Which Battery Charger
Submitted: Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 10:48
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Member - Duncs
This has probably been discussed but I had a look through the archive and could not find exactly what I am looking for.
It is time to replace the battery charger. I am reasonably sure that Ctek is the way to go but which one.
I have a 2001 GU 4.2 Turbo Diesel. I run two cranking batteries connected via a small Rotronics isolator. I have a third cranking battery in the camper.
I would like to use the charger to maintain the battery in the camper while it is not being used. I have also had problems with the aux battery in the car. The car just doesn't run for long enough to fully charge both batteries when the fridge is being used around town. My car also, occasionally sits for long periods, up to 1 month, without use, so the charger may get some use there.
The charger would also get some use maintaining batteries in the 2 four cylinder cars that frequent
my home.
So like I said Ctek seems to be the way to go but there are a lot of models in the range and they are not cheap so I want to buy the right one.
So if those of you who know could provide me with some suggestions and reasons why I would be very happy. I am not a complete dummy but I am not an electronics guru either so if you could explain it to me without to much technical detail that would be appreciated.
Thanks
Duncs
Reply By: Matt(WA) - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:22
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:22
Duncs,
I went with a 25 amp ctek. I got it off ebay for nearly $200 less than battery world and the 12v
shop over here could do it for. They didn't believe me when I told them what I could get it for. The guy selling them on ebay gave me a correct tax invoice and its a Australian delivery charger($370 if I remember correctly). Anyway its a great charger and has worked really
well for me.
Matt
AnswerID:
428125
Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:29
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:29
$370 seems a bit expensive - especially from ebay. I think our price may be better...
FollowupID:
698812
Follow Up By: Matt(WA) - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:05
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:05
Well your price on your website is $465. The price I paid was inclusive of express post?
FollowupID:
698817
Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:15
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:15
Matt,
His present price is showing as: $ 456
25 amp cteck battery charger
0bviously he will sell it below '$370' delivered - to make it "better" :)
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
698818
Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:15
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:15
sorry - my cock up. I looked at the 15amp price and yes you are right, it is priced at $456. 15amp @ $340.
nobody's perfect...
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:23
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:23
Watt's ain't watt's apparently, welcome to the real world :-)
As for '
grey' imports I would think if they come with the written 5 year warranty paperwork they would have to be honored by the manufacturer?
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
698827
Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:31
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:31
thanks for sending people to our site - and I believe our prices are some of the best you'll find for CTEK. With a full 5 year warranty and back up - unlike parrallel imported chargers.
FollowupID:
698828
Follow Up By: olcoolone - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:27
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:27
5 year warranty on the Ctek 25000? are you sure...If that's the case it's better to buy of you as you get an extra 3 years warrant for not much more.
FollowupID:
698852
Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 20:00
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 20:00
Direct from link to webpage;
Charging Efficiency: 85%
CTEK two ( 2 ) year warranty applies
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
698862
Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 08:28
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 08:28
referring to the M models - if you read my posts you would see I state that the M200 & 300 come with 5 year warranty.
FollowupID:
698911
Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:33
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:33
I believe we are all referring to the XS25000
$456 Cteck charger
Even you have acknowledged in your post "I looked at the 15amp price and yes you are right, it is priced at $456, nobody's perfect..."
It clearly states the XS25000 has a Charging Efficiency of 85% - with a 2 year warranty
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:40
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:40
but the M series - M300 which is $456 has a five year warranty
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Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:58
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 14:58
I say again, the "M" series is not what we are talking about
your ONLY reference, above this post, is with the XS25000
By your number of cockups (your terminology) you're obviously very new to this technology
What is it they say, 'we learn by our mistakes' :)
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
698987
Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 15:18
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 15:18
and what I'm saying, is why not consider the M series - same price with a 5yr
warranty...
FollowupID:
698990
Reply By: Brian Purdue - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:24
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:24
I am facinated by the number of cars and batteries. Is there a story to be told?Why does your car need two batteries? Do you leave the refridgerator running while the car is garaged for a month?
Interesting.
AnswerID:
428126
Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:47
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:47
I think he is saying that he has two cranking batteries type in the truck, like a lot of us do, One of them being used as a second accessories battery, not used to actually crank the engine over.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: WATTS2C - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:24
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:24
We would recommend the marine or M series - they come with a five year warranty so you know that they'll last.
The M200 is a great charger at a reasonable price - the M300 is around $100 dearer but will fast charge.
Either which way, you'll be getting a good charger.
MH
AnswerID:
428127
Reply By: JustinWelsh - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:37
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:37
Hi Duncs,
First of all I will say that i am biased towards CTEK as we are one of the Australian Distributors.
To suit your application I would suggest the CTEK M300. This is a 25amp charger, suitable for charging both crank and deep cycle batteries of the size (N70Z - fitted in patrols)you have. It will charge these batteries quite quickly but is still in the size range as not to be pumping too high of a amperage into these size flooded, MF or AGM batteries.
The best thing about the M300 is it also comes with the M300 starter, which is a seperate 0.8amp charger, which in your case is perfect to be left connected to your vehicle as it sits at home, or on the smaller vehicles when your are out on the road.
Both these units are included in the one pack and come with a 5 year warranty.
Cheers,
Justin
AnswerID:
428130
Follow Up By: JustinWelsh - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:48
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:48
Might i also ad that beware of CTEK's on ebay. Even though you have a tax invoice we as a distributor have not supplied these items and due to our serial number tracking we will not warrant faulty units
We do support stores with a
shop front and staff with a true understanding of your needs and requirements and will back these customer up with warranty and technical support.
