CTEK tenders | FerrariChat

CTEK tenders

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by AAA430, Jan 1, 2020.

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  1. AAA430

    AAA430 Rookie

    Jul 12, 2016
    14
    Atlanta
    anyone have any experience with this company?

    https://www.juiceyourride.com/pages/about-us

    sells CTEK tenders with model-specific pigtail connector, to enable use of OEM plug port instead of connecting to battery directly.
     
    Mel Spillman likes this.
  2. George Vosburgh

    George Vosburgh F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    I bought a new CTEK tender not to long ago on amazon. The price seemed fine.
     
  3. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    11,484
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    CTEK seems to be the popular choice for Ferrari owners. I have heard of very few failures. No problems with mine after 5 years. You can find them almost anywhere now and are often on special.

    I have a CTEK adaptor for my F355 which bolts onto the rear engine compartment battery bus bar and adjacent earth. The disadvantage is that you may burn yourself trying to attach the connector after a drive. If you plan to use a cigar lighter connection, make sure the lighter is active with the ignition off.
     
  4. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
    25,865
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Tom C
    Ditto. 7002 model...T
     
  5. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    I had a Ferrari Charger (made by CTEK) but it went with the Mondial when I sold it. Bought a CTEK from an F-Chatter for the 348 and it still works well.


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  6. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2004
    4,603
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Paul
    I love CTEK tenders. I use them for my cars and never had an issue.

    May I ask why you are charging that way? That sounds like a lot of work. Mine just sprouts out of the front trunk and is directly wired to the battery. When I don't drive the car for a while I turn the master switch off and I'm still tending the battery.
     
  7. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    11,484
    Sydney
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    Ian Riddell
    There are pros and cons. I did it that way because the previous owner did it that way. And it seems to me that it is a lot easier to remove three bolts (engine side cover) than it would be to jack up my car in a narrow garage, remove the tyre, pull off the wheelwell liners, etc. During reassembly, the layering of the wheelwell liners is a Chinese puzzle. Also the wiring is a little short on my CTEK adaptor so it nicely hides under the engine side cover. Having visible wires in the frunk doesn't sound ideal. I usually open the engine lid anyway after a drive to get the hot air out of there as fast as possible.


    I don't see the point of turning off the battery at all unless you expect the charger to fail. If you get the charger connect/disconnect sequence and battery cutoff sequence wrong, won't you erase the learned parameters in the Motronic ECUs on F355 2.7 cars? Then you have to go through the relearning process. If there are any energy savings by turning off your battery, it would be offset very quickly by running your car for 10 minutes.
     
  8. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2004
    4,603
    Michigan
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    Paul
    I see. That's interesting. For my tinder it comes up from the passenger side access panel for the AC above the front wheel. You could easily cover it if you wanted by putting the panel on.

    In regards to your question on turning the car off and why I would do that- it snows for 4-5 months here in Michigan and I don't drive the car during the winter months. I'd prefer not to run the clock and have the electronics energized for that time. The relearn in a 2.7 is really easy- just let it idle for 10 mins without any thing else running (eg. AC). I do that anyway as I let the car warm up a bit before driving her.
     
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  9. Flyingbrick242

    Flyingbrick242 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 26, 2017
    603
    Northern AZ.
    Let me start by saying I am a huge fan for the Ctek equipment so maybe I have a questionable charger:
    Model Mus 4.3
    Battery: interstate MTZ 34r brand new
    Ctek mode: normal (picture of car)
    Symptom: I have been monitoring charging voltages throughout the 8 levels.
    All is acceptable until level 7 is achieved after 6-8 days I notice charging voltage can get very low.
    Can be measured as low as 12.03v as if the charger has lost the actual battery voltage and stops charging.
    Has anyone encountered this..?
    I have reached out to Ctek and they are willing to test my charger.
    Thank You.
     
  10. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 Veteran
    BANNED Silver Subscribed

    Jul 8, 2016
    9,875
    The CSA
    Full Name:
    Me
    The prices on that website are ridiculous. I bought my Ctek Charger, adapter and pigtail for under $100...and it has the little flashy lights that tell you how much the battery is charged when it's off the trickle..
     
  11. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    It's funny this thread should appear today. Last night, I bought this on-line : https://www.batterysaver.com/store/p77/9950.html for a little project car I'm working on this winter. Comes highly recommended by others on Fchat, and I too have had somewhat dodgy experience with CTek lately. My trusty Deltran unit lasted for eons, but I didn't like the heavy footprint and sharp case on it.
     
