Battery Charger

[Owdgit]

Mounted my ctek connections like this, probably going to get lambasted now for breaking some BMW cardinal rules
Only had to drill out the hole on the bottom of the live jump terminal very slightly to fit a nut and bolt to connect to.
Negative connected to an existing connection on the bulkhead.
Run the connection to the charger via the rear of the bonnet by the seal at the rear so I can close the bonnet.

 

[Argyll Andy]

No doubt this will serve only to throw the lid of the can of worms further away but..............
I am a little confused that, after all the advice and discussion, you have fitted this direct to the battery? Given the location you are charging in, could you not have gone nose up to the wall and charged through the bonnet connections.

And also the advice about not running the recon cycle on an AGM battery

It would beg the question why it has a specific AGM recondition mode?

I just recently got a Ctek myself and immediately ran the recon cycle on both cars. I don’t have AGM batteries in either car but was keeping an eye on the thread out interest. I noticed on a reply saying recon on an AGM could cause damage and an explanation why.

 

[Anonymous]

Mounted my ctek connections like this, probably going to get lambasted now for breaking some BMW cardinal rules
Only had to drill out the hole on the bottom of the live jump terminal very slightly to fit a nut and bolt to connect to.
Negative connected to an existing connection on the bulkhead.
Run the connection to the charger via the rear of the bonnet by the seal at the rear so I can close the bonnet.

I don’t think the crimp connection meets acceptable forms of compliance under European Aviation Safety Agency directives and the lack of a sleeve protector as it routes out of the engine bay is a major finding...

 

[Argyll Andy]

Mounted my ctek connections like this, probably going to get lambasted now for breaking some BMW cardinal rules
Only had to drill out the hole on the bottom of the live jump terminal very slightly to fit a nut and bolt to connect to.
Negative connected to an existing connection on the bulkhead.
Run the connection to the charger via the rear of the bonnet by the seal at the rear so I can close the bonnet.

Mine is mounted the same way but I was in the will I/won’t I camp post asking the stupid question of “was it ok drill through the + post to attach with a bolt” so just decided to save my blushes and mounted with a jubilee clip to the + post and an the - by an additional bolt to where you’ve got yours.

Now we have the stupid question did you just drill the hole with the battery connected or did you have to disconnect it? The jubilee clip is functional but not particularly tidy.

 

[Owdgit]

I don’t think the crimp connection meets acceptable forms of compliance under European Aviation Safety Agency directives and the lack of a sleeve protector as it routes out of the engine bay is a major finding...
[/quote]

At least I did solder and heat shrink the part of the cable I extended and cable tied it all in place.
And yes, I left it all connected while I opened up the hole I used to connect to.

 

[ronk]

Does anyone know why the +ve connect pole is the section it is?
Why not just a blade or a pole ?

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

And also the advice about not running the recon cycle on an AGM battery

It would beg the question why it has a specific AGM recondition mode?

I just recently got a Ctek myself and immediately ran the recon cycle on both cars. I don’t have AGM batteries in either car but was keeping an eye on the thread out interest. I noticed on a reply saying recon on an AGM could cause damage and an explanation why.

I posted a link with to a forum on reconditioning AGM batteries, there was an email from CTek saying that it does not harm, but does not benefit an AGM battery to recondition it. Which adds further confusion on why an AGM recon mode exists. I will email them to clarify.

 

[Argyll Andy]

I don’t think the crimp connection meets acceptable forms of compliance under European Aviation Safety Agency directives and the lack of a sleeve protector as it routes out of the engine bay is a major finding...

At least I did solder and heat shrink the part of the cable I extended and cable tied it all in place.
And yes, I left it all connected while I opened up the hole I used to connect to.
[/quote]

I’ve had it airborne on occasion but not enough I’m having to comply with aviation regs :wink:

The jubilee clip doesn’t look great as it doesn’t allow the protector sleeve to go fully down so the drilled hole option will look neater. Maybe a wee job for tomorrow.

 

[Argyll Andy]

It would beg the question why it has a specific AGM recondition mode?

I just recently got a Ctek myself and immediately ran the recon cycle on both cars. I don’t have AGM batteries in either car but was keeping an eye on the thread out interest. I noticed on a reply saying recon on an AGM could cause damage and an explanation why.

I posted a link with to a forum on reconditioning AGM batteries, there was an email from CTek saying that it does not harm, but does not benefit an AGM battery to recondition it. Which adds further confusion on why an AGM recon mode exists. I will email them to clarify.

Yeah I noticed that after I posted, I’d replied to my notification rather than on the tread so I never saw it.

Hopefully you’ll get a definitive answer from Ctek - main thing is getting it right for your own kit, too bloody expensive replacing these batteries, AGM or not

 

[Silverstar]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

IMG_8793.jpeg

No, once it’s lit, albeit barely, it’s done.

They could be brighter!

