Ctek chargers?

[begs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close begs]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Hi all,

I have received an XS7000, and was reading the Toyota manual in regards to charging, as I know nothing about the electronic side of cars, before connecting to make sure I don't screw something up.

I have a redarc dual battery system and was going to use the CTEK to charge up the second battery due to the D4D alternator issues. In the manual it states that the earth connection should be disconnected from the battery when charging. Is this necessary with the CTEK, and does this mean that you have to re-set everything afterward? Do I have to do the same with the Aux battery and can I still leave the accessories running off it?

I guess what I'm asking is:
What's the best method for charging the aux battery to keep it fully charged?
Is there a difference for the starter motor?
Can I do both at once?


Cheers,
Ray.

[borgy Member Find all posts View Profile Close borgy]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Hi all,

I have received an XS7000, and was reading the Toyota manual in regards to charging, as I know nothing about the electronic side of cars, before connecting to make sure I don't screw something up.

I have a redarc dual battery system and was going to use the CTEK to charge up the second battery due to the D4D alternator issues. In the manual it states that the earth connection should be disconnected from the battery when charging. Is this necessary with the CTEK, and does this mean that you have to re-set everything afterward? Do I have to do the same with the Aux battery and can I still leave the accessories running off it?

I guess what I'm asking is:
What's the best method for charging the aux battery to keep it fully charged?
Is there a difference for the starter motor?
Can I do both at once?


Cheers,
Ray.

Ray

Great questions, I have been thinking about this too just recently... Hoping someone here with knowledge in this area may assist/reply.
TIA

Cheers
Borgy

[Fungi2003 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fungi2003]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Great questions, I have been thinking about this too just recently... Hoping someone here with knowledge in this area may assist/reply.

I second that, just about to purchase a charger and want to know what is the correct procedure for charging the aux battery.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Re: Ctek chargers?

If using an external charger it is good practice to isolate the battery being charged from the vehicle's 12v system. This is a precaution to prevent damage to the vehicle electronics should there be a fault in the charger or 240Vac power supply. It is possible to charge the battery while connected and have no adverse effects, but it increases the amount damage that may occur should a fault occur. Personally I wouldn't trust the manufactures of the chargers or the local power authority enough to charge my battery with having it isolated.

My recommendation is:

If charging the main cranking battery , disconnect the main battery. This means having to reset clocks, windows etc. when finished.

If charging an Aux. battery, for most installation types (Redarc, Piranah, ARB ...) you will need to isolate the Aux. battery from the vehicle. This shouldn't require reseting things. For those with isolated aux. charging systems (Ranox, inverter/charger), charging from an external 240Vac source can be achieved through system (with the addition of extra items) and isolating of the Aux. battery is not necessary.

Leachy

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Re: Ctek chargers?

The Ctek should not get too hot when in operation.

Mine did this a couple of years ago and it was traced to a short somewhere or other.

I leave mine on 24hours a day , attached to 120a AGM battery, and it is barely warm.
I would give the agents Bainbridge a ring. They are pretty helpful.
http://www.bainbridgetechnologies.co...p?page=contact

Phone 0738213333

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Ctek chargers?

As the deep cycle is a 115amp and the start is 700amp, the little charger was working it's arse off.. got to about 50%, so recharged 400amps in 14hrs

You have a 700amp start battery? :shock:

You're not confusing battery storage amp/hours and CCA are you? CCA is Cold Cranking Amps, and this is the ability of the battery to supply high amps for a very short time, it's not a measure of battery storage capacity...

Michael

[BidderBoy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BidderBoy]

Re: Ctek chargers?

These CTEKL chargers really are the best, picked up a heavy duty one off ebay and saved $500 on the retail store price.

We use the charger on the dual boat batteries and the car batteries, would recommend wihout a doubt.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Ctek chargers?

i got mine xs7000 ff flebay for $200, delivered for ,keen to see how well they work. cheers samo

[2003GXL Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 2003GXL]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Well iv'e joined the ctek xs7000 club, I brought mine this morning off fleabay for $200 delivered as well . Made the offer and was accepted comes with 5 years warrant from 4145derek. Can't wait for it to arrive and have a play with it.


Greg

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Ctek chargers?

I was all set to buy another Ctek charger when I discovered this charger http://www.ozcharge.com.au/OC-SW121080.html

Does anybody have one or know anything about them?

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Another CTEK XS 7000 owner right here! Have been meaning to get a decent charger for a little while now and bit the bullet a fortnight ago after reading the threads on the auxiliary charging issues. The maintenance setting is the shiznit in my opinion because I'm often having to leave the Prado parked for one week plus.

Question though. I have ARB's Smart Solenoid dual batt system. Now do I need to charge the cranking battery and aux separately? Or can I just connect up to the cranking batt and let the solenoid feed the charge into the aux when the cranking batt voltage raises high enough, just as if it were getting charged by a "non smart" alternator.

Don't want the Engel short of power over the WA long weekend now do I.

[01Rod Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 01Rod]

Re: Ctek chargers?

Just something you might want to be aware of....

CTEC do not make a calcium battery charger. The sales reps tell you yes it will charge a calcium battery (by putting it into boost mode, that then turns off the smarts)
but the truth is only to about 65% of full charge.
you won't find any reference to calcium batteries on anything written by CTEC either....

As most automotive batteires these days are Calcium Calcium. (again nothing to say they have to be marked or identified as such)
you might be better off with the Redarc smart Charge...

www.redarc.com.au
or http://www.redarc.com.au/pdfs/Flyers/Smart%20Charge.pdf

I had a CTEC 7000 but stopped using it after I found my solar panels charging at 8 amps for 4 hours after I had "fully" charged the batteries. Turned out the batteries were only about 65% charged when i put the hydrometer in the battery.
I then changed over to the Redarc smart charge and can tell you that it will charge the battery to 100% which really helps when using the battery as an aux battery.

The other good thing is it does all three different battery types Lead acic, Gel and Calcium.. so becomes much more versitile.

Anyway not knocking the CTEC chargers, just need to be aware that they are only for lead acid batteries.
and also letting you know what worked best for me...

Rod

[joz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close joz]

Re: Ctek chargers?

From what I can gather these are the mutt's nuts. Does anyone here have any first hand experience with these? Good or bad - I'd like to hear.

The one I've been eyeing is the Multi SX 7000.

I have the 7amp. I installed it in my van instead of the manufacturers $800 unit the charge the 90ah van battery. It will also run the 12v system without a battery. I have been very happy with it.

[LostDingo2 Find all posts View Profile Close LostDingo2]

Re: Ctek chargers?

I will soon be part of this prestigious club awaiting a CTek XS 700 from 4wdextreme on eBay :mrgreen:

Also ordered a comfort connect panel and cig plug adaptor. 4wdextreme is very quick to respond and also has the best prices going I can see along with several accolades on here.

[hulbyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hulbyw]

Re: Ctek chargers?

I am another happy Ctek 7000 user however thought I would post an issue I have just experienced . The lights on the charger were continually cycling between low charge and full charge whilst charging my caravan Gel battery. Took the charger to Battery World for testing who said it tested ok and my caravan battery was probably dud.
I then tried it on my Gel auxillary battery in the Prado where it did the same thing. However when I disconnected the battery, the lights kept on cycling! I then decided to check the in line output cable 2 pin socket which seemed a fraction loose. After gently closing up the female connectors in the socket I tried the charger again on both the Prado gel battery and then back in the caravan. All works fine now and the caravan battery is now charged and in float mode (green light)