plocker
Member Since: 14 Mar 2016
Location: Preston
Posts: 828
  
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Hi all
Once a fortnight I leave my car overnight on the Ctek 5.0 and when I disconnect it in the morning its charged. This morning it was only lit to No3, I know it was cold but it had been on since 5pm.
My battery is only 2 years old, should I start worrying? It cranked ok.
Thanks 05 V8 HSE Bonatti Grey
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 8th Jan 2018 1:39 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10362
 
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was that after you unlocked the car ? If yes, don't worry.
I assume the red error light wasn't on
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| 8th Jan 2018 1:52 pm |
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plocker
Member Since: 14 Mar 2016
Location: Preston
Posts: 828
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Yes it was as I lock it in the bonnet.
Normally it has No7 lit. No error light. I might try again tonight. 05 V8 HSE Bonatti Grey
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| 8th Jan 2018 1:54 pm |
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Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
 
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I've had the same thing. I think it was the -ve temperatures ...
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| 8th Jan 2018 2:04 pm |
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mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 351
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plocker wrote:Hi all
Once a fortnight I leave my car overnight on the Ctek 5.0 and when I disconnect it in the morning its charged. This morning it was only lit to No3, I know it was cold but it had been on since 5pm.
My battery is only 2 years old, should I start worrying? It cranked ok.
Thanks
Perhaps the battery had a lower level of charge? try again tonight.
You may find a 5amp charger a bit on the small side to charge a 100amh battery in 14hrs.
Hope this makes sense??
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| 8th Jan 2018 2:24 pm |
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plocker
Member Since: 14 Mar 2016
Location: Preston
Posts: 828
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On again last night from 7pm to 6am, same 3 lights in the morning  05 V8 HSE Bonatti Grey
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| 9th Jan 2018 6:29 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10362
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5 amps are fine on them.
The problem is that when you unlock the car, and it all wakes up and drawing current, may be sufficient for the CTEK to detect a sufficient voltage drop and restart the charging.
Are are only going to know for sure, by seeing the LEDs before unlocking.
Either leave the bonnet ajar, or ensure the leds are visable. (put charger by wipers, hidden out the way)
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| 9th Jan 2018 6:51 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8075
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I had exactly the same on my D3 Sunday night, although I know the battery was low as I'd been playing with her, put it on again Monday night and all good this morning and showed her appreciation of being looked after by passing her MOT again with flying colours, I use a 7 amp with a tow bar connector. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 9th Jan 2018 8:11 pm |
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plocker
Member Since: 14 Mar 2016
Location: Preston
Posts: 828
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I am going to put the charger so I can see it though the grill, then look at the lights before I unlock it.  05 V8 HSE Bonatti Grey
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| 11th Jan 2018 9:36 am |
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mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 351
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Pete K wrote:5 amps are fine on them.
The problem is that when you unlock the car, and it all wakes up and drawing current, may be sufficient for the CTEK to detect a sufficient voltage drop and restart the charging.
Are are only going to know for sure, by seeing the LEDs before unlocking.
Either leave the bonnet ajar, or ensure the leds are visable. (put charger by wipers, hidden out the way)
Pete K, I stand by my comment of a 5amp charger being a bit on the small side for a 100AH battery.
If a 100AH battery is at 1/2 charge is down by 50AH, that will take a 5Amp charger 10Hrs to put that back in, but as the battery gets more charged the charging rate will drop and it will take considerably longer to get the last bit in, and why they batteries sulfate.
I understand that 5Amps is better than nothing, but it needs longer than just one overnight charge if the battery is low.
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| 11th Jan 2018 4:53 pm |
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mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 351
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Stolen from another WEB site:-
Battery Charging Current and Battery Charging Time formula
Here is the formula of Charging Time of a Lead acid battery.
Charging Time of battery = Battery Ah / Charging Current
T = Ah / A
Example,
Suppose for 120 Ah battery,
First of all, we will calculate charging current for 120 Ah battery. As we know that charging current should be 10% of the Ah rating of battery.
so charging current for120Ah Battery = 120 x (10/100) = 12 Amperes.
but due to losses, we can take 12-14Amperes for charging purpose.
suppose we took 13 Amp for charging purpose,
then charging time for 120Ah battery = 120 / 13 = 9.23 Hrs.
but this was an ideal case…
practically, this is noted that 40% of losses ( in case of battery charging)
then 120 x (40 / 100) = 48 …..(120Ah x 40% of losses)
therefore, 120 + 48 = 168 Ah ( 120 Ah + Losses)
Now Charging Time of battery = Ah/Charging Current
168 / 13 = 12.92 or 13 Hrs ( in real case)
Therefore, an 120Ah battery would take 13 Hrs for completely charging ( with 13A charging current).
By: Wasim Khan
https://www.electricaltechnology.org
I hope this hasn't contravened any site rules.........
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| 11th Jan 2018 4:57 pm |
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Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
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plocker wrote:On again last night from 7pm to 6am, same 3 lights in the morning
Try selecting the snow mode on your CTek. My 3.8a CTek is more than man enough for the D3 but works best in snow mode when the weather is cold.  Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
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| 11th Jan 2018 6:41 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10362
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mallo, but that must assume a completely flat battery ?
Where as the battery in question is probably 75% charged, as it still starts the engine.
The red button Ctek 5 do the "Snow" function automatically (increases voltage slightly, when its below 5°C)
Although it's worth checking you are in car mode (5A) and not bike mode (0.8A) charge, as that would explain the problem!
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| 11th Jan 2018 6:54 pm |
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mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 351
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Yes Pete K I would tend to agree, that is based on a flat battery, but I would of assumed that the battery is probably lower than 75% charged.
I am not saying that a 5Amp charger won't do it, given long enough 5Amp will, all I said was that it's probably a bit on the small side to complete the charge cycle overnight if the battery was pretty low, and due to the weather being colder recently the charging system has to work harder, the battery will take longer to charge and what the OP was saying.
As it happens I have a Ctek 5 and use it for occasional boost charge and I find that it sometimes takes longer that an overnight charge to complete the cycle, but then perhaps my battery is at a lower charge state
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| 11th Jan 2018 7:15 pm |
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lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
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My cheapy 3.8 amp does the job overnight with no worries again using snowflake mode.
5 mile commute each way and try and remember to stick charger on weekly.
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| 11th Jan 2018 7:23 pm |
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