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CTEK Battery Charger

24K views 52 replies 14 participants last post by  phillip86 
#1 ·
I have got myself a CTEK MXS 5.0 charger. The XE manual says "If the vehicle's battery should require charging, the battery must be removed from the vehicle. Consult a retailer/authorised repairer." which is nonsense. For those of you using CTEK chargers, do you use a 12V socket with the CTEK convenience pack (which I don't have), remove the spare wheel (which I do have) and connect straight to the battery or use the under-bonnet points used for jump-starting? Or doesn't it make a blind bit of difference?
 
#2 ·
Although the manual states that the battery should be disconnected and removed from the car, have a quick look at this video. It's not for the Jaguar XE but a BMW. However, it seems to be very similar. He does make reference to not connecting to the battery direct.
 
#4 ·
147daytona said:
I have fitted the convenience socket to mine but this is connected directly to the battery without any problems.

20180624_144012-1209x1612.jpg
Thanks for your input 147daytona. Looks like a good setup you have. I don't actually have a 12V socket in my boot so I think I'll go with the under bonnet method.
 
#5 ·
Bazzamf said:
Kushanku said:
I have got myself a CTEK MXS 5.0 charger. The XE manual says "If the vehicle's battery should require charging, the battery must be removed from the vehicle. Consult a retailer/authorised repairer." which is nonsense. For those of you using CTEK chargers, do you use a 12V socket with the CTEK convenience pack (which I don't have), remove the spare wheel (which I do have) and connect straight to the battery or use the under-bonnet points used for jump-starting? Or doesn't it make a blind bit of difference?
Although the manual states that the battery should be disconnected and removed from the car, have a quick look at this video. It's not for the Jaguar XE but a BMW. However, it seems to be very similar. He does make reference to not connecting to the battery direct.
Thanks Bazzamf for that video. Looks like I will be using this method or a variation of it. My XE is not garaged but behind locked gates. So open to the elements. So I might try whats in the video but try and keep the charger and the extension lead socket under the bonnet. Not that there's much room in there!
 
#7 ·
There has been a few members buying the CTEK battery charger. My car has been in the dealer's for the second time due to the S\S not working and both times they have charged the battery over night. This does the trick for a couple of weeks and then it stops working. I am now considering whether to invest in one of these to recharge the battery every couple of weeks or so. Are they as good as they appear?
 
#8 ·
I have the CT5 Stop Start battery charger, which I have been using on mine, but as a previous post lasts for 3-5 days and then S/S stopped working
Note I was told by tech to connect to positive Battery terminal and earth point in boot, not directly to battery negative, as it needs to be before the BMS module which is part of negative terminal lead connection
However, I also have been in again to dealer, and they tested battery which they claim is fine, and did some form of software update (did not tell me what and receipt does not show), and 3 days later, S/S has started functioning correctly, only time it doesn't work is if you have aircon on auto and it is pumping air thro at a high rate.
So at moment I am not going to need to charge battery, long may it last!
 
G
#9 ·
Hi gents and ladies. I bought the Ctek MXS5.0 but it does not appear to be the same as in the video as it is usable in cold weather without going to any cold weather position with temperture compensation. Mine has four charge settings, motorcycle, car. AGM and Regen. I use it on car and AGM with the occasional regen boost. The last 3 times I used it I gave it the recon boost and since that the S/S has worked all the time within a mile or so of travel. I have connected it to an earth in the boot and the red battery terminal and to both battery terminals without any problems. I also observed in the dealers that they use both under bonnet and direct to the battery for charging. I am convinced that any position is OK. The Ctek people also provide a permanent bolt on plug set up for both terminals as well as the clips. As you can see there is also a boot plug available if required. I never lock mine whilst charging so nothing is running eg alarm etc. From the video and from others experience in different cars the S/S problem is in many models if not driven frequently. A neighbour has a Honda Jazz and does similar short journeys to me and her battery went flat this week. Regarding removal from the car, this is a safety issue because of hydrogen gases produced when charging and the fact that some chargers cook batteries.
 
#10 ·
My CTEK is the same as Vespa's i.e. no special cold weather setting and a setting for AGM & Regen.

For those that want some timings, my XE is a year old this month and I have no problems with S/S (I always disable it before driving off). I connected the CTEK to the under-bonnet posts and did a full charge and regen. It took about 12 hours. I also have a Boxster with a 6 year old battery and connected directly to the battery, did a full charge and regen and it took about 9 hours. The XE battery is 80Ah and the Boxster 74Ah.
 
