CTEK Battery Chargers.

[culzean]

The only minor niggle with the AA charger is remembering to press the circle button instead of the arrow button to start it. Seems odd as the arrow button is traditionally used to start devices. Other than that it’s a great little thing, usually use it on the missus’ Yaris as she only does short trips in it so I charge it every couple of weeks. It’s lasted over a year so far, so can’t complain at that price.

Yeah, the arrow button switches between 6 and 12 volt....   

The thing about the AA one is that it also ( like most modern chargers ) checks the polarity and if it does not like what is sees the red 'fault' led lights up ( does not damage the charger though ). Also you can unplug the mains supply ( or a power cut maybe ) and as long as the charger still connected to battery it remembers where it was in the charging cycle.  I did buy a brand new longer charging cable with SAE plugs on and could not get the AA charger to switch to charging mode, I checked the cable with resistance meter and looked OK,  in the end I had to spray some contact cleaner into the SAE plugs and a bit of very fine wet and dry emery paper rolled up to clean the pins,  worked fine after that - probably some silicon film left over from moulding process - but that was not the chargers fault. 

[Jocko]

The battery charger arrived today but I was disappointed to find that the cable from the battery will be well short of the front grille. It is only about 450 mm long. I will have to fabricate one to do the job.

[culzean]

The battery charger arrived today but I was disappointed to find that the cable from the battery will be well short of the front grille. It is only about 450 mm long. I will have to fabricate one to do the job.

IIRC I used the one supplied with AA charger on my motorbike.

This is the one I used on my wifes MK2,   https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009YJ0QF2/    only 50mm longer than the one supplied with AA kit and I routed lead from battery over the top of radiator ( next to rad filler cap ) and through grille ... I suspect the 450mm one may have been OK.  Is the battery nearer front grille on MK2 I wonder ?

Here is a pair of 600mm ( 2 foot ) leads - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Connector-Disconnect-Terminal-Motorbike-Tractors/dp/B096XBP47N/

[Jocko]

Even 2ft might be a bit short, by the time I route it around the engine.

[culzean]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extension-Battery-Disconnect-Connect-Connectors/dp/B07MYHCZP5/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

3 foot extension ( EDIT - link updated )

[Jocko]

That page doesn't load for some reason. I have ordered bits up, including a 20A inline fuse, to protect the battery/prevent a fire in the event of the wiring getting damaged/front end collision.

[culzean]

That page doesn't load for some reason. I have ordered bits up, including a 20A inline fuse, to protect the battery/prevent a fire in the event of the wiring getting damaged/front end collision.

I changed the fuse in all my direct to battery leads to 5 amp,  after all the charger is only 1.5 amps.

[Jocko]

I opted for the four amp charger but the 20 amp fuse was what the holder came with. I have a box of fuses so I will probably use a 10 amp.

[Jocko]

All my bits and pieces arrived today from the forest in South America. Unfortunately, the AA Charger is no longer fitted with SAE connectors so it won't connect to the other cables. Looks like a job for Professor Bodgeit.

[culzean]

That is terrible,  why have an industry standard SAE connector and then go away from standard - IIRC  CTEK had different plugs as well,  The Amazon site clearly shows the black SAE connectors on the AA charger though.   This looks like another electric car 'lets all have different plugs' scenario. 

[UKjim]

That is terrible,  why have an industry standard SAE connector and then go away from standard - IIRC  CTEK had different plugs as well,  The Amazon site clearly shows the black SAE connectors on the AA charger though.   This looks like another electric car 'lets all have different plugs' scenario.

Yes, CTEK have their own, similar to SAE but not the same.




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[Geordielad]

A word of warning about the Ctek Mxs5 charger. A common fault was a sticky mode button which was easily fixed by opening it up by removing 4 screws, turning the innards over and spraying the button with a contact switch cleaner. Easy!
In their wisdom the newer version has no removable back and short of using a hammer and chisel there’s no access to the circuit board so no easy fix.
Why haven’t they heard of ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’
At least mine is stuck on the mode I want to use so still usable.

[Jocko]

Thanks. I opted for the AA charger instead of the CTEK.

[guest4871]

A word of warning about the Ctek Mxs5 charger. A common fault was a sticky mode button which was easily fixed by opening it up by removing 4 screws, turning the innards over and spraying the button with a contact switch cleaner. Easy!
In their wisdom the newer version has no removable back and short of using a hammer and chisel there’s no access to the circuit board so no easy fix.
Why haven’t they heard of ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’
At least mine is stuck on the mode I want to use so still usable.

I wish I had known that  before

[Kremmen]

I've never changed the mode on my CTEK MSX3.8 so no idea if that does the same.