Anyone used a Ctek battery charger ?

Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:30 pm

I'm thinking of investing in one as my cabby battery keeps on discharging through lack of use. It needs to be able to charge a battery quickly and safely and also maintain a battery over 6 months.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:21 am

I've got one Colin. Used it all last winter on the E30 and it's very good. Charged up a few batteries with it too and it gets them up to car starting ability in reasonable time.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:19 am

Been using them for years-they work very well.
One tip-sometimes "LIDL" do their own version of this kind of charger-they work exactly the same and are a fraction of the cost....worth looking out for.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:38 pm

thanks guys - what models have you been using ?

I'm thinking of the XS36000 or MX5.0.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:49 pm

I'm also thinking about getting one of these - do you have to disconnect the battery leads in order to use it or can you leave the battery connected ?

Some of these I understand work by plugging into the lighter socket rather than onto the battery itself but I don't think the E30 lighter socket is permanently live ( ?? - might be wrong ) - does this matter ?

Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:13 pm

capri_rob wrote: I don't think the E30 lighter socket is permanently live ( ?? - might be wrong ) - does this matter ?

Mine is permanently live - this does not of course mean that it should be. Very few of these have unmolested dash wiring in my experience.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:14 pm

Battery doesnt have to be disconnected to use these.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:23 pm

Make sure you get the "conditioner" as opposed to just the charger.

Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:46 pm

I've got the CTEK XS 4003 with the cigarette lighter connector.
No need to dis-connect the battery, just plug it into the cigarette lighter socket.
It works really well,there is an LED display which shows at which point the charging is.
My car was off the road for 4 weeks, and I had no problems with the battery.
Highly reccommended.
Got mine from Amazon.

Harewood House 2011

Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:58 pm

Not sure what model mine is, would need to check. Mine is a conditioner and being Scotch and Aberdonian it will be the cheapest one.

Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:34 pm

nickso wrote:Not sure what model mine is, would need to check. Mine is a conditioner and being Scotch and Aberdonian it will be the cheapest one.

Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:46 pm

ive got one with the conditioner.
great stuff, brings back dead batteries aswell

Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:49 pm

randomspeedfreak wrote:ive got one with the conditioner.
great stuff, brings back dead batteries aswell

do you happen to know which model you've got ? Cheers.

Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:22 am

Topblag wrote:
randomspeedfreak wrote:ive got one with the conditioner.
great stuff, brings back dead batteries aswell
do you happen to know which model you've got ? Cheers.

i dont have it to hand, from memory its the xs 3600. bought a few years ago

Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:36 am

Topblag wrote:thanks guys - what models have you been using ?

I'm thinking of the XS36000 or MX5.0.

I've just bought the MX5.0 which is the replacement for the 3600 and its a tad more expensive but a much better unit, it also has a good recovery program as previously mentioned. My brother has the Optimate type charger and I'm bolloxed if I can fathom out what all the flashing lights mean unlike the CTEK which is straight forward to use.