MX-5 OC Forum

 The copy Ctek chargers won't charge a totally flat battery, they trickle and cycle only.

So I might have just wasted my money, I have just put the battery on charge this morning.

marpar:

 The copy Ctek chargers won't charge a totally flat battery, they trickle and cycle only.

 Hi Paul,

Marpar probably knows the Ctek better than I do, so he may well be correct. I would have thought though that it should charge up a flat battery, just like the Optimate would, but it will take a heck of a long time - maybe a week or so. I use the Optimate to charge up wet acid batteries on our other cars too. My Saab 95 Aero had a low charge around Xmas time and 24 hours on the Optimate fully charged it again - and that is a beefy 74Ah Varta. Fingers crossed for you.

 Does anyone have the specs of what a westco type battery should be reading?

Im still having concerns with mine its about 3 years old and has been charged with an optimate 4 charger , lately its been stored in a lockup with no power and only seams to last a week or so then wont start, battery terminals are good clean and tight all earths are clean including new engine earth, no alarm is fitted just an MX5 parts clock and cubby hole . nothing else is permanently live.

Readings Im getting today are :

battery voltage 12.74v at standstill, when engine running 14.3v so I take it the alternator is charging ok ?

car is used weekly but often very slow to start today I rolled it back and bumped it out of the garage . When the car has been used lately it has been on road rallies at night so lights on,  maplights on but not stopping the engine for a couple of hours  etc

Could it be the clock? if I disconnect the live feed and put a multimeter in line to it what sort of amperage should I see if its ok? would a digital clock use less amps than my manual one if so any suggestions for what fits (does the Mk2 have a digital clock?) I would want it to be lit up at night for rally use ?

Also (and it might be a clue ) the clock backlight has blown and appears to be all in one with the wires (not a removeable bulb ) any idea where I might get a replacement , Ive tried MX5 parts and they are looking into it ?

Finally has anyone fitted a cut off on the battery and would this help if so was it simple and where did you put it ? I was thinking of putting it behind the drivers seat but it could go in the boot?

marpar:

 The copy Ctek chargers won't charge a totally flat battery, they trickle and cycle only.

the Halfords trickle chargers are like this and the automatic range too , apparently according to the buyer at the head office its a safety feature as it wont dispense a charge until it gets over a certain voltage back (think it was 7volts ) so it wont charge a fully flat battery  . So I bought an Optimate 4 and that will charge a fully flat battery over 36 hours or so, and so does the Cetek one I got free with my practical classics subscription ( best deal ever !)

marpar:

 The copy Ctek chargers won't charge a totally flat battery, they trickle and cycle only.

Sorry have just re-read marpar's post, hope he means the Lidl copy chargers?

Paul

Great news, checked on the progress of the charging and it's fully charged and the car started, many thanks to all your help.

Paul

Black Magic:

marpar:

 The copy Ctek chargers won't charge a totally flat battery, they trickle and cycle only.

Sorry have just re-read marpar's post, hope he means the Lidl copy chargers?

 

Paul

 

I'm sure he does mean the COPIED  CTEKs like Lidl's.  A real CTEK has a De-sulfication phase for a flat battery and will charge it OK providing the battery is good.

Yes it is the Lidl copy.UltimateSpeed,ULG3.8 A1. After ringing the help line and reading the handbook, it has to have at least7.5v. to work. It has several modes and safety features,, it is also suitable for Absorbent Glass Mat batteries.The charger can be set to 0.8A or 3.8a, when fully charged it switches to maintenance charging mode.

 You could rig a pp9 battery (9v ) to fool it into charging the main battery .

 Both cunning and brilliant, thanks.

Phil S:

A real CTEK has a De-sulfication phase for a flat battery and will charge it OK providing the battery is good.

The battery on my sister's Clio dropped below 4.0V last winter. My CTek XS3600 brought it back to life and it has been fine ever since.

 yes but yours is a ctek not a copy both ctek and optimate will charge a fully discharged battery!

If the battery has gone flat, for the optimate to recharge the battery properly you need to take the terminals off. It knows if you havn't and doesn't do its full fix routine.

 I bought a Westco from MX5 parts in December, it has recently gone flat and doesnt seem to want to charge - I have the Lidl charger, which is showing 6v at the moment, guess I will either leave it charging for a couple of days or speak to MX5 parts about a warranty on the battery.

Swannie