Smart chargers

bongo1 · Jan 6, 2020

Hi thinking of getting a smart charger either a Optimate ampmatic 6 or a Ctek 7 ........ which I have ordered using my trade card at halfords so will cost £20 off ...

Any help please , I don't collect the Ctek until 4pm, so I can still get a Optimate

gstuart · Jan 6, 2020

Hi

for me it’s the CTEK, have the 5 , but believe the 7 has its own 12 volt supply so handy if ur doing software updates

I plug my CTEK into the 12s towing socket which keeps both my batteries topped up, can leave it connected all the time as it will turn it’s self on and off automatically

hope that helps a little

gstuart · Jan 6, 2020

Also u can buy a battery sensor that simply connects to the battery and monitor it via Bluetooth on ur iPad/ iPhone , has a range of around 20 x feet

this software cost £10 ,because as u can see will monitor 4 x batteries , there is a free one that will monitor a single battery

bongo1 · Jan 6, 2020

Like that !! That's next on the list ., Wasnt sure what they meant in the blurb exactly , so it's got its own power source , handy . I went for the 7 over the 5 purely for the extra 2amp and as its with halfords trade card its £20 off .

gstuart · Jan 6, 2020

bongo1 said:
Like that !! That's next on the list ., Wasnt sure what they meant in the blurb exactly , so it's got its own power source , handy . I went for the 7 over the 5 purely for the extra 2amp and as its with halfords trade card its £20 off .

must admit am very pleased with the CTEK , I also set up a charging point on my drive, fitted a 12s socket on the front of the house, drilled through the wall and have the CTEK in the hallway

bought 5 x metres of trailer cable so when I pull on my drive can easily just plug the lead in via the 12 s socket without having the lift the bonnet

bongo1 · Jan 6, 2020

Oooh pricey , maybe just get the manual one .

bongo1 · Jan 6, 2020

Just got a glimpse of the cable lead , thought it was an alien on my iPad thingy lol . Ideally that's what I would love to do . Unfortunately I'm in a row of 3 bungalows at right angle to the road . So I'm at the far end and to do that I would need to mount it onto the neighbours bungalow , not a problem its the cable from me to there front or back they would trip over it , and I doubt they would let me dig there gardens up . I could get the van to me again issue is its all lawned with trees , so a defender chewing it up would not go down well . Can't win can I .

DanClarke · Jan 6, 2020

I have the Ctek 7A and it is very good.
I like the option to have a charging "tail" tucked in the radiator cover-grille which means I can charge it on a longer fly-lead without lifting the bonnet. Not unique to Ctek but handy all the same.
A lot of the other smart-chargers I looked at only had fixed croc-clips and if you cut them off and made your own leads your warranty was invalidated.

bongo1 · Jan 6, 2020

Nice to know the Ctek 7 is ok , as most have the 5 . I need to run a lead to poke out somewhere instead of opening up the battery box each time .

Nodge68 · Jan 6, 2020

The only thing I don't like about smart chargers is they won't charge a battery that is below it's nominal minimum voltage. I've had to resort to a 40 year old conventional charger for a very low battery, simply because the smart charger isn't smart enough to charge a very flat battery.

TheQ · Jan 6, 2020

I have 4 ctek M25 chargers, stacked for my 48v Stack of 2V cells on the motorboat. Very happy with especially as I got them. Half price..

discool · Jan 6, 2020

Nodge68 said:
The only thing I don't like about smart chargers is they won't charge a battery that is below it's nominal minimum voltage. I've had to resort to a 40 year old conventional charger for a very low battery, simply because the smart charger isn't smart enough to charge a very flat battery.

Regeneration mode ? which some have and therefore try too, but if unsuccessful then the battery is truly deceased.
One of the functions my £14 Lidi item has I believe, but I never needed it I also have a 8 amp conventional charger which soon drops to 1amp charge over night so handy for a quick change and worth keeping, plus a Ctek 3.5 amp which is permanently connected to the battery of a classic stored in the garage over winter.

JimS · Jan 6, 2020

Nodge68 said:
The only thing I don't like about smart chargers is they won't charge a battery that is below it's nominal minimum voltage. I've had to resort to a 40 year old conventional charger for a very low battery, simply because the smart charger isn't smart enough to charge a very flat battery.

Hard to get hold of conventional chargers these days. Another trick is to use a spare battery to kick the old one above the voltage threshold then a modern charger will be ok

discool · Jan 6, 2020

Screwfix have the handy conventional chargers perhaps Halfords also.
The Screwfix 8amp is similar to my charger but mines is a mk1, which is always better, it has an all metal case, not a bit of plastic to be seen.

retneprac · Jan 8, 2020

Just picked up a Ctek 5 from John Pye auctions, not used yet, didn't pay a lot for it.

Smart chargers

bongo1

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gstuart

D3 Grandad

gstuart

D3 Grandad

bongo1

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gstuart

D3 Grandad

bongo1

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bongo1

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DanClarke

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bongo1

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