Connecting a CTEK MXS 5.0 to an XC60

[BoJoUK]

Hello, I would be obliged if one of the members here with technical know how could advise me on the best way to fit the leads from the CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery charger/ conditioner to my car. An XC60 D4 AWD - MY2015 - AT 1446.

I am no longer doing the mileage that I used to and keep getting Low Battery warnings and the Infotainment system keeps shutting down soon after stopping the engine. There is always plenty of power to start the car.

The charger comes with a pair of crock clips to clip onto the battery and also a lead with eyelets to be able to fit to the battery terminals and this will make it MUCH easier to connect the charger by leaving that connecting lead fitted. The charger is designed to be able to charge without disconnecting the battery. The alternator is charging at the correct voltage.

Now my question. Will I be able to connect the eyelets to each of the Battery terminals (Black to Black and Red to Red)? OR do I have to connect the Red to Red terminal and the Black to a place on the car body? Obviously connecting to both battery terminals would be best IF IT WONT DO ANY DAMAGE.

In my mind the car body and the battery negative terminal are electrically the same, but common sense tells me to ask the advise of those who know best.

I have hopefully appended a link to the charger below.

Thank you in anticipation.

Bob

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[4x4]

Originally Posted by BoJoUK

Now my question. Will I be able to connect the eyelets to each of the Battery terminals (Black to Black and Red to Red)?

As above, red onto the positive battery terminal and black onto the negative battery terminal. The CTEK will show an error if you reverse connect the terminals, so you can't go wrong with it

If you're not using the car too often don't be tempted to keep the charger connected more than you need to when it's parked up. Contrary to what CTEK claim the charger will eventually kill a good battery if it is left on indefinitely. Usually once a week for a few hours will be plenty to keep your battery in tiptop order.

[Rex65]

Just posting in agreeance with the above.
My leads are connected directly to the battery and I have secured the flylead with a zip tie to stop it flapping around.
I simply just plug the charger in and leave it running for a day every 2 weeks if the car has been standing unused.

[Whyman]

Connect as 4x4 says. If you are doing it regularly then buy one of the CTEK connector plugs that allows you to just plug and charge.

When I bought mine one came with the charger and I bought a second one that has 3 led lights that show the state of charge.

[Chrisv60]

Connecting black to an earth point on the car instead of to the battery is so that any spark produced as the earth lead is disconnected will be remote from the hydrogen gas produced by the battery which might otherwise explode. The earth lead should therefore be removed first after charging.

However, fixing the leads to the battery with eyelets means that the connection/disconnection point is remote from the battery and hydrogen source altogether so any sparks on disconnection are unlikely to ignite the gas.

[NigelDay]

Originally Posted by Chrisv60

Connecting black to an earth point on the car instead of to the battery is so that any spark produced as the earth lead is disconnected will be remote from the hydrogen gas produced by the battery which might otherwise explode. The earth lead should therefore be removed first after charging.

However, fixing the leads to the battery with eyelets means that the connection/disconnection point is remote from the battery and hydrogen source altogether so any sparks on disconnection are unlikely to ignite the gas.

I think the CTEK system does not apply a charging current immediately, so there is no risk of hydrogen gas ignition. There is a delay whilst the 'system' checks the polarity is correct.

[HDAV]

I ordered one of these for my dad for a xmas turned up ok in a dusty box now just need to find somewhere to fit it

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/ctek-volt...5m-cable-a13tj

[BoJoUK]

Thank you all for the information you have given to me, as I mentioned initially, I wanted to double check with "those that know" before I connected it up. I appreciate everyones help and guidance.

Originally Posted by Whyman

I bought a second one that has 3 led lights that show the state of charge.

Whyman, the charger does have the connectors on the leads, but you made reference to a connector with 3 light on it. Have you routed that to the inside of the car or put it somewhere where it can be seen BEFORE opening the car? and how successful is it? does it work well?

Bob

[Whyman]

Originally Posted by BoJoUK

Thank you all for the information you have given to me, as I mentioned initially, I wanted to double check with "those that know" before I connected it up. I appreciate everyones help and guidance.



Whyman, the charger does have the connectors on the leads, but you made reference to a connector with 3 light on it. Have you routed that to the inside of the car or put it somewhere where it can be seen BEFORE opening the car? and how successful is it? does it work well?

Bob

On the XC60 it sits inside the battery box so you have to take the cover off to see it. If you look on the Roadpro website you can see what it looks like. From memory it is about £8 not sure about delivery cost. It works well but sometimes gives an amber indication after a run when I would have expected it to be green.

I bought it because I kept getting a low battery warning message but the dealer said the battery was fine, and it always started the car. I eventually got fed up with the message and bought a new battery, Bosch S5. Never had the message again so do not use it any more.

[BoJoUK]

Originally Posted by Whyman

On the XC60 it sits inside the battery box so you have to take the cover off to see it.

Before I actually installed the eyelet lead I had planned on placing the plug connector OUTSIDE of the battery box, but after you saying that you had left yours INSIDE the battery box it made me think.
I have decided that by leaving it inside, I need to remove the lid before connecting up. Then by placing the removed lid on the drivers seat it means that I can NEVER accidentally drive off forgetting that the lead is connected.