Watts 2C is a prime example of one of these retailers and we are happy to support both them and there customers.
Cheers,
Justin
FollowupID:
698815
Follow Up By: ModSquad - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:55
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:55
Justin,
Good to see you on the
Forum.
Can we ask that you continue to support our Business Members as you have done so in the above follow up. We would much rather people engage you on the
forum rather than offline as we feel you have a lot to offer in the way of technical advice that may
well answer multiple user queries rather than the ones who directly contact you.
Regards
The ModSquad
FollowupID:
698822
Follow Up By: ModSquad - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:10
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:10
Justin, sorry, we should also have mentioned that whilst you are welcome to respond to posts in this manner, the
Forum Rules state you cannot include a link to your website in your reply, as this then becomes self-promotion (because ExplorOz sells advertising to those interested in links). Perhaps look at the features of Business
Membership if you are interested to do more with the EO audience.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: WATTS2C - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:32
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:32
thanks for your words of wisdom...
MH
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Follow Up By: JustinWelsh - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 17:58
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 17:58
Thanks Modsquad,
That is fair. Thanks for the advice.
Cheers,
Justin
FollowupID:
698845
Reply By: Member - warren h (SA) - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:59
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 13:59
Hi Duncs,
I have a cteck 25 amp charger it is set up permanently in my caravan and keeps the caravan battery charged all the time whilst I am on power, if I am away from power I either get out the gennie or if its sunny get out the portable solar panels which do not go through the cteck, if I
park the landcruiser near to the van I have a lead coming from the cteck which then charges the 3 batteries I have in that vehicle, also can charge this set up with solar or through the cteck with gennie.
This system has been in place for 2years and the cteck has never missed a beat and have never had a flat battery, constantly check the state of my batteries as am very mindfull of the problems caused by running them too low, they are all AGMS.
Hope this information is helpfull, I realise every body has differing opinions on this subject but just relaying what has worked for me.
The model cteck I have is the Multi XS 25000.
Cheers Warren
AnswerID:
428131
Reply By: friar - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:57
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 14:57
Hello Duncs,I have the 20amp charger frm ABR,I
camp for up to 3 weeks in the same place, running a couple of lights & a 40 ltr & 60 ltr fridge, the 60 on freese with 200amp hour of battery storage, I run the charger on a1 kva yamaha genny about 4 to 5 hrs every 24hrs, very happy with the chargers performance. Friar.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Battery Value Pty Ltd - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:14
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 15:14
Hello Duncs,
first things first:
does the charger conform to Australian Law?
Check for the c-tick logo, and the Australian approval number which must be printed on the charger.
If not, there could be dire consequences if insurance gets involved.
And these credentials are supplier specific.
So even if supplier B (
grey import) offers you exactly the same product as supplier A (with the Australian approval number), the product from supplier B could cause insurance wipe out, while the product from supplier A won't cause you any problems.
Then, ask yourself the question why people (not only sellers, but users too) want to talk you into buying something which is over-priced.
They want you to
fork over a substantial amount of money, while other brands offering at least the same level of quality, and features, still cost 100 bucks less.
There is more information in my profile.
cheers, Peter
AnswerID:
428140
Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 16:01
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 16:01
Peter,
Please name a some of these Manufacturers you supply "conforming to Australian Law and having the c-tick logo and the Australian approval number printed on the charger"
Then we can make direct comparison
Maîneÿ . . .
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Follow Up By: JustinWelsh - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:19
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:19
I cannot name a single charger from anyone that has aust approvals listed on the charger itself. C-tick yes, as it is reconised world wide.
Aust approvals for all relevent products are available from the distributor if required, or in alot of cases are printed in the manuals or on the product documents.
As for advise on on "overpriced" products, i would like to know what your definition of overpriced is as Im sure almost all owners of both CTEK and the other brands of high quality and high performance chargers would agree that they have purchased a good VALUE charger for their requirment.
Yes some chargers are a higher price then others, but use this as an example. A Tata will tow a 2 tonne boat or camper, but im sure it wont do it from the same lenght of time as a 75 series land crusier. Again one is cheaper then the other. But one has a much better warranty rate then then other, has a network of service and sales dealers around the country, has a long history of reliability and is
well respected in the industry. The other cheaper option does not. Much is the same with some brands of battery chargers.
Cheers,
Justin
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 20:15
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 20:15
Justin, you should address your reply/question direct to the person concerned, not just openly ask in a reply, as it appears your asking me questions :-)
I read your message "As for advise on on 'overpriced' products" which I did not say.
I'm sure you will find this will keep the question & it's replies relevant.
Maîneÿ . . .
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:34
Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:34
Duncs,
Besides the issue of a battery charger, you may like to consider changing the auxiliary battery over to a deep cycle battery, preferably the AGM type.
Starting batteries are just not designed to operate by supplying a constant amp drain over a prolonged period. This may be why you are experiencing problems.
A low voltage device is also a worthwhile investment to protect the battery from too much discharge. You can by one for $25 from Derek at
Sidewinder. Derek is a business member of this site.
Bill.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 09:39
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010 at 09:39
Thanks everyone for your input.
I had already decided to go for a CTek because a mate of
mine who is a very good spanner man recommended the brand. He is very fussy and did a lot of research into which charger to get. His application is considerably different to
mine, so the charger he uses would not necessarily be right for me.
I now have enough information to make an informed choice on the size/model I will get.
Father's day is coming.
Thanks again
Duncs
AnswerID:
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