Hooking a CTEK charger up?

Afternoon all. Amazon delivered my CTEK charger today, but before I hook it up (probably tomorrow morning) I thought I would check regarding the best way to do so.
The car manual states to not attach direct to the battery, so use the +/- tabs under the bonnet.

A few questions, do I just select “car” and let it get on with it, or do I need to select “AGM” or “Recond” on the charger?
Is it safe to close the bonnet and lock the car while this is plugged in? The car is on the drive so want to keep it secure.

Many thanks in advance.

 

Most cars fitted with stop start have an AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) battery, so I would put money on yours being one, but it should say on the top of the battery.

Depending on the age of your car, I would go for a recond charge once a year. As an example, I did this on my wife’s M3 when I bought my CTek last year.

Yes, I would connect in the engine bay.

I just put a block of wood under the bonnet catch and rest the bonnet on that, but leave the car unlocked during daylight hours.

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Hi again
1. Connect to the +/- tabs under the bonnet.
2. Keep pressing the appropriate button on the charger until AGM lights up.
3. You do not need Recond.
4. Yes, it is safe to close the bonnet and lock the car while it is plugged in.

I used to go to the Dominican Republic for 2 months at a time up until recently and each time I Ieft the car on the drive plugged in and charging.

 

The car is June 2017 build, with only 14k on the clock, I’d imagine the previous owner did lots of short journeys. The S/S is very temperamental, only kicked in after a 200+ mile trip a month ago. Given the working from home status the car isn’t used anywhere as near as much as I’d like, hence me buying the charger.
Thanks for the advice, not sure on the locking still, so will pop the charger on first thing and leave unlocked for the duration, checking on the status at lunchtime.

 

Just to add to the above, have a look online but I don’t think you’re supposed to use the recondition function for anything other than gel/lead acid batteries so don’t be using on your AGM.

And even then when you do use it, it’s a max of once a year IIRC.

I tend to hook up the X1 and Macan once a month overnight by using the terminals under the bonnet and the closing the bonnet to and locking the car. They’re both then fully charged by the morning.

I’ve only ever used the recondition setting on my Motorhome which has a gel engine battery.

 

Here we go.




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Weirdly in the manual for the ctek they list an agm recond option separate to the normal along with the charging voltages and this can be selected on the charger (I know as I did it on mine)

 

Maybe that’s where I got it from originally, but from their email at least, they say no point.

I won’t bother with recond in future.


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I hook up under bonnet “now” & route the cable down to the headlight gap so as not to pick the cable
In regards to mode, I plug it in and let the intelligent charger do its thing and decide what charge is needed & battery type
I return after an hour or so and battery type has always been correctly selected and charge rate

 

Same instructions with mine as shown by @markyboyt
Seems the AGM battery is required, but will check by looking at the battery in the morning.
Good idea about routing the cable through the grill, will have a look to see if this is workable.

 

The RAC site has a useful battery type checker, says mine is an AGM type, as suspected.

https://www.racshop.co.uk/car-battery

 

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I have a CTEK, I just connect it up direct to the battery (MINI JCW) and it recognises its AGM and does its stuff.

Never had a problem with it, I shut the bonnet and let it charge over night.


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Interesting the manual for my F32 says not to connect to the battery due to the monitoring systems or something.
Will research into what the wife’s Audi says before hooking hers up. Seems they are all different.

 

Mine is the same.

BMW clearly state AGM batteries should not be charged with more than 14.8V, so I'd not be inclined to use the Recon with our batteries.

Peter

 

Yes, that is correct, BMW clearly state to use the under hood terminals. Needs the IBS in the circuit.

Go ahead and connect under the bonnet, route the leads to shut the bonnet and lock the car. That's what I often do, leaving it locked lets the car sleep while charging.

When the charger moves to STEP 4, battery is about 80% charged, so gives an idea of the State of Charge (SoC). That's close to the typical running SoC for our AGM energy management.

Peter

 

As many have already advised, hook it up under the bonnet. Given your car's out on the drive I'd place the charger under the bonnet - there's plenty of room - and lock the car.

You may find it worth while to make up a dedicated lead to run from the house to the car. I used 1.5amp 2-core cable (no earth required). Nice and thin making it easy to run it past the headlight. Lock the car and forget it. Well not totally, make sure you disconnect before driving off.

As an aside, the original battery of my 2011 E92 is still going strong. And our workhorse 2003 Renault Laguna diesel has only had two batteries, the original, which lasted nine years, and the current Yuasa. Mind you the Renault has quite undemanding electrics.

 

I run my mains extension lead in through the rear of the bonnet. The seal is a bit deeper and the clearance is a bit bigger. Also, mine (G30) has a cutout in the seal where the 'screen washer tube passes. I run the lead through this gap beside the washer tube, then I close the bonnet fully and lock and alarm the car.