CTEK Alternative

[TitanTim]

Hi all,

Currently on my third CTEK charger over the past 10 years or so. 1st charger lasted about 3 years and packed up, the power cable split and came apart. 2nd charger the mode button went sticky working intermittently, although managed to take the charger apart and get it working and now kept as a back up. I bought a MXS 5.0 model in June last year and the power cable sheath is already splitting and peeling back exposing the wiring where it enters the unit body. Don't expect it to be long before the wiring itself starts deteriorating. Pretty poor really considering around 90 quid new and only 15 months old. You would think the robustness of the cable would be tested thoroughly. Charger gets used once or twice a week as the car isn't driven daily so taken off the battery, put back on etc.

Like these chargers as easy to use, status lights etc but am I expecting too much considering useage. Quality to me does seem poor for the money.

Can anyone recommend a good alternative please that's similar to the CTEK and happy with durability etc.

Thanks,

Tim.

 

[B21]

That’s disappointing…both my CTEKs are fine …as are my Lidls..next door neighbour had a Noco but that packed up..he’s on a CTEK now

 

[TitanTim]

That’s disappointing…both my CTEKs are fine …as are my Lidls..next door neighbour had a Noco but that packed up..he’s on a CTEK now

Yes, don't understand it really. Just replaced a GTECH hoover charging plug with the same issue of the cable sheathing splitting and peeling back, so maybe it's me as I tend to wrap the cable around the item it's joined too so could be the reason.

Tim.

 

[Pondrew]

GTECH hoover

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[BeeEmm]

GTECH hoover

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I had a hoover Gtech vacuum cleaner which ran on a battery. The cable was fine.

 

[TitanTim]

:lol: bloody good hoovers, goes everywhere with me :?

Tim.

 

[pvr]

Why do you move the ctek? Mine are wall mounted and I only move the low voltage ( extended) cables.

The ones for my lawn mower and tractor are lose but are now 15 years old without issues.

 

[TitanTim]

Why do you move the ctek? Mine are wall mounted and I only move the low voltage ( extended) cables.

The ones for my lawn mower and tractor are lose but are now 15 years old without issues.

It's rare I park the car in the garage as always a bit tight (70s garage for 70s cars) so parked under the car port. I could simply just take the charger off and leave in situ but you bet some tyke would nick it some day.





Had this chap a few months back come down the drive past the front door and started taking pics of the motor which was slightly unnerving.



Must be a Hyundai fan :lol:

Tim.

 

[pvr]

Ouch, that is not nice no. Perhaps a drive way alarm that sets off a siren when you break the infra red beam.

You could put the ctek in a waterproof wall mounted box with only the cable hanging out. Just anything to avoid moving it, especially like the one you have auto starts without pressing a button.

 

[TitanTim]

Ouch, that is not nice no. Perhaps a drive way alarm that sets off a siren when you break the infra red beam.

You could put the ctek in a waterproof wall mounted box with only the cable hanging out. Just anything to avoid moving it, especially like the one you have auto starts without pressing a button.

Yes I wasn't too happy as thinking could be taking photos with a view to nicking the car. I've got 3 cameras which all picked the chap up and sent me notifications but then he might have had an axe in the backpack You never know these days.

Good idea on the wall mounted box, I'll look into that, so long as the charger is out of sight

Tim.

 

[M1k3yC]

I tend to wrap the cable around the item it's joined too so could be the reason.

It might be this in combination with the (presumably) frequently changing temperatures the cable is exposed to. One of my CTEKs is over four years old, the other over seven years old and both are fine. I just leave them pushed to one side or in a corner of my garage when not in use.

As an aside, I don't bother putting a CTEK on my Mini or Hyundai unless they're not moving for over two weeks. The Mini very quickly returns to start/stop kicking in, even after one to two weeks without use, so the battery is unlikely to be dropping that low. The Kona has a mind of its own with start/stop but is never reluctant to start up.

