CTEk question | FerrariChat

CTEk question

Discussion in '360/430' started by mjz, Feb 12, 2013.

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  1. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    I have a CTEK 7002 hooked up to my 430's Red Optima AGM battery.
    I noticed that the charger makes repeated relay "clicking" sounds every 30 seconds or so. Is this normal? The charger is showing green light and has been that way for a few days now. But the repeated clicking seems new?

    After I drive the car and reconnect the charger, it cycles through the lights pretty quickly and returns to green (maintenance mode), but starts the clicking as if its turning on then off, then on again.
     
  2. Jompen

    Jompen Formula Junior

    May 27, 2006
    718
    I have a e few ctek's, cant remember any clicking sound.
     
  3. DanS*

    DanS* Karting

    May 29, 2012
    218
    Manhattan Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Dan
    I use a 3300 and it makes no noise. Sounds like it's tripping and resetting. I don't think noise is normal, but I'm not familiar with the 7002.
     
  4. Trent

    Trent Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2003
    2,013
    Indialantic, FL
    Full Name:
    Trent
    My vote is that your 7002 has failed or is failing. I recommend the CTEK 4.3 for $60.
     
  5. ONEOFEW

    ONEOFEW Formula Junior

    Jan 19, 2006
    828
    LA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    I have a 7200 on my odyssey, it does not do that, my advice to you, unplug the CTEK till you figure out what's going on, and call CTEK, their customer service dpt are very helpful.
     
  6. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    I will be calling CTek to ask.
     
  7. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    I called Ctek and they didn't know whether the clicking is normal or not. He couldn't answer the question.

    But I did find out what the relay clicking is doing:

    While in maintenance mode (green LED is lit continusouly) - when the charger "clicks", the voltage to the battery starts to rise to over 14 volts. When the charger clicks again, the voltage drops slowly back to around 13. A minute or so later, it does the same thing again.

    Apparently the charger is "pulsing" the voltage up and then lets it decay. I know the 430 has electronics active, but I did not think it would drain fast enough to activate the 7002's pulse charge.

    I decided to leave the 7002 charger disconnected and measure the battery's voltage over the next few days. A good battery should hold its voltage pretty steady even with a small load. Or maybe not on a 430 since it may have a higher load than normal cars?

    I just don't know. What I do know is that this clicking sound was not apparent a few months ago. I don't think it is the 7002 (although Ctek said they would replace it anyway). It could be the battery or a short in the car causing a drain that keeps kicking in the CTEK. The Ctek never goes out of green, however.
     
  8. augustxke

    augustxke Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2009
    385
    MN
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    After several hours my charger will go from orange to green. Then it will cycle, with a clicking sound from orange to green indefinitely.
     
  9. KatMan

    KatMan Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2006
    490
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Stan K
    + 1. This is exactly what my battery tender does. Orange to green at first and then cycles forever. Green for about 10 minutes and then orange for about 2 minutes and than back to green.
     
  10. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    So maybe this is normal?
    On the 7002 Ctek, there is no light (color) change. The light stays on green and the charger cycles between a positive pulse (raises voltage) and then relaxes (voltage falls back). The entire process takes a few minutes. During the entire time, the light stays green. It is only the sound (and my volt meter) that informs me what's going on.

    On another battery I tried this (not an AGM, just a regular car battery), the green light comes on and stays on and there is no pulsing like there is with this red top Optima.
     
  11. ONEOFEW

    ONEOFEW Formula Junior

    Jan 19, 2006
    828
    LA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    KatMan, augustxke, do you both have CTEK 7200 or the Ferrari OEM CTEK

    7200 does not switch back n fourth on my F430, or any of my other cars, however my OEM CTEK use to alternate just like you guys described.

    MJZ, if your battery is healthy you should be able to start the car weeks after being left alone. F430 does not drain batteries in a week, also highly doubt all of the sudden your car developed a short. If your CTEK is not acting weird on a another battery, then test the Optima.
     
  12. KatMan

    KatMan Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2006
    490
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Stan K
    I have the Ferrari OEM CTEK tender.
     
  13. FJerry

    FJerry Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2004
    933
    United States
    I have several 7002s and they do click BUT not frequently- its every once in a while. If its clicking frequently I would be concerned. The clicking sound is that of a relay switching.
     
  14. jeff

    jeff Formula 3

    Feb 19, 2001
    1,924
    North America
    This issue has come up before. I had the same problem. It's defective. Dealer replaced mine (the car was still under warranty).
     
  15. augustxke

    augustxke Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2009
    385
    MN
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    My charger is a OEM CTEK, once it gets to charge it does alternate from green to orange, but only when it gets charged. Battery is a Red top and everything works fine.
     
  16. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    Jeff ... what was defective? The battery or the charger?
     
  17. ONEOFEW

    ONEOFEW Formula Junior

    Jan 19, 2006
    828
    LA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Optimas in the past had their own set of issues, not only specific to Ferrari, however i honestly don't remember ever seeing a thread about optima battery's being defective on f chat.
     
  18. mjz

    mjz Karting

    Aug 3, 2007
    163
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Michael
    Optima replaced my red top with a new one which they fully charged prior to my arriving to pick it up.
    I installed it - connected it to my Ctek 7002. The charger ran through the cycle and after a few minutes lit up the green LED. It's been that way for over an hour without a single "click". I suspect it will stay that way now like it used to. Voltage is steady at the AGM float level.

    I'll mark this 'problem solved' until next time. Thanks all for the insights and advice.
     
  19. vincep99

    vincep99 Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2009
    1,929
    Amazing coincidence, my OEM CTEK just started clicking too!

    It had been fine, but when I checked it today it was clicking. Also though it was cycling back and forth between green and orange.

    Guess it is time for a new one. I was thinking of upgrading anyway.
     
  20. vincep99

    vincep99 Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2009
    1,929
    Another huge coincidence: was at an expo yesterday, one of the vendors was selling CTEKs, the 7002 was $90 out the door.
     
  21. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,269
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    I have a CTEK 7200 on a New Die hard, after it fully charges it clicks about every 30 seconds?
     
  22. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,687
    They cycle back and forth regularly to keep the voltage up....wish the wife was that attentive....
     
  23. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,269
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    Friends,

    Mine was clicking every 11 seconds, so I bought a new MXS 5...
     
  24. PCarRI

    PCarRI Karting

    Feb 23, 2020
    221
    Rhode island, USA
    I've got four MXS 5.0's and zero issues with them, highly recommended for the $70 or so they were.
     
  25. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,269
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    Just got this from CTEK

    Hello Robert,

    The clicking you hear is a voltage relay and it is normal with that model charger (Multi US 7002). As long as the charger reaches maintenance (full-battery lamp 4) the charger is working.
    Thank you,

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