 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Battery charger |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17605   
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I use a couple of CTEK MXS-5 chargers for the smaller vehicles (Defender, Disco, etc) and a CTEK MXS-25 for the larger vehicles.
I have never had a single regret about this choice, they are not cheap, but they are really, really, hard to beat. The only problem I have had with these (and other, for that matter) smart chargers is that if you have a totally flat AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery of the type typically found on ATVs and motorbikes the smart charger won't charge it, I think the charger cannot detect that the battery is there at all. For these, I usually give them a blast on my old and totally-non-smart charger, and as soon as they have some life the CTEK will then charge them in the usual way. Something to do with the characteristics of AGM batteries I believe. |
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18th Oct 2017 1:33pm |
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| SteveG Member Since: 29 Nov 2011 Location: Norfolk Posts: 663 
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I have a Noco genius g7200, and so far it’s been very good, especially at recovering dead batteries. Does maintenance too.
Was a lot more cost effective when I bought one last year, now seems to have jumped by about £25. Cheers, Steve |
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18th Oct 2017 3:15pm |
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| Coatesyyy Member Since: 07 Sep 2017 Location: Knutsford Posts: 423
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+1 Airflow
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18th Oct 2017 3:17pm |
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| smb Member Since: 15 Jan 2013 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1232 
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Ive gone through about a dozen different types over the years, but since buying a ctek mxs-10 and then adding a mxs-25 they're the only make I will get from now on although I don't expect to have to replace them. Plus Martin(forum owner) offers some handy little accessories for the ctek too. As BW states, they're not cheap, but they're a lot less than all the others Ive wasted money on and they manage to revitalise a dead battery in a fraction of the time that some of the more expensive commercial chargers take.
 CTEK all the way |
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18th Oct 2017 3:39pm |
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| tolley Member Since: 07 Nov 2011 Location: gloucester Posts: 1117 
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Do ctek, do a 6v 12v combined charger
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18th Oct 2017 4:12pm |
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| Swine&Small Member Since: 20 Mar 2017 Location: Norfolk Posts: 1223
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What are theses accessories and where are they published ? Thanks Swine 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue 1967 Morris Traveller 1966 Morris Convertible 2012 VW T5 Camper Quod Abundat Non Obstat. |
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18th Oct 2017 4:43pm |
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| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6641 
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Site shop: https://www.disco3.co.uk/shop/tow-electric...c-p45.html
 1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
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18th Oct 2017 6:07pm |
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| Swine&Small Member Since: 20 Mar 2017 Location: Norfolk Posts: 1223
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Thanks Martin
Swine 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue 1967 Morris Traveller 1966 Morris Convertible 2012 VW T5 Camper Quod Abundat Non Obstat. |
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18th Oct 2017 8:52pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3787  
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I have a MXS5. How would I use it to charge the battery on our '13 90?
I mean, do I remove seat base & then connect to battery terminals,..would this do damage, do i disconnect battery,..then what do I have to do with respect to reconnection, or do you guys have a charge point somewhere on your vehicle,..presumably this has some sort of lead permanently connected to the battery, and if this is used when charging (I think I've asked this before), does the seat box cover have to be up for ventilation etc? Pickles. |
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18th Oct 2017 9:04pm |
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| Swine&Small Member Since: 20 Mar 2017 Location: Norfolk Posts: 1223
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Hi Pickles. I have had an auxiliary 12 volt power point. (cigarette lighter type) added to my dash to power a sat nav/ dash cam,and this is a live feed not connected via the ignition so I connect my Ctek via this.
Hope this helps Swine 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue 1967 Morris Traveller 1966 Morris Convertible 2012 VW T5 Camper Quod Abundat Non Obstat. |
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19th Oct 2017 1:18am |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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Pickles, did you forget about your old thread? 
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic26067.html?highlight=ctek+12s All answers to your question are in there. If I remember well from your pictures, your truck is either garaged or under a covered carport at your house, so think easiest is to ask your dealer to install the 12S electrics to your truck and then order the Ctek adapter from Martin. You can then very easily top up or maintain your battery without even having to open your truck, same as I do. Full details also in below topic. http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic20342.html?highlight=ctek 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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19th Oct 2017 2:53am |
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| Screbble Member Since: 26 Apr 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2109 
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Really helpful thread chaps
As my second optimate is now going to be buried in the garden next to the hamsters, I feel it is time to take the plunge and purchase a CTEK
Lots of good feedback about these beyond the forum also. Cheers, Will |
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22nd Oct 2017 7:41am |
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| zsd-puma Member Since: 09 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Posts: 2720 
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I've found that with totally flat batteries in general. The old style brute force chargers seem capable of reviving some completely dead batteries that the various smart chargers can't. I think the smart chargers work by measuring the battery voltage and use that to decided how much power to pump out, if they can't see a voltage they assume there's no battery there. Probably doesn't do the battery much good doing that in the long term, but it can get you out of trouble in the short term. |
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22nd Oct 2017 3:27pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443  
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I've managed to rejuvinate flat batteries by putting some jump leads across a decent battery then charging them both together. My el cheapo Aldi special has done well using this method
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22nd Oct 2017 6:58pm |
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