 | Home > Off Topic > Trickle Charger recommendations |
 
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| Venomator Member Since: 25 Aug 2014 Location: Peterborough Posts: 2087  
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So, from all of the above, is it safe to say this is the one to go for...
CTEK MXS 10 And, is this a decent price to pay for it - £105 > Amazon CTEK MXS 10 ...  Rog...
The GREEN One... MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color] |
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11th Dec 2015 4:39pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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The MXS 3.8 would more than suffice if it's just for the Defender with it's OEM 80 Ah battery, but if you want to spend more then that's got an excellent spec
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11th Dec 2015 5:51pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8018  
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For the last 15yrs I have used an air flow battery conditioner. Works well, I have three of these plus one 24v one too. I also have four optimate battery conditioners, again they work well. Ask of them are charging numax batteries and heart been faultless.
 Cheers
James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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11th Dec 2015 6:11pm |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2658
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CTEK in my garage. WOrks well on LR and quad batts alike. Well worth the money I spent
110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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11th Dec 2015 9:35pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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^^X2 And it really works a treat via Martin's adaptor and the 12S plug. Don't even have to unlock the truck anymore to charge.
Now, as to the choice of Ctek, I always hear that charging slow is better for a battery than fast. So think that for the standard battery which (in my Puma 2.4) is a Varta Profesional Deep Cycle Marine Leisure , 90Ah/800CCA, code LFD90, the MXS 5.0 is sufficiently large. Matter of fact, I also have for ages already a smaller Ctek XS 0.8 which is for the garden tractor battery, and that also perfectly charges and maintains the Puma battery. Don't see why a Ctek MXS 10 would be any better than the medium sized MXS 5.0. The MXS 10 is listed as good for charging of batteries upto 200Ah and maintenance upto 300Ah. The same numbers for the MXS 5.0 are listed as respectively 110Ah/160Ah. Seems spot on. By the way, my original battery is now more than 7 years old. Dealer a few weeks ago tested the battery condition, and all individual cells are still in perfect condition, no need to think of replacing yet.
Eric For those who may not know Martin's Ctek adaptor yet, here's a picture. The 12S plug has a permanent live to the battery which the standard 12N towing plug does not have, so you would have to install the 12S additionally. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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12th Dec 2015 4:51am |
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| SailingTom Member Since: 19 Nov 2013 Location: ESSEX Posts: 1720
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 That tow bar looks worn out Eric think you better replace it  |
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12th Dec 2015 12:57pm |
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| jeffersj Member Since: 23 Jan 2015 Location: Near Preston Posts: 431 
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Just bought a new model MX5.00 Ctek from ebay at £58, free delivery, with the comfort connector as well as the clip and the rubber protector (buffer or bumper) thrown in.
Already used and very impressed. Jeff Ex 1968 Series 2A Ex 90 TD5 Ex D3 Ex D4 |
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12th Dec 2015 1:05pm |
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| Venomator Member Since: 25 Aug 2014 Location: Peterborough Posts: 2087
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Many thanks for the insightful comments Eric, much appreciated... 
As I do not have the luxury of a garage, or even a car port, my only real option would be to use Martin's adaptor, but from what you have said, I will not be able to use my trailer socket, is this a fact? ... 
I am also assuming the entire set up is weatherproof as the leads and unit will be exposed to the elements while attached to the truck via the back end... 
Apologies for all the questions, but I have little experience of such matters and want to ensure the Special remains in tip top in all respects, including battery life... Rog...
The GREEN One... MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color] |
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12th Dec 2015 1:22pm |
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| RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 633  
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Another Ctek convert here. I used to use a Halfords charger which has (and still does) worked faultlessly. It now resides in my basement to charge the likes of small SLABs that I have occasion to use. I fitted the Ctek charging port to my dash in place of a blank electric window switch, a very good fit after minimal trimming of the hole. I run my extension cable into the car and close the passenger door on it - the gap at the rear bottom corner is enough that the cable doesn't get damaged 👍 The charger then just sits on the floor or the tunnel - added benefit is that it is obvious here so I don't drive away with it connected as I might do if it were connected via the 12S socket (which is a very good idea by the way). Also keeps the charger nice and dry inside the car.
Click image to enlarge |
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12th Dec 2015 3:36pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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Normal trailer socket is the 7 pin 12N. No, you cannot use that for charging the battery. But you can add on the left side of the tow bar a 7 pin 12S socket. Land Rover have a version with all the wiring which is of good quality. I bought it from my dealer and they installed it too. If you don't have a car port or a garage, then I just can hope that your truck is parked in front of your house so that you can use an extension lead. Weatherproof, well, a good quality lead should be ok for rain or snow, and then just connect it to the Ctek under the truck, and put the Ctek itself also under the truck. I hope your truck is water proof enough to keep it relatively dry then.
Also if your battery is good, no need to keep the Ctek on permanently. I put it on every few weeks or so, let the battery get topped up in a few hours time, sometimes overnight, but once the green light on the Ctek comes on, you are good to disconnect and all should be fine for a few weeks at least.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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12th Dec 2015 6:16pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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haven't got a photo but the kit is shipped out with a very bright coloured card to put on the dash |
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12th Dec 2015 8:44pm |
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| g-dog-s Member Since: 27 Aug 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 16  
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Click image to enlarge Re: I do not have the luxury of a garage, or even a car port, my only real option would be to use Martin's adaptor, but from what you have said, I will not be able to use my trailer socket, is this a fact? ... Big Cry If you have 13 pin tow electrics these have a full loom connected to the battery which means there is a permanent live in the socket wired with good enough cable to take the charging current. See pic above of what I use The connectors and Martin's plug are waterproof but I cover the charger and mains plug. The plug is very good quality and comes with the green "alignment tool" included |
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12th Dec 2015 9:48pm |
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| AWOL Member Since: 31 Oct 2013 Location: UK Posts: 222 |
I have a few trickle chargers, mainly Cteks but a couple of the Aldi ones too (there is an uncanny resemblance here to the slightly older Cteks I have).
I went one stage further than Martin's adapter and have one of mine running via approx 6m of 4mm arctic cable terminating in a 13pin plug (which can go directly into the Landy if needed). Have also made a further adapter comprising 13pin flying socket to cigar lighter adapter (with conventional Ctek cable in between) to allow other vehicles, without towing electrics, to be hooked up on the drive. I'm not knocking Martin's product, which is ideal if you can keep the charger <-> vehicle distances short, but I was a little wary of the voltage drop I'd experience using multiple Ctek extensions to get from a charger in the garage out to the back of a car parked "nose in" on the drive (and I didn't fancy leaving 240v lying around to potentially help scrotes power kit that could then be used to steal the car!). |
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13th Dec 2015 8:24am |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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Only cut the holes lower and have the charger hanging higher up in the bucket. |
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13th Dec 2015 9:33am |
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