OEM Batteries

[Transporter]

Ok, you don't have the power supply mode on that Ctek model, that's why. You would have to connect battery leads(with extra wires) to the small sealed led acid battery (doesn't have to be big capacity 7-15A/hour for $30 or less should do) and also connect the Ctek leads to that small battery for continuous charging. But if you accidentally crank the engine you would kill the battery straight away.

[Maverick]

I've connected up the leads from a spare CX800 that I had lying around (charges up the ducati) and the immediate problem that leaps to mind is.. How?

How can you connect up the leads so that you can disconnect the battery whilst leaving it on charge? The nut that you have to remove from the battery terminal to screw in the CTEK connectors would also allow the CTEK connectors to flap around if you had to remove the battery later.

This works great if you want to charge the battery, but if you want to 'feed' the car whilst removing the battery, it just won't work.. As soon as you loosen the bolt to remove the clamp, the power feed line will also just fall off (or at least bounce around causing power to go on/off etc) and the car will lose power...

There must be some special clamps you can get which are seperate from the main clamp bolt, so the whole thing can stay secured if you remove the terminals from the battery....

Don't connect it to the battery, connect it to the bus bar that runs across the front of the fuse box (remove the cover and you'll see what I mean). All you need is a suitable nut to fit on the studs (it's a M5 or M6 IIRC) and fit the ground to one of the ground points below the battery (disconnect the battery if you're using one that already has a heap of ground connections to it).

I would make sure that cable has a fuse close to the bus bar in case it's shorted out.

[Transporter]

Don't connect it to the battery, connect it to the bus bar that runs across the front of the fuse box (remove the cover and you'll see what I mean). All you need is a suitable nut to fit on the studs (it's a M5 or M6 IIRC) and fit the ground to one of the ground points below the battery (disconnect the battery if you're using one that already has a heap of ground connections to it).

I would make sure that cable has a fuse close to the bus bar in case it's shorted out.

Thanks Maverick for filling in.

That's how I connected to our Golf, using also heavier wire with the 50A Anderson plug, but for most people it is the easiest way to connect right to the battery terminal(not the sefest). You can get that fuse from the Battery World (the nut is M6). Otherwise if you're connecting to the battery terminals without fuse - just make sure that the lead with that tiny connector is secured and cannot rub against something to cause a short otherwise you may have a fire under the bonnet.

Picture of the fuses on tthe front

[kryten2001]

Sweet, thanks guys...

So anything connected to that 'bar' is positive then?....

Much better way of doing things.. You can then play with the battery until your hearts content...

[NiekSavio]

The 7A Ctek (XS7000) will be more than enough for the Golf battery I'm using it to charge the battery in our Touareg as well, and it's good.

Howdy,
Got myself a Ctek XS7000 today. As I usually only do short trips, how often would you put the battery on charge? I have read the manual on 'how to' but I would like suggestions from users with real life experience using this little beauty. Thanks and regards,
NS:

[Transporter]

My T5 every 2 weeks sometimes weekly (I do many short trips). Golf and Touareg once a month.

Ctek battery charger video

[kryten2001]

My golf sits in the shed for extended periods nowadays (it's no longer my daily driver), so I'm going to leave it on constantly. Keep the battery in tip top shape.

Otherwise yeah weekly/fortnightly left overnight should be more than ample to keep the battery close to 100% I'd say.

Cracker of a charger. Hope you got it online, the aussie retailers try to rob you blind on these.

[NiekSavio]

My T5 every 2 weeks sometimes weekly (I do many short trips). Golf and Touareg once a month.

Ctek battery charger video

My golf sits in the shed for extended periods nowadays (it's no longer my daily driver), so I'm going to leave it on constantly. Keep the battery in tip top shape.

Otherwise yeah weekly/fortnightly left overnight should be more than ample to keep the battery close to 100% I'd say.

Cracker of a charger. Hope you got it online, the aussie retailers try to rob you blind on these.

Hi people,
Thank you very much for your info/advice and it is much appreciated. I purchased my Ctek from Batteries Direct Mortdale NSW after searching the InterNet. Hope I did well by spending $230.10 gst inclusive as I did see the same charger at some places for at least $60 more.
Regards,
NS

[kryten2001]

Hi people,
Thank you very much for your info/advice and it is much appreciated. I purchased my Ctek from Batteries Direct Mortdale NSW after searching the InterNet. Hope I did well by spending $230.10 gst inclusive as I did see the same charger at some places for at least $60 more.
Regards,
NS

Which one did you get?

I've seen the 4300's for about $120 online, and I got my 7000 for $209.

If you got the 7000 for that price (From a store) you did alright. Repco wanted $369 over here!

Great chargers, I love em.

[NiekSavio]

Which one did you get?

I've seen the 4300's for about $120 online, and I got my 7000 for $209.

If you got the 7000 for that price (From a store) you did alright. Repco wanted $369 over here!

Great chargers, I love em.

Yep, $230.00 from the store for the 7000 so I guess that I did not do too bad

[stephen8512]

I'm thinking about upgrading my OEM batteries to OPTIMA YELLOW TOP batteries.

Anyone know what specs the OEM one has so I know which one to buy?

[kryten2001]

Mine's 550CCA/70Ah

I know you can get some smaller ones with similar CCA ratings, but I wouldn't go below 30Ah unless you constantly maintain your battery.

I think the optima's are 50Ah (??) which is OK.

[kryten2001]

You can get that fuse from the Battery World (the nut is M6).

Bugger! no it's not, I think it's a M5 or a M4! At least on my golf anyway.... M6 aint even close!

[Transporter]

Bugger! no it's not, I think it's a M5 or a M4! At least on my golf anyway.... M6 aint even close!

It will be the same diameter as the hole in the fuse?

[NiekSavio]

Which one did you get?

I've seen the 4300's for about $120 online, and I got my 7000 for $209.

If you got the 7000 for that price (From a store) you did alright. Repco wanted $369 over here!

Great chargers, I love em.

Is it actually normal that the charger makes a continuous clicking/switching sound while it is connected to a battery while monitoring/charging? Can't recall hearing a clicking sound when hooking it up on previous occasions.