 

[Silverstar]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

IMG_8793.jpeg

No, once it’s lit, albeit barely, it’s done.

They could be brighter!

Perfect, many thanks!

 

[GAZA62]

Funny I thought this last week when using mine the first time I used it the green seemed a bit brighter but last week when I used it as you say not that bright

 

[MrPT]

Been following this thread with interest as I just bought an MXS 3.8 as there didn’t seem to be any point in spending more on the 5.0 for AGM charging (I don’t need the higher amperage).

Having said that, I’d love to know what the point is in being able to select “AGM RECOND” on the 5.0, even though it’s supposedly harmless. CTEK’s documentation and customer support comments are pretty confusing!

 

[Silverstar]

Been following this thread with interest as I just bought an MXS 3.8 as there didn’t seem to be any point in spending more on the 5.0 for AGM charging (I don’t need the higher amperage).

Having said that, I’d love to know what the point is in being able to select “AGM RECOND” on the 5.0, even though it’s supposedly harmless. CTEK’s documentation and customer support comments are pretty confusing!

This is an interesting point, maybe a quick phone call to Ctek tech support might answer this question.

 

[enzed4]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

IMG_8793.jpeg

If it wasn't for other's comments, I would say that led is not lit, just showing some 'bleed' from the bright leds next to it. You would expect it to be the same as the power led at the bottom left of your charger. I know my C-Tek charger (a different, older model) has a bright green led to say charging is completed. The first time I used it on my E85 it took 2-3 days to get to that stage.

 

[Silverstar]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

IMG_8793.jpeg

If it wasn't for other's comments, I would say that led is not lit, just showing some 'bleed' from the bright leds next to it. You would expect it to be the same as the power led at the bottom left of your charger. I know my C-Tek charger (a different, older model) has a bright green led to say charging is completed. The first time I used it on my E85 it took 2-3 days to get to that stage.

This is what I was thinking, that it should be as bright as the LED for power indicator. I have just been looking in the handbook and it says time limit for stage 7 as 10 days! For now I have kept it plugged in since I won't need the car until probably Monday or Tuesday. I will see what happens. When you first used your on your E85 did you leave the car untouched for those 3 days or did you use it in between and then reconnect the charger to complete the cycle?

 

[enzed4]

For those of you using the Ctek MXS 5.0 charger, how bright should the first green light (number 7) be? I just got mine yesterday and hooked it up to the car yesterday around 5pm, right now all the first 6 yellows are brightly lit and the first green seems to be lit but isn't particularly very bright at. See the photo below although not sure if it shows properly in the photo though. Question is does my battery need more charging or is it now done, should that light be brighter?

IMG_8793.jpeg

If it wasn't for other's comments, I would say that led is not lit, just showing some 'bleed' from the bright leds next to it. You would expect it to be the same as the power led at the bottom left of your charger. I know my C-Tek charger (a different, older model) has a bright green led to say charging is completed. The first time I used it on my E85 it took 2-3 days to get to that stage.

This is what I was thinking, that it should be as bright as the LED for power indicator. I have just been looking in the handbook and it says time limit for stage 7 as 10 days! For now I have kept it plugged in since I won't need the car until probably Monday or Tuesday. I will see what happens. When you first used your on your E85 did you leave the car untouched for those 3 days or did you use it in between and then reconnect the charger to complete the cycle?

I left it in the garage untouched - I was starting to worry that it wasn't working (or that the battery was stuffed) but then I think on the 3rd night I checked and the led was on green. After that initial charge it never took more than an overnight top up to get back up to fully charged so what ever it did on that first cycle must have sorted it properly.

 

[Silverstar]

If it wasn't for other's comments, I would say that led is not lit, just showing some 'bleed' from the bright leds next to it. You would expect it to be the same as the power led at the bottom left of your charger. I know my C-Tek charger (a different, older model) has a bright green led to say charging is completed. The first time I used it on my E85 it took 2-3 days to get to that stage.

This is what I was thinking, that it should be as bright as the LED for power indicator. I have just been looking in the handbook and it says time limit for stage 7 as 10 days! For now I have kept it plugged in since I won't need the car until probably Monday or Tuesday. I will see what happens. When you first used your on your E85 did you leave the car untouched for those 3 days or did you use it in between and then reconnect the charger to complete the cycle?

I left it in the garage untouched - I was starting to worry that it wasn't working (or that the battery was stuffed) but then I think on the 3rd night I checked and the led was on green. After that initial charge it never took more than an overnight top up to get back up to fully charged so what ever it did on that first cycle must have sorted it properly.

Ok many thanks.

 

[GAZA62]

I have found with mine it goes straight to stage 3 once connected to car battery then the first time it took 1 hour to get to 4 (last time only 30 mins) so ready for cranking then spent around 5 hours to get to 6 then around another 2 to go green.

I never select the recon mode but it still spends a while in stage 6