One For The Techies Amongst Us B2b Competing With Solar Etc (1 Viewer)

Techno

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Not cheap and if you can get near £180 you're doing well
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...0.XCTEK+MXS+25.TRS0&_nkw=CTEK+MXS+25&_sacat=0

Some sellers are quoting 40-300ah but CTEK......
The CTEK MXS 25 is a fully automatic 8-step charger that delivers 25A to 12V batteries from 40-500Ah. The charger is IP 44 classified (outdoor use), designed to protect vehicle electronics and non-sparking, reverse polarity protected and short-circuit proof. It is delivered with a 2-year warranty.

The CTEK MXS 25 is equipped with all necessary features and functions to solve a broad range of battery related problems. It offers features such as battery diagnosis that shows if a battery can receive and retain a charge, a special reconditioning function that restores stratified and deeply discharged batteries, unique maintenance charging and a temperature sensor for optimised charging regardless of the weather conditions. It also has a power supply mode which allows the battery to be disconnected from the vehicle without losing important configurations.
 
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hilldweller

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I disagree with the style/looks comment but I do think the connections leave a bit to be desired as they leave exposed metal parts which are live(+12V) on two of them.
D.

It's a small point I know but when units link together the cases should fit and and connections should be plug/socket or hidden when the lids are on.

Add the mains charger ( which does not fully integrate electronically ) and the whole thing looks a collection of bits.

It's a shame, it's clearly a good product.
 

Abacist

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Techno

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My only gripe with the CTEK units is the terminals being exposed metal
I found this picture which shows the terminal nuts as partially insulated and the busbar links too.
$_57.JPG
 

Ivory55

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If you have more then one battery can you connect the ctek to just one battery and the charge will spread between them or is it a lead on each battery ?
 

Techno

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If you have more then one battery can you connect the ctek to just one battery and the charge will spread between them or is it a lead on each battery ?
If your batteries are connected together they are effectively one battery

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Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
I have been using the CTEK MXS 25 for 2 years now (hard wired in). When on EHU or MH parked at home in the garage and only use it and not the build in charger (which I have switched off). So far so good expensive yes but worth it I think.
 

Abacist

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Could you not cover the units with a rubber pad like for example a rear seat car mat, cut to size, so that nothing can fall on it and cause a short.

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Techno

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I don't think it's necessary IMHO
The bare part of the links is covered by the insulated terminal nuts
 

dave newell

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Could you not cover the units with a rubber pad like for example a rear seat car mat, cut to size, so that nothing can fall on it and cause a short.


Yes of course you could, I generally try to install them in a position that protects them but it wouldn't be too difficult for CTEK to make them fully insulated.

D.
 
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Video made by our very own @Wissel I believe.

An excellent bit of kit if converting from scratch, or bypassing an existing rubbish system. The only limitation is that multiple solar panels must be connected in parallel, as it's limited to 22V input from the panels (or it was when I looked at it couple of years ago). This won't be a limitation for most people, unless trying to harvest the last scrap of available power.

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Sep 23, 2013
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My favourite multimeter with with DC current measurement up to 100 amps
Easiest way to evidence what is going on
View attachment 95127
I got one of those following your earlier recommendation & agree it's excellent value. My Schaudt control panel was suggesting that my starter battery was sitting at an uncomfortably low voltage during the hours of darkness, so I was using it yesterday to confirm the true battery resting voltage - the control panel does appear to read low.

I also used it during the day to check that my solar panels were not just raising the battery voltage, but were actually generating useful current even on an overcast winter's day - not much, but more than enough to keep everything topped up.
 

Techno

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It's extremely accurate and you see it pictured measuring the 1.1 Amps that a vanbitz battery master transfers
But not in that picture quoted
 

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