jonnyboy82

iTrader: (10)

My car battery charger has just given so its time for a new one. Any recommendations guys?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

CTEK MXS 5.0

Just bought one. You can get good deals, but beware of buying from someone who isn't a dealer or they say they won't honour the 5-year warranty. I paid £58 or so.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

CTEK

Shaun

jonnyboy82

iTrader: (10)

Looking into it I cant decide whether its worth paying the extra to get the CTEK MXS 5.0 TEST AND CHARGE as opposed to the standard MXS 5.0?

Chip

CTEK every time

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Just ask yourself this: what does it do EXTRA, that you need?

Then buy whichever.

andy97

iTrader: (1)

Ctek are the best. connect and leave alone until you need to use vehicle. Test and charge features a bit gimmicky. You know if you have a battery problem if it comes back after charging

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

With regards to which CTEK model, Consider this:

To test alternators you need to measure AC ripple as well as voltage.
To test starting power you just measure voltage drop during cranking.
To test the battery state of charge, just measure the resting voltage after its been disconnected for a few hours.

From looking at the brochure all the start and charge does is measure the battery voltage and tells you if its good or bad. You can do all the above with a good voltmeter. So really the test and charge model IMO isn't worth the money; it doesn't even test the battery properly (i.e capacity and cranking output or any parasitic loss)

In contrast Optimate does test batteries a little better; It automatically measures voltage loss over several hours once the battery is fully charged, but in order to do so it must be disconnectd from the car. Inncidentally our £500 snap-on charger does the same but even then both don't test cranking amps or Ah capacity...we have to use a expensive Midtronics tester, and even that doesn't measure "true" capacity (Amp-hours).

Optimates are also good chargers equal to Ctek's, I have both and have no preference to either.

But to answer your question, unless you can't use a voltmeter then I think the CTEK Test and charge is a waste of money over the standard MXS5.0.

jonnyboy82

iTrader: (10)

I went for the Ctek MXS 5.0 in the end. Should be arriving early next week!

Jonnys3

Let me know how you get on with this. I'm think of getting one too.

jonnyboy82

iTrader: (10)

Will do mate, im sure you wont be dissapointed judging by the reviews. I have it in hand but not yet used it! lol

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I have one and it works well. Paid 358 delivered off ebay from a CTEK dealer.

Only thing is, I've had to print off some warnings to myself, "Warning, do not start, battery charger connected," after I nearly drove out of the garage with it connected.

jonnyboy82

iTrader: (10)

You paid how much????

Thats funny but easily done!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Damn, never noticed, yes £58

Jonnys3

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

In my defence, I've only driven it twice in the last twelve months, and it's not been in the garage in five years

boomer

I was checking the Argos website last night, and the CTEK 5 was seventy quid (£69-99) reduced from a ton (£99-99). However the small print said that it had been sold previously for thirty-something quids.

Humm, i though, maybe i'll wait until they revert to the old price..

Today, it (as per the above link) it is now simply seventy quid - with no mention of the cheaper price (presumably because it is no longer "on sale").

Welcome to the sneaky world of pricing

mb

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Yep..Tossco are the best:
"Bacon, £1.98, buy two for £4!"

And when you report it, they apologise, say they will put it right, but it'll still be there the next day.

If I used the store regularly, I'd now go equipped with a large marker pen.