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Recommended Maintenance Charger

Discussion in '360/430' started by mountainman3520, Feb 5, 2014.

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  1. mountainman3520

    mountainman3520 Karting

    Nov 11, 2013
    202
    Silicon Valley, Cali
    Full Name:
    Dan Gilley
    #1 mountainman3520, Feb 5, 2014
    I recently purchased a 2006 F430 with 6k miles. I've received a few recommendations to leave it on a trickle charge whenever not driving, or at least if I'm going to not drive it for a few weeks.

    So I'm shopping for the best maintenance charging solution. This F430 came with a large charger in a leather case but I've heard its better to use a more modern charger from CTEK. Not sure why people diss on the Ferrari charger, other than its size but that isn't of much concern for a unit sitting in the garage.

    I found three models that appear to be at the upper end of CTEK's options:
    - CTEK Multi US 7002
    - CTEK Multi US 4.3
    - CTEK MUS 4.3 Test & Charge

    Anyone have experience or observations about the pros and cons of these models?

    Or is there another model that I should consider?

    Thanks
     
  2. timba

    timba Formula Junior

    Aug 20, 2012
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    Nor Cal
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    Tim
    #2 timba, Feb 5, 2014
    If you just want a maintenance charger for the F430, get the CTEK US 0.8. If you want to use it for other vehicles too, then get the MUS 4.3.

    The benefit of the US 0.8 is that you just plug it in and its running. With other chargers you have to select the mode you want each time you use them.

    I use a Ferrari branded US 0.8 on the Ferrari, and a MUS 3300 for the boat and for any other charging tasks that come up.
     
  3. BrettC

    BrettC Formula 3

    Aug 13, 2012
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    Brett
    #3 BrettC, Feb 5, 2014
    I have a ctek 3300 (I think) haven't gone out and looked but even though I have to select the mode each time...I like it. Wired the plug behind the seat and ran the plug just out of the cover...looks nice and easy to plug in when I bring the car in from a drive.
     
  4. paulie_b

    paulie_b F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 13, 2003
    6,840
    Jupiter, FL
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    Paul Bianco
    #4 paulie_b, Feb 5, 2014
    have used a Deltran charger for many years.
     
  5. BluNart

    BluNart Karting

    Jul 2, 2013
    125
    New England, USA
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    Blu
    #5 BluNart, Feb 5, 2014
    I have two of the 7002 charges and recommend it (one tending to a 360). I selected the 7002 because it was the most flexible for purpose and condition that I could find.
     
  6. mikeyr

    mikeyr Formula 3

    Jun 17, 2004
    2,154
    Santa Barbara, CA.
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    Mike Rambour
    #6 mikeyr, Feb 5, 2014
    I have the CTEK 4.3 (not sure if MUS or Multi) and I NEVER have to set the mode. I set it first day and 2 years later it still has the same mode set.
     
  7. timba

    timba Formula Junior

    Aug 20, 2012
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    Tim
    #7 timba, Feb 5, 2014
    I stand corrected. That must be a change added sometime after I purchased the Multi US 3300. If I leave mine connected to the battery and unplug it, it remembers the mode. However every time I disconnect it from the battery and unplug it, I must reset the mode.
     
  8. ONEOFEW

    ONEOFEW Formula Junior

    Jan 19, 2006
    834
    LA
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    Steve
    #8 ONEOFEW, Feb 5, 2014
    I have 5 cars plugged to the chargers, some get driven weekly , others are untouched moths at a time.
    I've pretty much used all of the above mentioned CTEK models, as well as Deltran
    Any of the CTEK 7002,3300,4.3 will do the job, so as a Deltran tender plus, what I found though CTEKs are very sensitive to power disruption, I lost a OEM unit and a 3300 to power outages , when the power came back both times they were fried. So I have little more faith in tender plus for the cars I store away long periods vs CTEK
     
  9. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2009
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    #9 Kevin Rev'n, Feb 5, 2014
    I have used a Deltran Battery Tender Plus for many years but recently decided to try something different that is more in spec with the charging needs of my new battery. You might want to check out the Granite Digital Brand of Maintainers and Chargers.
     
  10. rbellezza

    rbellezza F1 Rookie

    Jun 18, 2008
    2,793
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    Roberto Bellezza
    #10 rbellezza, Feb 5, 2014
    CTek 4.3 here
     
  11. Wisky

    Wisky Formula Junior

    Nov 13, 2006
    272
    Fort Lee NJ
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    David
    #11 Wisky, Feb 5, 2014
    Ctek 3300. Works great and easy to install (installed mine direct to battery post terminals under pass. side floor).
     
  12. mountainman3520

    mountainman3520 Karting

    Nov 11, 2013
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    Silicon Valley, Cali
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    Dan Gilley
    #12 mountainman3520, Feb 7, 2014
    Thanks for all the input. It kinda bugs me when a manufacturer has many versions of highly similar products and doesn't make it easily clear what the differences are by a nice table or something like that. Why do they do that?

    It looks like the CTEK 7002 has a 7A peak charge rate and a supply mode to keep the car powered while changing batteries. But it does not have a low current mode that is needed to use on smaller batteries and maybe the status display isn't quite as nice as the MUS 4.3 but not significantly different.

    The CTEK MUS 4.3 has a 0.8A and 4.3A charge mode, user selectable, but it does not have the supply mode that the 7002 has.

    Decisions, decisions.

    It seems like everything about their charging algorithm is identical. I don't know if its better for a 430 battery to charge at 7, 4.3, or 0.8A. That would be nice to know if someone knows. Once the battery is fully charged it probably makes no difference since both models will be in the pulse trickle mode.
     