Have you emailed CTEK a picture to attempt to claim on the warranty? Two or five years it seems: https://www.ctek.com/uk/rma-form_1

 

[Pondrew]

:lol: bloody good hoovers, goes everywhere with me :?

Tim.

Missed my point. Hoover is a brand name so a GTECH can't be a Hoover!

I have a mate who did some work at Dyson. He wrote the customer on his worksheet as "Dyson Hoovers". The customer was not best pleased. :lol:

I don't know how you abuse your stuff, Tim, but I have never had a problem with mains flat cables on anything, ever. Although, that type of cable is not meant for outdoors.

 

[Nictrix]

:lol: bloody good hoovers, goes everywhere with me :?

Tim.

Missed my point. Hoover is a brand name so a GTECH can't be a Hoover!

I have a mate who did some work at Dyson. He wrote the customer on his worksheet as "Dyson Hoovers". The customer was not best pleased. :lol:

:evil: yea its like a BMW Ferrari.
It's a BMW so can't be a Ferrari oke:

 

[Pondrew]

:lol: bloody good hoovers, goes everywhere with me :?

Tim.

Missed my point. Hoover is a brand name so a GTECH can't be a Hoover!

I have a mate who did some work at Dyson. He wrote the customer on his worksheet as "Dyson Hoovers". The customer was not best pleased. :lol:

:evil: yea its like a BMW Ferrari.
It's a BMW so can't be a Ferrari oke:

Agreed.

Reminds me....I must get some Hoover badges for the Vax. :wink:

 

[TitanTim]

I tend to wrap the cable around the item it's joined too so could be the reason.

It might be this in combination with the (presumably) frequently changing temperatures the cable is exposed to. One of my CTEKs is over four years old, the other over seven years old and both are fine. I just leave them pushed to one side or in a corner of my garage when not in use.

As an aside, I don't bother putting a CTEK on my Mini or Hyundai unless they're not moving for over two weeks. The Mini very quickly returns to start/stop kicking in, even after one to two weeks without use, so the battery is unlikely to be dropping that low. The Kona has a mind of its own with start/stop but is never reluctant to start up.

Have you emailed CTEK a picture to attempt to claim on the warranty? Two or five years it seems: https://www.ctek.com/uk/rma-form_1

Thanks Mike, I think you're right, its probably me wrapping the cable up once or twice a week thats causing the issue

Never even thought of the warranty as just assumed it would be 12 months so thats handy, thank you. Actually bought it May 22 so under 5 years old so would hope warranty would cover it. Will send them a photo and see what they say.

Only reason I use one on the Hyundai is there's been issues of the batteries failing prematurely even on new cars if the car isn't used for a while. I don't know if the batteries are poor quality or its been suggested its the BlueLink App connection doing a parasitic drain, who knows. Been a few posts on the i20N forums of owners going on holiday and comig back to a flat.

Tim.

 

[TitanTim]

:lol: bloody good hoovers, goes everywhere with me :?

Tim.

Missed my point. Hoover is a brand name so a GTECH can't be a Hoover!

I have a mate who did some work at Dyson. He wrote the customer on his worksheet as "Dyson Hoovers". The customer was not best pleased. :lol:

I don't know how you abuse your stuff, Tim, but I have never had a problem with mains flat cables on anything, ever. Although, that type of cable is not meant for outdoors.

:lol: get you now Went from a Dyson to a GTECH as can't be having with those stupid wand hoovers, has to be an upright for me , Ferrari badged of course oke: :lol:

I'm generally not an abuser, quite the opposite or so I'm told :? I know the charger is outdoors but under cover so doesn't really get any weather affectig it.

Tim.

 

[B21]

I tend to wrap the cable around the item it's joined too so could be the reason.

It might be this in combination with the (presumably) frequently changing temperatures the cable is exposed to. One of my CTEKs is over four years old, the other over seven years old and both are fine. I just leave them pushed to one side or in a corner of my garage when not in use.

