 cars, especially during covid. The merc's battery used to often go very low though, not flat but you couldnt start the car. To be fair the battery was on its last legs, so I changed it and all ok now. Easiest battery change ever as its under the drive floor, unlike the peugeot 307 xsi which a pain as you have to remove the air box and piping to get to it, plus its in an awkward to get to place.
 
Gazwould said:
What Merc you got Steve ?
Click to expand...

2004 Merc A class LWB 1.4 Elegance- wifes 2nd car, likely give it to the son - its only done 60K miles and is in very good condition apart from a 1 meter scratch and fist sized dent caused by a lunatic moron cyclist illegally riding on a path and crashing into the car whilst my wife was waiting for a gap in traffic, she had been waiting over 2 mins. If this moron hit a person theyd be dead, no question. Caused more damage than a car
 
That's low miles , my father's old Passat suffered similar from a very young kid first rides on a scooter .

I knew the moment I heard the handle bar scrape :worked till 5am:
 
Lol this arrived today.
Bit of an upgrade.
61c1b75c17ac789f7cd1097a7d1fc15c.jpg

0ea9eaf632cb2a81d1f2dd06743afbea.jpg



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Gazwould said:
Why would you do that to a battery it's complete negligence .

Too many stories of 3 week lockdown non starts , what did they think was going to happen , you put something to cook on a stove and leave it alone....

It would have to be less than 7.5A for the Maypole not to charge a battery , highly likely at that level it's suffered irreversible damage .

Yesterday I took it off the VW to put on the Merc for the day , then on to the S14 to leave !

Flat battery will only happen to me when it's absolutely at it's lifetimes end , unexpected and sudden , and I'm maxing out well as newer same cars batteries are dead where mine are still going .

Having a screen tells me the starting voltage and final voltage a great tool for understanding it's condition .

View attachment 214654

If I did have to charge a battery from sub 7.5A I've an ancient charger with a high / low switch and needle gauge .

Choose life , choose value , choose a screen.
Click to expand...
Well I bought a maypole and I had to return it. Its nothing like the ctek. The unit looks fine and the display is handy.

However, it was very finicky getting it to start charging. The cables are dreadful, the crocodile clips are cheap and flimsy and mine broke after the fourth use leaving the metal exposed, ****** dangerous. The connector between the unit cable and crocodile clip cable is a cheap push fit that is hard to push in fully and doesn't look remotely water resistant, and was impossible to undo.

As for charging, it charged the battery according to the unit, but didn't, it lied, 4 times. I checked with the ctek and it hadn't charged it at all.

Then the crocodile clip broke, so returned it.

Garbage product, not fit for purpose. I'll stick to ctek.

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T-1000 said:
Lol this arrived today.
Bit of an upgrade.
61c1b75c17ac789f7cd1097a7d1fc15c.jpg

0ea9eaf632cb2a81d1f2dd06743afbea.jpg



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Click to expand...

Nice one, jump starter too. Nice and compact and could leave it in the cargo net housing in the boot.
 
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