CTEK Battery and adapter for 458

In five years with my 458, I would highly recommend:

https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-353-12-Volt-Battery-Charger/dp/B000FRLO9Y/ref=sr_1_3_mod_primary_new?crid=2XKQ84A8LB17V&keywords=ctek+7002+battery+charger&qid=1644382054&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=ctek+7002%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-3

https://www.cccharger.co.uk/product-page/ctek-ferrari-4-pin-charger-adapter-cable.

I have several CTEK 7002s and use them on all my cars, with the various cables.. One of the great things with the CTEK is you can add 8' extension cables: https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-304-Comfort-Connect-Extension/dp/B00ADIHUVG/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/135-0256143-7726263?pd_rd_w=Cx4oZ&pf_rd_p=6b3eefea-7b16-43e9-bc45-2e332cbf99da&pf_rd_r=Z8SKQ1NGS3M0NXQEQA2W&pd_rd_r=f6e532d2-2219-46c9-ae66-c1b1637e4d6f&pd_rd_wg=3xCou&pd_rd_i=B00ADIHUVG&psc=1.

 

I have been using a CTEK MUS 4.3 with the adaptor you listed on my 2015 458 Spider with excellent results. What I see as a difference to the 5.0 is an AGM indicator light. Mine does not have that light. But the 4.3 works on wet cell, Gel as well as AGM batteries. I do not see the MUS 4.3 listed on the CTEK website and suspect the 5.0 is an updated version.

 

I also like the 5.0 because it has an automatic winter setting. It senses the ambient temperature and automatically adjusts the setting, and amount of charge.
Also, the AGM setting is not supposed to be used on ALL AGM's. I think it is really just a proper setting for those cylindrical style AGM's.
I know it doesn't make sense, but out of memory, I think you have to look at the battery specs for the proper charge rate for the battery (printed on the battery, or web site specs) and look in the Ctek owner's manual to pick the correctly matched charging setting. I know that my car with the Interstate AGM battery required the standard charge setting, not the AGM.
The standard lead acid wet batteries (and a lot of AGM's) call for a bulk charge (charging step4) of 14.4v. Certain AGM's (I believe Optima and Odyssey) require 14.7v

 

And I think that AGM setting is specifically for the Optima and Odyssey lines.

 

The car mode is the correct setting for a regular battery, or many AGM batteries as well (not the optima or Odyssey, those need AGM setting).

Yes, you still need a maintainer on the battery all the time with an AGM battery. You won't need a charger every day if you go with a lithium battery, but they are VERY expensive, and you will need to buy a charger designed for lithium batteries, if you leave it parked for long periods of time.

 

Yes, that's pretty much what the Ctek's owner's manual states. But with other brand batteries, you would have to look at the specs (printed on the battery sticker), to see what the proper current for the charge is. In my case, I have the Interstate battery, and it specifies a 14.4v charge, which is the setting with the picture of the car (not the one that says AGM).
I don't remember how I figured that out, but if I didn't, I would have improperly selected the AGM setting on the charger. I asked Ctek tech support how big of a problem the wrong setting would be, and they said that it wouldn't be too much of an issue, if I messed up, but it probably wouldn't charge the battery to full capacity and may decrease the battery life over time.

 

STEP 1 DESULPHATION
Detects sulphated batteries. Pulsing current and voltage, removes sulphate from the lead plates of the battery restoring the battery capacity.
STEP 2 SOFT START
Tests if the battery can accept charge. This step prevents that charging proceeds with a defect battery.
STEP 3 BULK
Charging with maximum current until approximately 80% battery capacity.
STEP 4 ABSORPTION
Charging with declining current to maximize up to 100% battery capacity.
STEP 5 ANALYSE
Tests if the battery can hold charge. Batteries that can not hold charge may need to be replaced.
STEP 6 RECOND
Choose the Recond program to add the Recond step to the charging process. During the Recond step voltage increases to create controlled gassing in the battery. Gasing mixes the battery acid and gives back energy to the battery.
STEP 7 FLOAT
Maintaining the battery voltage at maximum level by providing a constant voltage charge.
STEP 8 PULSE
Maintaining the battery at 95–100% capacity. The charger monitors the battery voltage and gives a pulse when necessary to keep the battery fully charged

https://www.ctek.com/storage/28170E5A4DF8DDE255F2544A55F5C421179A3398C557729443D3E9C908F0382E/d4c71f1fcf354b37bdfb3841d00adafd/pdf/media/01d8e64db81c4259bda89213323dad93/MXS_5.0-manual-low-UK-EN.pdf

 

Yes, it essentially charges, then maintains the battery (it is a very slow charger). Plugging in to the dashboard with the proprietary connector is the same as just using the clips, or pig tail directly onto the battery. The difference is that using the cars connector makes it clean and convenient, and when it's plugged in, it will prevent the car from starting, so you can't mess up and try to drive away with the battery tender still connected to the battery.
The Ctek units are considered a "battery tender", they keep the charging voltage/amps low, and will reduce the power as the battery fully charges (as Rob5819 explained in detail). Then it will cycle as needed. In other words, it is safe to leave it hooked up indefinitely. If you leave a standard "battery charger", or even a cheap "maintainer" (the ones that continue to charge at a very low rate without properly sensing the battery and adjust) on for long periods of time, you WILL ruin the battery.

 

My 488 that I just got came with this Ferrari branded one. The manufacturer's markings on it say TEK Automotive from Italy, and FixAndGo.com.
I have used the CTEK on my California T and liked having the sequence of lights as it goes through its checks, but this one has just a single green light. The Ferrari dealer tells me this is the preferred one for the 488.
Any thoughts on this unit versus the CTEK one?
56 Spider
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My 488 came with the Ferrari Branded CTEK, which I think is a 7002.

 

So I was at the dealer today and noticed that the Roma in the showroom had the same large black Ferrari charger that my 488 has. I am told that this is the new model that Ferrari uses.