G
#11 ·
The time yours took will get less as the regen must have been really giving your batteries a good clean up. My top up charges are around 3 hours and the longest regen was around 6 hours. Usually now my top up and regen are about 4 hours.
 
#12 ·
Vespa said:
The time yours took will get less as the regen must have been really giving your batteries a good clean up. My top up charges are around 3 hours and the longest regen was around 6 hours. Usually now my top up and regen are about 4 hours.
I'll be interested to see what happens when I do a top-up without regen in about a month or two.
 
#13 ·
Kushanku said:
My CTEK is the same as Vespa's i.e. no special cold weather setting and a setting for AGM & Regen.

For those that want some timings, my XE is a year old this month and I have no problems with S/S (I always disable it before driving off). I connected the CTEK to the under-bonnet posts and did a full charge and regen. It took about 12 hours. I also have a Boxster with a 6 year old battery and connected directly to the battery, did a full charge and regen and it took about 9 hours. The XE battery is 80Ah and the Boxster 74Ah.
If you always disable it before driving off, how do you know that it actually works? Perhaps it's stopped and turning it off is unnecessary?
 
#14 ·
HaloJones said:
Kushanku said:
My CTEK is the same as Vespa's i.e. no special cold weather setting and a setting for AGM & Regen.

For those that want some timings, my XE is a year old this month and I have no problems with S/S (I always disable it before driving off). I connected the CTEK to the under-bonnet posts and did a full charge and regen. It took about 12 hours. I also have a Boxster with a 6 year old battery and connected directly to the battery, did a full charge and regen and it took about 9 hours. The XE battery is 80Ah and the Boxster 74Ah.
If you always disable it before driving off, how do you know that it actually works? Perhaps it's stopped and turning it off is unnecessary?
I do occasionally forget, then the engine stops and I have to press the button to disable it. It would be much better if there was a system setting that controls whether the default is on or off. Or the default was on in Eco mode but off in other modes, which would make sense to me.
 
G
#16 ·
I fitted my own in the plastic fitting on the drivers side boot area. Sadly I have discarded the photos now. Fiddly and you need to have a small electrical cutting tool. Others have just left it secure but unfitted in the boot. There is a post on here about how others have fitted one.

https://www.xeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2586&p=29017&hilit=ctek+comfort+fitting#p29017
Have a look at the ideas and see what suits you. DO NOT connect the -ve to the battery terminal but to a stud in the boot floor. The other +ve can be connected to the battery direct.

LesW has fitted his where I have mine................ https://www.xeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2586&hilit=ctek+comfort+fitting&start=20
 
G
#18 ·
Jack russel said:
can a wired in Ctek charger be used with the boot closed or do i have to leave it open and lift the boot floor for "adequate" ventilation
I wired mine in using the comfort attachment that CTek make using the plastic fitting in the boot that Jaguar fits on the top right hand side. The charger then plugs into that and the mains lead comes out to my power supply with the boot closed but I don't lock it as I can see it on my driveway. The ventilation is done from the battery downwards in the boot so no need to worry about hydrogen gas building up. Even before I connected via the comfort plug, I connected to the battery red terminal and a bolt in the boot floor for the negative terminal. Disconnect the -ve first and connect the -ve last, that way there is less chance of any sparking. I have never had any sparks at all in the days I connected with clips. Since changing the battery I only top up charge about every 10-14 days and it never takes more than 2-3 hours.
 
#20 ·
My CT5 no longer kicks S/S back into life, and according to Ctek Monitor battery seems to spend most of its time, at about 80 - 90% charged even after a charge and a good run of 100 miles or more, so I believe battery US, despite Westover being adamant battery is okay, but as they use tester deemed not recommended by Jaguar, I have little faith in this diagnosis. if I keep car (another ongoing saga) I will change battery
 
#23 ·
Vespa said:
Just in case. 3 times since new battery
Might be worth not charging it to test if the bigger battery keeps the stop start working without a charge.
After all isn't that the point of upgrading the battery?
 
G
#24 ·
Correct Phil. I only did top up charges as I hadn't driven the car and NONE of the top ups were really necessary being only one hour and they were 3 hours on the old battery. I will not charge it again as it is not necessary with the new one. It's just a complete mistrust in the cars electrics to look after the battery. I must admit even though I have spent money on it I think it will soon be finding a new owner. The replacement will not be a Jaguar either.
 
#25 ·
Vespa said:
I must admit even though I have spent money on it I think it will soon be finding a new owner. The replacement will not be a Jaguar either.
What replacements are you considering, Vespa?
 
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