Installing the CTEK Battery Charger and Review

[@dasdasdatics420]

Our motorhome was equipped with the fixed ctek battery connector so I bought an extension from it and threaded it from under the bonnet and into the cab via the door hinge. I then connected the MX5 ctek to the other end of the extension and plugged this into a timer switch set at 6hrs on in a 24 hr period. The mains supply is also connected to the house mains through a timer which is also set up for 6 hrs in a 24 hr period. So the motorhome auxiliary battery gets topped up every day for 6 hours and the engine battery gets a maintenance top up for 6 hours every 4th day. Stops the engine battery from sulphating and the voltage dropping during storage and in cold weather. Easy maintenance. Nothing worse than being waken at 2am when the alarm trips because the battery voltage has dropped suddenly on a winters night.

[@AutoGleamTruths]

I was wondering about putting timers on them, I have 1 van that is on a very older Carcover model, which I think is making the alarm go off on the van 🤔 so I may welcome the timer which may help 😀 funny thing is I don't here it as we live away from the vans 😄

[@dasdasdatics420]

@@AutoGleamTruths I didn't realise that the zig charger in the van didn't charge the engine battery until the alarm went off and when I checked it was down to 10.7 volt. It'd sulphated because of the cold weather but it was only 18 months old. I used a fully automatic battery charger and it recovered quickly. I'm thinking of joining the 2 timers together so that the van gets a charge every 4th day eventually. Helps reduce the electric bills. You could always play around with timers to turn on every other day or 2nd or 3rd or 4th etc.

[@AutoGleamTruths]

@dasdasdatics420 not really sure how much electricity the 7 chargers cost 🤔 but I think I must look at this nowadays, it's something that many people don't think about, I have a Dehumidifier running as well, I will have to test out how much its costing, less than storage cost 😀 laters Steve 👍

[@davidnorton5887]

I used 5 CTek chargers, and they've worked well over many years. The only issue I have is with the power (mains) cable. In cold weather (I live in Sweden) the cable is cheap chinese crap and becomes really stiff. It should be that nice flexible black rubber outdoor, but it's nasty plasticy stuff.

[@AutoGleamTruths]

I am very much with 7 chargers 😀

[@MT-kx2uc]

They make a Polar version where the wiring stays flexible up to -30 degC and software optimization for cold weather. It's the orange one in the range.

[@AutoGleamTruths]

@@MT-kx2uc thanks mate for letting us know 👍 😉

[@davidnorton5887]

@@MT-kx2uc They all have the optimization for cold weather, but even at zero C the cable is too stiff and plasticy. It's just cheap shite chinese cable, when it should be rubberised outdoor cable as standard.