As an aside, I don't bother putting a CTEK on my Mini or Hyundai unless they're not moving for over two weeks. The Mini very quickly returns to start/stop kicking in, even after one to two weeks without use, so the battery is unlikely to be dropping that low. The Kona has a mind of its own with start/stop but is never reluctant to start up.

Have you emailed CTEK a picture to attempt to claim on the warranty? Two or five years it seems: https://www.ctek.com/uk/rma-form_1

Thanks Mike, I think you're right, its probably me wrapping the cable up once or twice a week thats causing the issue

Never even thought of the warranty as just assumed it would be 12 months so thats handy, thank you. Actually bought it May 22 so under 5 years old so would hope warranty would cover it. Will send them a photo and see what they say.

Only reason I use one on the Hyundai is there's been issues of the batteries failing prematurely even on new cars if the car isn't used for a while. I don't know if the batteries are poor quality or its been suggested its the BlueLink App connection doing a parasitic drain, who knows. Been a few posts on the i20N forums of owners going on holiday and comig back to a flat.

Tim.

FWIW BMW states thsat provided power management system works correctly the AGM batteries can go 6 weeks without needing a charge..that's plugged and connected to the car..3 months is the suggested time to charge if the battery is disconnected from the car..

 

[Jellyfishfields]

I have a couple of these, recommended by a Porsche air cooled forum. Been 100% reliable, connect, switch on and forget, they've worked great.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-7423A-Battery-Charger-Electronic/dp/B009A83P1E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35CSNW1ATTN9K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2I7QU0l60DInAeOs9Odo2p9ygNoK7z6uutDrv2plh2UAbMAdXeYvblL3ENaOc4NJC0aZSWNBKzfgd5SQKpa0I4WmBb8R3d4BCXCbFNMTeHSNoA0Z0B2BQOWPcNPLX5shZuq_DytxMkyHJvN5VSNmpL3evB2EDWr60du5btNJ9ZjoXyjfS_z0Wetr9rmmxxO3rG39N-62orPXL1cdDAZn_YyIpiTy3xqOt6r5rmpnGhTNIy7e2W5XX1ZRQlTyAEHgpx6XWNMDBWwohgfLM07HH-TWsu9JjovxmwSw_t1Gvrw.fAE7CfXePM7vW60hAlCWN4rUQvWkM6f_Rrjrepcjo9w&dib_tag=se&keywords=maypole+battery+charger&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730657645&sprefix=maypole%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_3M_AUTOMATED

 

[TitanTim]

I have a couple of these, recommended by a Porsche air cooled forum. Been 100% reliable, connect, switch on and forget, they've worked great.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-7423A-Battery-Charger-Electronic/dp/B009A83P1E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35CSNW1ATTN9K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2I7QU0l60DInAeOs9Odo2p9ygNoK7z6uutDrv2plh2UAbMAdXeYvblL3ENaOc4NJC0aZSWNBKzfgd5SQKpa0I4WmBb8R3d4BCXCbFNMTeHSNoA0Z0B2BQOWPcNPLX5shZuq_DytxMkyHJvN5VSNmpL3evB2EDWr60du5btNJ9ZjoXyjfS_z0Wetr9rmmxxO3rG39N-62orPXL1cdDAZn_YyIpiTy3xqOt6r5rmpnGhTNIy7e2W5XX1ZRQlTyAEHgpx6XWNMDBWwohgfLM07HH-TWsu9JjovxmwSw_t1Gvrw.fAE7CfXePM7vW60hAlCWN4rUQvWkM6f_Rrjrepcjo9w&dib_tag=se&keywords=maypole+battery+charger&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730657645&sprefix=maypole%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_3M_AUTOMATED

Many thanks

Tim.

 

[Bluebottle]

Sorry, don't now anything about hoovers, we have Miele.

I highly recommend this from Ring/Osram that I bought recently. As good as ctek but much less expensive and 8A is a good current to charge and then maintain your AGM battery.

https://www.driven2automotive.com/shop/ring-rsc808-smart-battery-charger/