charging battery.

[DMK/Happy]

Can I connect trickle charger to the battery without removing a lead? think battery is down a bit in this heavy frost - 3.Threw it into a/t limp mode this morning second and reverse only , got it back out,went back to limp in the afternoon again and got it cleared again for use. No shop open here until next Mon 4th.Interest and advice appreciated.

 

[Blobcat]

You can connect a battery conditioner with everything else connected. It’s what I do with 5 of mine
(Just remember to disconnect before you drive away...)

 

[DMK/Happy]

You can connect a battery conditioner with everything else connected. It’s what I do with 5 of mine
(Just remember to disconnect before you drive away...)

Thank you for advising,will connect up in the morning for 4 hours and see if its a permanent fix,if not its definately a trip to diagnostics and have a full check.

 

[sonic]

If your charger has a meter reading amps, leave it on until the charge drops to 0 amps.
Most chargers max output is about 6 amps output. Assuming your battery is a 70AH half charged is 35 amps. So you need 6 hours at 6 amps to fully charge it.

 

[DMK/Happy]

If your charger has a meter reading amps, leave it on until the charge drops to 0 amps.
Most chargers max output is about 6 amps output. Assuming your battery is a 70AH half charged is 35 amps. So you need 6 hours at 6 amps to fully charge it.

I would guess the battery is down about 20 percent or so telling by starter crank,I hope it is the battery,looks new.

 

[DMK/Happy]

What settings would be lost if the battery was disconnected?

 

[jakewise]

You can connect a battery conditioner with everything else connected. It’s what I do with 5 of mine
(Just remember to disconnect before you drive away...)

Assuming it is not a battery conditioner but a battery charger, will it not damage anything if we continue to charge it without disconnecting the negative terminal? I have read some post in other forums that we should remove the negative terminal from the battery first before charging.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Assuming it is not a battery conditioner but a battery charger, will it not damage anything if we continue to charge it without disconnecting the negative terminal? I have read some post in other forums that we should remove the negative terminal from the battery first before charging.

If you buy a CTEK charger they don’t overload the system and can be used with battery terminal connected (there are others). I’ve just bought a CTEK MSX 7.0 which I’m very pleased with it charges at no more than the alternator rate so 14.4V

 

[Tony Dyson]

What settings would be lost if the battery was disconnected?

It varies by model but in the end it would only be a matter of going through a few resetting procedures if any were lost, there were no settings lost on mine at all, read the OM of your charger/conditioner and if any of the settings apply a voltage in excess of 14.8 v disconnect the battery N from the car body, some charger/conditioners have an auto desulphation stage as a pre treatment that use voltages in excess of 14.8 v which isn't good for either the car or AGM batteries. If you're unsure disconnect the battery you'll have nothing to lose!.

 

[rorywquin]

Assuming it is not a battery conditioner but a battery charger, will it not damage anything if we continue to charge it without disconnecting the negative terminal? I have read some post in other forums that we should remove the negative terminal from the battery first before charging.

My manual says to connect the charger to the jump start points & does not differentiate between charger/conditioner .........What does your's say?

The CTEK that I have is a charger & conditioner. CTEK chargers are also sold as MB chargers with a MB badge (and many other top marques for that matter).

Most important is to select the correct battery charge regime. I suspect that many people have damaged AGM batteries by using outdated chargers or the wrong mode.

 

[Tony Dyson]

My manual says to connect the charger to the jump start points & does not differentiate between charger/conditioner .........What does your's say?

The CTEK that I have is a charger & conditioner. CTEK chargers are also sold as MB chargers with a MB badge (and many other top marques for that matter).

Most important is to select the correct battery charge regime. I suspect that many people have damaged AGM batteries by using outdated chargers or the wrong mode.

Agreed, but what became apparent on another thread recently is that the CTEK MB version doesn't include the desulphation pre stage that some CTEK models incorporate and the MXS 5 I believe is one of them, not all CTEK models are the same.

 

[rorywquin]

........not all CTEK models are the same.

