Ctek battery charger

Johnbmwz4 · Post by **Johnbmwz4** » Fri May 29, 2020 8:44 pm

Hi just bought a ctek battery charger. Do you connect to battery while still connected in car or do you take the battery out?
Thanks in advance

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Fri May 29, 2020 8:46 pm

Leave it connected

Johnbmwz4 · Post by **Johnbmwz4** » Fri May 29, 2020 8:55 pm

Thought as much , just on the instructions it shows the battery taken out of the car.
Thanks for fast response

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Fri May 29, 2020 9:02 pm

I got the adapter that's permanently connected to battery an then just plug it in to the lead

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Fri May 29, 2020 9:04 pm

I usually take mine out so there is absolutely no current draw from the battery when charging.
Maybe unnecessary. I dunno. I have an idea that leaving it connected could mess with the deep-cycle phase when charging.
But it's designed to be left hooked up, unattended to the battery long-term whether in the car or not.

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Fri May 29, 2020 9:16 pm

Leave it connected - use the posts under the bonnet tho!
Do a search on the forum and you'll see all the reasons why you should (and a few that says it dent matter.)

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Fri May 29, 2020 9:37 pm

I use the charging points in the engine bay on the M140i and connect directly to the battery terminals using the crocodile clips on my Hyundai Kona.

Tim.

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Fri May 29, 2020 11:40 pm

Has the Hyundai got any under bonnet pins tho?

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Sat May 30, 2020 12:29 am

Leave it connected so it can measure discharge.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sat May 30, 2020 7:21 am

ronk wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2020 11:40 pm Has the Hyundai got any under bonnet pins tho?

Haven't spotted any Ron but the battery terminals easily accept the charger.

Tim.

Ewazix · Post by **Ewazix** » Sat May 30, 2020 7:55 am

There is always a debate about having to use the charge points under the bonnet but it's important to understand when you should use them and when it's OK to attach directly to the battery on the e85/86 (I'm not sure about later models). The under-bonnet posts are surge protected to protect against current surge frying components, but CTEK cannot deliver damaging levels of current.

CTEK made BMW battery tenders in the e85/6 era (I'm not sure if they still do) and they came with the connectors for direct-to-battery installation. Ctek is strictly speaking a smart controlled 'conditioner' which delivers a max of 5 amps (hence the skinny leads). An average boost or jump starter will push over 400 amps which would knock down a horse! so this definitely requires big fat leads and the surge protection provided by the under-bonnet post. The CTEK doesn't, which is why it's completely safe to use the convenience of the fixed plug-in connector supplied with CTEK.

The real risk with connecting the ctek to the battery in the boot is driving out of the garage with it still plugged in dohhhh

Jl-c · Post by **Jl-c** » Sun May 31, 2020 8:58 am

Ewazix,
“ The real risk with connecting the ctek to the battery in the boot is driving out of the garage with it still plugged in dohhhh

“

Yup, done that too. Ripped the mains socket off the wall! You feel such a plonker

g3org3y · Post by **g3org3y** » Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:59 pm

Ewazix wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 7:55 am The real risk with connecting the ctek to the battery in the boot is driving out of the garage with it still plugged in dohhhh

You are not wrong.

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:07 pm

Tie a ribbon at 12 o clock on the steering wheel when the charger is connected.

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:22 pm

I just normally weld the doors up with my TIG to remind me that the charger is connected. Imagine my frustration the other day after going to the trouble of angle grinding them open again and then simply driving off with the leads still attached!

Next time I will weld the doors up and also take all 4 wheels off.

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