Ctek Battery Charger

[ITSv40]

The C70 is connected to a Ctek charger when it is not in use and even when having been standing for a month or so is always on the button and starts instantly. However, I have recently had experience of how good the Ctek charger really is.

My son restored an Escort XR3i cabriolet about 9 years ago. It was a last nut and bolt resto to concours and as he wanted the engine bay to look 'just right' bought a new Motorcraft battery from Ford. As the car is only used occasionally he also bought a Ctek charger from day 1 and has been permanently connected since.

Now about 18 months ago he needed to replace the crankshaft seal and also the timing belt and decided that it would be easier to remove the engine/gearbox and work on it out of the car - it would also be an opportunity to do some mods on the braking system. The battery was taken off and connected up to the Ctek and there it stood on the shelf until the last couple of weeks. Life got in the way and the engine has only just gone back in the car.

Anyway, the battery was put back on and turned on the ignition. All the dashboard lights were bright, the headlights were like Heathrow landing lights and when he turned the engine over the starter whipped it over as if the car had been in regular use the day before.

All this from a 9 year old battery and one that had been standing on the shelf for 18 months. All in all the Ctek has done its job and kept the battery in tip top condition. Given the extreme conditions, I thought some on here might be interested in the chargers performance in the real world.

[Dippydog]

Whilst such a device is no good to me as my lock up garage has no electricity and it's about quarter of a mile away from home and I have no off road parking at home,it is always good to read "product reviews" from people like yourself who have experience of using things in a real world environment as it may at some future point prove to be handy information to have.

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Whilst such a device is no good to me as my lock up garage has no electricity and it's about quarter of a mile away from home and I have no off road parking at home,it is always good to read "product reviews" from people like yourself who have experience of using things in a real world environment as it may at some future point prove to be handy information to have.

I bought one a few months ago as my C70 was, for some reason, losing charge. Not had a problem starting since put into use. Highly recommended.

[HDAV]

I used one to rejuvenate a boats leisure battery that was “dead” after 24 hours on a ctek it was showing as chargeable and after 36 hours was charged it was initially showing under 6v and ready for scrapping.... ctek charger was £60 leisure battery was £120 so in that instance paid for itself twice over!

That sod the one I got in Lidl for £14 has been great too, ctek have the adapters and stuff to make life easier especially on cars with hard to reach batteries and the towing electric adapter is genius

https://www.disco3.co.uk/shop/tow-el...e-etc-p45.html

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Whilst such a device is no good to me as my lock up garage has no electricity and it's about quarter of a mile away from home and I have no off road parking at home,it is always good to read "product reviews" from people like yourself who have experience of using things in a real world environment as it may at some future point prove to be handy information to have.

Morning Dippy, how about a Solar panel charger? could you find a safe place to fix it outside the lock up?

Regards,Keith.

[green van man]

Originally Posted by ksmi

Morning Dippy, how about a Solar panel charger? could you find a safe place to fix it outside the lock up?

Regards,Keith.

I was amazed at the performance of the solar panel on the new caravan. 80w panel running through a charge controler, caravan stored in a barn. Enough light hitting the panel such that the battery read 13. 5v after 6 weeks storage and used the motor movers to maneuver the van into and out of parking position in the barn and onto the drive when taken home for loading.

If your lockup has a skylight panel then enough light to make a solar charger worthwhile is available.

Paul.

[Tamworthbay]

Having used loads of different chargers over the years (I used to build and race electric endurance cars running AGM batteries) I do like the ctek chargers, it I won’t buy another as I took a chance on a Lidl one for £12 and now have 3. They are as good as lower range ctek ones for a fraction of the cost.

[Christerart]

I agree on how good the Ctek chargers are - the re-conditioning worked a charm when the C70 battery was dead.

Brought it back to full charge overnight. Just re-conditioned the batteries in the V70 and XC - figure this time of the year is a good time to make sure the batteries are at peak performance..

[canis]

How does battery reconditioning work? I've got a leisure battery I've not been able to get more than 6v into.

[GrahamHR]

Originally Posted by green van man

I was amazed at the performance of the solar panel on the new caravan. 80w panel running through a charge controler, caravan stored in a barn. Enough light hitting the panel such that the battery read 13. 5v after 6 weeks storage and used the motor movers to maneuver the van into and out of parking position in the barn and onto the drive when taken home for loading.

If your lockup has a skylight panel then enough light to make a solar charger worthwhile is available.

Paul.

Was the solar panel and charge controller something you fitted yourself? I ask, because I have a boat and it's impossible to get it connected to 240V to use the on board charger since a building at the marina containing all the electrical istribution gear burned down recently. A solar panel is something I have been considering. It'd be good to know the details of a system that works.