  12. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
    25,865
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    Tom C
    Cool. Look forward to hearing about your experience with this...T
     
  13. LostAussie

    LostAussie Formula Junior

    Jun 13, 2013
    680
    Woodinville, WA
    Full Name:
    Stuart
    I've used one of these for a few years and love it.
     
  14. EP328

    EP328 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2008
    616
    Northern California
    Full Name:
    Ed
    Factory trained Ferrari mechanic recommended battery saver brand and I have been using one for 4 years. No issues.
     
    f355spider likes this.
  15. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    17,913
    USA
    You can make your own pigtail adapter...there is a thread here with instructions, as well as the poster who started the thread will make one for you. You tell him what brand battery tender you wish to adapt to and he will do it. But following his instructions for where to order the parts, you can make your own quite easily and inexpensively. Search and you should find the thread. The thread also has links to his website where you can learn more about making your own, or ordering from him.
     
  16. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    17,913
    USA
  17. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    17,913
    USA
    I have the older version of that, works great! Comes with many connectors to fulfill every possibility, with the exception of the adapter for a 430...but I made one. ;)

    The factory Ctek that came with my 430 Scuderia never worked right (bought car used 6 years old) Showed it to the dealer and they said I had the "updated" one that Ferrari gave out as warranty replacements. I just tucked it away with the car cover and other accessories I will never use. Been using the Battery Saver and a Griots Garage tenders ever since.
     
  18. strongx

    strongx Karting

    Mar 20, 2009
    166
    Utah
    Full Name:
    Rock Thompson
    My cautionary experience with CTek. I've had 6 of them and 3 eventually had problems. The oldest one (7 years old) stopped charging; it would simply never advance to the fully charged condition and the battery's voltage drifted down until I realized what was happening. But okay, it was old, and I got my money's worth.

    The 2nd one was less than 3 years old and would sometimes charge and sometimes error out. This happened on multiple cars and my other charger never gave an error so I knew it was the charger and not the battery.

    The 3rd (3 years old) one started giving an error, but only occasionally, otherwise it seemed to work fine. But then I left it on my 993 for a week and when I went to disconnect it, it was quite warm, like it is when you first put it on and it's charging at full current. I think it toasted my battery (only 6 months old) because from then on, the battery wouldn't hold a charge more than a day or two, so it was new battery time. I think I'll try another brand of charger...
     
    Qavion likes this.
  19. Continental AutoSports

    Sponsor

    Aug 22, 2006
    4,393
    Hinsdale, IL
    Full Name:
    Bobby Williams / Parts Manager
    Full disclosure in that we sell that brand at our dealership but we swear by them.
     
    f355spider likes this.
  20. porphy

    porphy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 9, 2009
    1,203
    LouisvilleKY/Switzld
    Full Name:
    Randall Gatz
    I did have an CTEK MUS 4.3 go belly up during a long-term winter driving pause. The unit was more than three years old and Ctek took it back (with purchase documentation) and replaced it with a new one. So I was quite satisfied. I have two 110 Volt models as well as two 220 V models and this is the only problem I have had in more than ten years experience with them.
     
    tomc likes this.
  21. swift53

    swift53 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2007
    6,676
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    Full Name:
    Alberto
    My CTEK blew up my battery...tried to contact them, not a peep.

    Regards, Alberto
     
  22. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,289
    socal
  23. Rdwaggie

    Rdwaggie Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 6, 2018
    105
  24. porphy

    porphy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 9, 2009
    1,203
    LouisvilleKY/Switzld
    Full Name:
    Randall Gatz
    Could you be more specific? Did the battery actually explode? Is the CTEK still working? How old was the battery? What type of battery was it?

    In my case the CTEK stopped working and they replaced it. Does yours still work?
    Thanks
     
  25. swift53

    swift53 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2007
    6,676
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    Full Name:
    Alberto
    The whole backside of the battery blew off the case. Spilling the acid all over. Was not there, so unaware
    when this event happened. Luckily no FIRE!

    The CTEK, as I did not wish to risk it again, I did not try it. The battery was 6 or 7 years, forget the brand, but high quality.

    Regards, Alberto

    PS Deltran is tops, and properly priced
     

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