Which ctek?

[Harry911]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a Ctek trickle charger.
I've been pointed in the direction of the MXS10 which I'm quite happy to buy but wondered if the MXS5 would do the job just as well for £40 cheaper.
I have a 3.0 roadster 53 plate.
Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks...

 

[PerryGunn]

Either of those CTEK chargers, or even the mxs 3.8 will be suitable for maintenance/trickle charging - look at the features of each model on the ctek website and decide if you'd need/use/benefit from the various features available on the more expensive units

 

[Taz]

I've used this for a couple of years now

 

[srhutch]

I've being using a CTEK XS800 for the last 5 years with no problems. My car spends most of it's life in the garage as well.

£40 at Argos

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1945700.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:18074225845|tsid:59156|cid:189934405|lid:96619488805|nw:g|crid:61293023965|rnd:8692693178130857609|dvc:c|adp:1o1|bku:1

 

[Taz]

£40 is goof for a Ctek, there's probably very little difference in the different types - they all trickle charge

 

[PerryGunn]

£40 is goof for a Ctek, there's probably very little difference in the different types - they all trickle charge

Apart from the battery reconditioning modes, one of the major differences is the charging current - the more expensive models have higher output which allows them to recharge a depleted battery faster. This doesn't really make any difference as far as trickle/maintenance charging goes though

 

[thepits]

My car spends most of it's life in the garage ...

What a shame, why have it? :?

 

[cj10jeeper]

I purchased the MXS 5.0 2 weeks ago.
Chose this model as it will do normal lead acid as well as AGM batteries.

To me it was the best compromise between the base models that did not do AGM and the top end which had more features and faster charge rates than I needed.

Done the AGM battery in the Zed (race battery) and a couple of spare lead acids in the garage and am really pleased with the results.

 

[srhutch]

My car spends most of it's life in the garage ...

What a shame, why have it? :?

It's a third car and I have 9 year old twins so this limits when I can use it. As the girls get older they will be off doing their own thing giving me and Mrs H more time to use it.

 

[srhutch]

I purchased the MXS 5.0 2 weeks ago.
Chose this model as it will do normal lead acid as well as AGM batteries.

To me it was the best compromise between the base models that did not do AGM and the top end which had more features and faster charge rates than I needed.

Done the AGM battery in the Zed (race battery) and a couple of spare lead acids in the garage and am really pleased with the results.

The XS800 does WET, MF, GEL, AGM and Ca batteries. All for £40 :wink:

 

[thepits]

My car spends most of it's life in the garage ...

What a shame, why have it? :?

It's a third car and I have 9 year old twins so this limits when I can use it. As the girls get older they will be off doing their own thing giving me and Mrs H more time to use it.

"As the girls get older they will be off doing their own thing" - in at least 7 years :wink: - what a waste. Sell it. Buy another when they have flown the nest. :driving:

 

[Harry911]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick replies.
I had a look at the Argos link for the 3.8 one and spotted the 5.0 for £37 on sale. Of course when you go to try and buy it nowhere in the uk has it, surprise suprise...
Anyway I think the 3.8 should be fine as I use the car quite a bit but it will come in handy when I have to use public transport one week of the month and when on holiday.

Thanks again...

 

[pvr]

srhutch - seems to be for fairly low amp batteries. I use the XS800 for the lawnmower

CTEK XS 800 is suitable for charging all types of 12 V lead-acid batteries: open batteries, MF, AGM and most GEL-batteries. Battery sizes from 1.2 to 32 Ah.

 

[pvr]

The programs for MXS-5 is different for AGM mode versus other modes, how important that is I have no idea, but I went with the recommendation for that an AGM specific charger was important versus the standard ones.

 

[srhutch]

srhutch - seems to be for fairly low amp batteries. I use the XS800 for the lawnmower

CTEK XS 800 is suitable for charging all types of 12 V lead-acid batteries: open batteries, MF, AGM and most GEL-batteries. Battery sizes from 1.2 to 32 Ah.

Low amps not a problem keeping battery tip top. Would be an issue to charge from flat though.

 

[srhutch]

"As the girls get older they will be off doing their own thing" - in at least 7 years :wink: - what a waste. Sell it. Buy another when they have flown the nest. :driving:

Why would I do that?

I drive it and enjoy it very much when I do, and it's not depreciating very much. also be harder to pick up a clean one in a few years time and probably cost me more in the long run.

Where do you get 7 years from? I'm sure they will be doing their own thing when they are younger than 16.

 

[cj10jeeper]

SR. - I stick with my choice of the MXS 5.0 as capable of charging big batteries (such as I have on the XF and dedicated AGM charging modes which I need on the Z4.

Worth the extra £10+ to me for that flexibility.

Could not justify the £100 for some models...

 

[srhutch]

SR. - I stick with my choice of the MXS 5.0 as capable of charging big batteries (such as I have on the XF and dedicated AGM charging modes which I need on the Z4.

Worth the extra £10+ to me for that flexibility.

Could not justify the £100 for some models...

This is it, depends what you want it for. Mines just to keep the zed topped up. If that's all th OP wants then the £40 will do the trick.

 

[Beedub]

My car spends most of it's life in the garage ...

What a shame, why have it? :?

It's a third car and I have 9 year old twins so this limits when I can use it. As the girls get older they will be off doing their own thing giving me and Mrs H more time to use it.

i feel your pain.... still.... its fun when we do get out in them

 

[srhutch]

i feel your pain.... still.... its fun when we do get out in them

Your right, and I'm aching to get in it and drive it. Also aching to get my Gruppe M fitted.

Also saves me £160 in VED by not driving through the winter, which for me is a no brainer.