Obviously and I'd assume people would do a little research (simple stuff like what batteries does my car have & what does this charger do) before putting down their money.

However, you do not need desulphation on AGM batteries......

 

[Tony Dyson]

Agreed again but the point is The MXS 5 applies a 15.8v pre desulphation stage to all it's battery chemistry settings contrary to advice from MB not to exceed 14.8 v applied to a car connected battery.

 

[DMK/Happy]

Agreed again but the point is The MXS 5 applies a 15.8v pre desulphation stage to all it's battery chemistry settings contrary to advice from MB not to exceed 14.8 v applied to a car connected battery.



View attachment 64462

Connected up at lowest trickle charge setting for 6 hours,fingers crossed, good discussion on the all important issues of charging.

 

[jakewise]

My manual says to connect the charger to the jump start points & does not differentiate between charger/conditioner .........What does your's say?

The CTEK that I have is a charger & conditioner. CTEK chargers are also sold as MB chargers with a MB badge (and many other top marques for that matter).

Most important is to select the correct battery charge regime. I suspect that many people have damaged AGM batteries by using outdated chargers or the wrong mode.

What specific model is your Ctek?

 

[flowrider]

I have been using a CTEK MXS 5.0 and a CTEK MXS10 on my SL's AGM battery for over 4 years and the battery has had no damage as far as I know. Even after 4 years the battery lasts about a month between charges when the car is stored. I note that the first 4 charge status lights are lit in a very short time (seconds).

 

[Tony Dyson]

I have been using a CTEK MXS 5.0 and a CTEK MXS10 on my SL's AGM battery for over 4 years and the battery has had no damage as far as I know. Even after 4 years the battery lasts about a month between charges when the car is stored. I note that the first 4 charge status lights are lit in a very short time (seconds).[/QUOTE

A lot of MXS 5 owners have said the same and if I recall correctly the MXS 7 and 10 do not exceed 14.8 v in any of the settings but the risk is not only to any of the VRLA batteries but to the sensitive electronic components of the car, with a healthy battery, the initial desulphation mode is only momentary but if the charger detects any perceived desulphation and as you can see from the chart I posted earlier, desulphation at 15.8v can last for up to 8 Hrs. In everyone's MB Owners manual the guideline is not to exceed 14.8v This is the spec of an MB branded CTEK charger.

 

[rorywquin]

Agreed again but the point is The MXS 5 applies a 15.8v pre desulphation stage to all it's battery chemistry settings contrary to advice from MB not to exceed 14.8 v applied to a car connected battery.
View attachment 64462

With the CTEK, Desulphation does not happen on AGM batteries as they do not suffer from this problem & is why they are ideal for deep discharge and standing unused for long periods without maintenence.

The "Desulphation" phase is an "if required" phase where the charger can detect the condition. If (as in AGM batteries) there is none, it skips to the next phase or keeps pulsing until charging can start.

About 10 years ago when I purchased my CTEK, I had several emails to and fro with CTEK. I had several (then very expensive) AGM batteries in my off road caravan (for off grid power) and my LandCruiser which I'd fitted with an AGM auxiliary battery (also for off grid power).

 

[Tony Dyson]

A lot of MXS 5 owners have said the same and if I recall correctly the MXS 7 and 10 do not exceed 14.8 v in any of the settings but the risk is not only to any of the VRLA batteries but to the sensitive electronic components of the car, with a healthy battery, the initial desulphation mode is only momentary but if the charger detects any perceived desulphation and as you can see from the chart I posted earlier, desulphation at 15.8v can last for up to 8 Hrs. In everyone's MB Owners manual the guideline is not to exceed 14.8v This is the spec of an MB branded CTEK charger.

 

[rorywquin]

I have been using a CTEK MXS 5.0 and a CTEK MXS10 on my SL's AGM battery for over 4 years and the battery has had no damage as far as I know. Even after 4 years the battery lasts about a month between charges when the car is stored. I note that the first 4 charge status lights are lit in a very short time (seconds).

Ditto 10 years now (MXS 7) on all sorts of applications.

See post #18.