MB appproved battery charger/maintainer: CTEK - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

shertex · #31 06-05-2019, 04:38 PM

Worked perfectly. Took a looooong time at stage 2. Getting a little impatient, I jumped it and drove it around for half an hour. Whereupon it was at stage 3. Took another 15 hours or so but got completely charged. I was wondering what would happen at stage 5, analysis. But it sailed right through.

That thing is a great little charger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronometers

Let us know....I'm guessing it will work.

I used one to bring back from the dead a MB battery that had sat in a CDI all winter here in OH. It took awhile but it did the job and the battery is still going strong 18 months later.

Here is a new 4.3 amp charger at a super price for those in looking for one:

Ctek Battery Charger MXS 5.0 40-206 12 Volt 4.3A

tjts1 · #32 06-05-2019, 04:43 PM

Generic harbor freight charger works just as well.

chronometers · #33 06-06-2019, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Generic harbor freight charger works just as well.

Wouldn't trust any charger except Ctek on newer models with sensitive electronics. Ctek is MB approved (also approved by Ferarri, Corvette, Maserattis, Bentley....you get the picture). Too much chance of frying electronics or overcharging and boiling a battery away.

As far as I know, Ctek is only MB approved charger out there.

tjts1 · #34 06-06-2019, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronometers

Wouldn't trust any charger except Ctek on newer models with sensitive electronics. Ctek is MB approved (also approved by Ferarri, Corvette, Maserattis, Bentley....you get the picture). Too much chance of frying electronics or overcharging and boiling a battery away.

As far as I know, Ctek is only MB approved charger out there.

That's effective marketing at work right there. Same with that little Mobil1 sticker they put on the radiator support if newer MBs. Advertising dollars at work keep the fools spending their money's because (insert corporation name here) endorsed it.

Diseasel300 · #35 06-06-2019, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

That's effective marketing at work right there. Same with that little Mobil1 sticker they put on the radiator support if newer MBs. Advertising dollars at work keep the fools spending their money's because (insert corporation name here) endorsed it.

Ain't that the truth.

If adding a battery charger/maintainer fries the electronics in (insert car brand) vehicles, then their electronics techs need to go back to school. The noise and voltage variation from the alternator (and I don't care how well it's controlled/regulated) is going to exceed that of even the cheapest battery charger/maintainer.

shertex · #36 06-06-2019, 01:14 PM

Funny what people love to argue about....

For many years I had a Battery Tender Plus...no complaints.

Whatever marketing hype there may be, the CTEK was worth my buying for at least these reasons: (1) higher amperage, (2) distinct charging stages that can be monitored (I realize there may be chargers that charge in stages without displaying the stages), (3) the analysis as to whether the battery can keep a charge at stage 5, (4) the reconditioning program (although that doesn't matter with AGM it's nice to have for FLA), and (5) the quick connects...which is a GREAT convenience feature for batteries that live in the trunk.

I will add that, post purchase, customer support has been great...when I discovered that the quick connects that came with the unit weren't ideally sized for the CDI AGM terminals, CTEK sent me not one but two for free.

Diseasel300 · #37 06-06-2019, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Funny what people love to argue about....

For many years I had a Battery Tender Plus...no complaints.

Whatever marketing hype there may be, the CTEK was worth my buying for at least these reasons: (1) higher amperage, (2) distinct charging stages that can be monitored (I realize there may be chargers that charge in stages without displaying the stages), (3) the analysis as to whether the battery can keep a charge at stage 5, (4) the reconditioning program (although that doesn't matter with AGM it's nice to have for FLA), and (5) the quick connects...which is a GREAT convenience feature for batteries that live in the trunk.

Definitely "funny". 4.3A is literally nothing when it comes to a battery charger. It won't revive a flat FLA battery, not enough current to redissolve the sulfate built up on the plates. The charging "phases" are a gimmick too. Any modern charger goes through the same steps and doesn't bother with the readout. The battery is good or bad, that's all you actually care about.

My 12A Schumacher was under $50 delivered to my house, has ALL of the features of the CTEK except the stage readout thing, has saved multiple "dead" batteries in its life, and will recharge a "dead" FLA battery in 4-6 hours. It lights up the green light when the battery is charged and in "maintenance" mode, or lights up the red light when it determines the battery is toast. Easy.

shertex · #38 06-06-2019, 01:45 PM

The nice thing about the phases is that you can know when there's enough of a charge to start the car...not a gimmick at all. Realistically you don't always have the time to wait for a full charge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

Definitely "funny". 4.3A is literally nothing when it comes to a battery charger. It won't revive a flat FLA battery, not enough current to redissolve the sulfate built up on the plates. The charging "phases" are a gimmick too. Any modern charger goes through the same steps and doesn't bother with the readout. The battery is good or bad, that's all you actually care about.

My 12A Schumacher was under $50 delivered to my house, has ALL of the features of the CTEK except the stage readout thing, has saved multiple "dead" batteries in its life, and will recharge a "dead" FLA battery in 4-6 hours. It lights up the green light when the battery is charged and in "maintenance" mode, or lights up the red light when it determines the battery is toast. Easy.

chronometers · #39 06-06-2019, 06:17 PM

Ctek was tested and approved by MB. I prefer to use approved products on these cars especially the newer models.