Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
CTEK charger user guide
I asked in the group buy thread, but it was correctly suggested a separate thread might be more appropriate
So can I just ask,for me and other newbies to a battery charger, how regularly/often current owners of a CTEK charger use it to maintain and condition their batteries correctly ?"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
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27th Sep 2013 7:15 am
DG Site Moderator
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Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
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amateur mistake....got caught up in all the excitement of DT teaching Martin the intricacies of tow electrics "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
27th Sep 2013 7:34 am
bigdave Site Sponsor
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
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It may have been the swift and smooth delivery of your tyres yesterday that turned your head! All things shipping, storage, transport. UK and worldwide.
I connect my D3 when it's likely to be in the drive for 24 hours or more, and provided it hasn't been done in the preceding 14 days or so in summer, or 7 days in winter.
The battery is the original one, and the car was built in July 2008, so it's just over 5 years old. I shall probably get a new one from site sponsors Advanced Factors next time I pass through Southampton, and might buy an alternator at the same time, "just in case".
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27th Sep 2013 7:42 am
Mother Theresa
Member Since: 21 Nov 2011
Location: Northants
Posts: 104
I only use mine in the winter to keep the battery topped enough to allow the FBH to fire up. SO in answer to your question every day when cold and never any other time.
27th Sep 2013 2:14 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1359
Like others Euan, just every now and then on my "old" MY2010! Now't so posh as yer 2012!
27th Sep 2013 2:39 pm
armalites
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
What I found happens is you can get in a situation where a flat battery creeps up on you. If you drive for 3-4hrs a day then you'll probably find batteries and alternators last for ages. My wifes D2 would start absolutely fine everyday but you would notice it not spinning quite so quickly during the winter. Shes does lots of short journeys. Even though the vehicle was starting fine my CTEK M7000 (MXS7 old version) would charge the vehicle for a few hours before it was green.
I already have 3 CTEKs that I leave on vehicles to keep them conditioned.
They are a useful thing to have in the tool box. Even a MXS7.0 will start vehicle from a completely flat battery in less than an hour, sure the battery will still need more charging but it will have enough to start a car.
The other thing people forget is alternators are designed/intended to maintain a battery charge not to charge it from flat all the time.
They can recover/improve batteries but don't be under an illusion they will sort a battery that has had it's day.
27th Sep 2013 3:36 pm
dangerdave
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27th Sep 2013 5:17 pm
Dave^
Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 706
Buy a ctek.
You can use it on multiple cars, or lend it out to friends or relatives, or sell it on if you like...
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
A battery that is kept fully charged will unquestionably have a longer life than a battery that is never fully charged, you can't overcharge with a Ctek, so use it as often as you like, a tow plug adapter makes this very easy. My adapter has a flashing LED indicator that changes colour according to the state of charge in the battery.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
27th Sep 2013 9:07 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
Ok,using it for the first time today.....it went to stage 4 (charging) almost immediately,suggesting the battery is in reasonable condition......but that was at 9.30 this morning,and it hasn't moved since ie its been charging for 6 hours....the battery is only one and a half years old.....should I have battery concerns or is that perfectly normal for a first charge ?"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
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amateur mistake....got caught up in all the excitement of DT teaching Martin the intricacies of tow electrics 
