Keep your battery healthy too

[B737NGWS]

Out of interest - my wife's JCW has been sat on the drive for nearly 2weeks now so looked on the MINI website to find the battery details. Also an AGM battery in the JCW and the original charger MINI sell (and suitable for BMW) looks exactly the same as the CTEK MXS 5.0. So I guess I may have to begin to swap the charger between both cars in the very near future.

[MikeM]

My question relates to stage 8 i.e pulse charging. When does that start to happen?

Stage 8 is basically when the unit has done its job and moves into pulse charge in order to maintain the battery at 95–100% capacity. The charger monitors the battery voltage and gives a pulse when necessary to keep the battery fully charged. You can leave it connected safely for months on end with no negative effects, in fact it is maintaining the battery in full health.

[MikeM]

Out of interest - my wife's JCW has been sat on the drive for nearly 2weeks now so looked on the MINI website to find the battery details. Also an AGM battery in the JCW and the original charger MINI sell (and suitable for BMW) looks exactly the same as the CTEK MXS 5.0. So I guess I may have to begin to swap the charger between both cars in the very near future.

Not seen the mini branded one but can confirm the Porsche and BMW Branded units are made by CTEK.

[Fairynuff]

I have had my battery on charge now (CTEK 5) for a full 3 days and it is still on 6 and unless it got up to 8 and then went back down to 6 it has never got past 6!

I have disconnected and re-connected and will give it another 24 hours and if it still has not moved beyond 6 I will try it on the wife's car to see if that gets beyond 6.

[pmg]

I have had my battery on charge now (CTEK 5) for a full 3 days and it is still on 6 and unless it got up to 8 and then went back down to 6 it has never got past 6!

I have disconnected and re-connected and will give it another 24 hours and if it still has not moved beyond 6 I will try it on the wife's car to see if that gets beyond 6.

See earlier on in thread. I had similar concerns. 1st time I charged it took several days to get to seven. The 2nd time a few hours but after a week did not reach 8 . I am on my 3rd connection and flew to 7 but still no 8 which other more experienced users say happens after weeks of connection

[Makanik]

I have had my battery on charge now (CTEK 5) for a full 3 days and it is still on 6 and unless it got up to 8 and then went back down to 6 it has never got past 6!

I have disconnected and re-connected and will give it another 24 hours and if it still has not moved beyond 6 I will try it on the wife's car to see if that gets beyond 6.

Might be worth looking closely at the lights to double check that 7 is not actually illuminated. It is of a different colour and less bright than the first six lights. (I initially got fooled by this in bright lighting conditions).

[bennachie]

7 is good. 8 is only if it has been left for ages and has begun to lose charge and has to be topped up

[Hedgehog]

This is pretty much the norm for me. Both car and bike on 7 but I guess they could go up and down as I don't monitor them that closely.

[MCDK]

Put my Ctek charger on my wife's M135i today as it hasn't been out for 2 weeks. Usually the charge keeps the Macna battery tip top but I actually using it more during this period as I will have time to clean it. Having said that the roads are very cleans as its been so dry

Also happy to let the M135i sit as the miles are at a very neat 2222.

[RGS]

I've just invested in a CTEC MXS 5.0 charger, arrived today super fast delivery complete with cigarette socket adapter. My Macan lives outside so I have to use an extension lead but I have found the extension lead can go under the boot lid which locks down without any distortion to the cable. The 12 volt socket in the boot is then ideally placed for connection to the charger, at least that's the plan !