  13. jpk

    jpk Formula Junior

    Oct 29, 2012
    803
    Los Angeles, CA / Henderson, NV
    #13 jpk, Feb 7, 2014
    I've been using Battery Tender models for years and have gotten 6 to 10 years out of car and boat batteries. I have had a couple of the Battery Tenders go bad, but they are much cheaper than new batteries when they go kaput. Currently I use the cheap and simple Battery Tender Jr on each of my stored cars and a bigger Battery Tender on the boat.

    Maybe if I only needed one I would try out the fancy Optima battery charger/maintainer, but it's 10x the price of a Battery Tender Jr.
     
  14. Treviso

    Treviso Formula Junior

    Sep 30, 2012
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    Robert
    #14 Treviso, Feb 7, 2014
    How about the original tender that plugs into the lower passenger dash?
     
  15. allen_993

    allen_993 Karting

    Jul 3, 2006
    179
    Alabama
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    Allen
    #15 allen_993, Feb 7, 2014
    I have (2) of the Deltran Tender Plus units. I've gotten (11) years out of one battery and 9 on another.
     
  16. English Rebel

    English Rebel Formula 3

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    #16 English Rebel, Feb 7, 2014
    The MUS 4.3 holds the settings every time. I coupled mine with the CTek pigtail which has three lights to let you know what condition your battery is in. Mine is behind the drivers seat and if I don't plug in the maintainer (which I don't do in the summer months when I drive every few days) I just keep an eye on it and if it starts to flash yellow then I plug in the maintainer.
    Alan
     
  17. Sedat

    Sedat Rookie

    Mar 7, 2011
    45
    #17 Sedat, Feb 7, 2014
    When i first got my 360 I had plenty of battery problems with the car unable to maintain a charge. After replacing the battery I started using a $19 dollar trickle charger from Harbor Freight. Since 2010 I have not had a single battery problem since! Its a nice system, fits in the footwell behind the panel and only the end of the power cable is exposed. When you want to leave it for a while just plug an extension cord to it and voila! Not a single problem since.
     
  18. English Rebel

    English Rebel Formula 3

    Aug 13, 2013
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    #18 English Rebel, Feb 7, 2014
    I believe that the issue with trickle chargers is that they can over charge if left on too long. That's what's nice about the CTEK maintainers -- they monitor the voltage and add charge as needed.
    Alan
     
  19. mountainman3520

    mountainman3520 Karting

    Nov 11, 2013
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    Dan Gilley
    #19 mountainman3520, Feb 7, 2014
    Agreed. Really, it doesn't make much sense to try to save $50 by buying a battery tender from Harbor Freight or some other extremely cheap unit with unknown quality. Features such as non-sparking, polarity reversal protection, and a smart trickle charge that doesn't overcharge could save hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands in damage on a vehicle such as a Ferrari.

    We should only be buying well proven models from well proven manufacturers.

    I think I'm going to go with a CTEK MUS 4.3. I like the CTEK feature set and form factor better than the Deltran. And I suspect its probably better for a battery to charge slower for a longer time than faster for a shorter time. So the 4.3 with its two current modes of 0.8A and 4.3A give me two low rate charge modes, while the 7002 has only a 7A mode so I would have no way to reduce the charge rate. If the application were complete recharge of large heavily discharged batteries then maybe higher current would be good, but this is a trickle charge application where I plan to avoid the battery every getting low by leaving it on trickle whenever I'm not driving for a week or more.

    My only regret is the loss of the 7002's supply mode that can keep a car's electronics powered during a battery change.
     
  20. okiedude

    okiedude Formula 3

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    #20 okiedude, Feb 7, 2014
    I have them on 6 cars with both regular and Odyssey batteries.
     
  21. mountainman3520

    mountainman3520 Karting

    Nov 11, 2013
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    Silicon Valley, Cali
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    Dan Gilley
    #21 mountainman3520, Feb 7, 2014
    The CTEK MUS 3300 looks solid. I think it is just the prior generation before the MUS 4.3. The 3300 has two current modes as well (0.8A and 3.3A) vs. the 4.3 that has 0.8A and 4.3A. That's probably not a meaningful difference. While they both have pretty much the same charging approach and features, the 4.3 has 8 charge stages while the 3300 has 4, skipping a few of the steps in the charge sequence. Also the 4.3 has a nicer status display.

    3300 looks great and if I had it already I certainly wouldn't replace it. But for buying new it seems better to get the 4.3 which is almost the same price. Unless I am missing something in my attempt to decode CTEK's overly large product line-up.
     
  22. Mr Aryan

    Mr Aryan Karting

    Sep 23, 2008
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    #22 Mr Aryan, Feb 8, 2014
    i'm using the LITHIUM XS which was recommended by the CTEK dealer in Bahrain.
    they use them on all of their collection cars.
     
  23. John B

    John B Formula 3

    May 27, 2003
    1,564
    NJ
    #23 John B, Feb 8, 2014
    I've been using Deltrtan trickle chargers for many years with no problems.
     
  24. Zxgarage

    Zxgarage Formula Junior
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    Jan 21, 2011
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    #24 Zxgarage, Feb 8, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have over twenty Deltran... at least six gone bad... Company said must be something wrong in my garage (?)... Why all other brands I use never gone bad ??
    I recommend C-tek or my favorite=> Save-a-battery.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  25. BigJay2050

    BigJay2050 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2014
    7,191
    #25 BigJay2050, Jul 16, 2014
    I have both the CTEK 4.3 that I just purchased but have been using the Granite Digital Save-a-Battery on my other cars for quite some time without issue. I like the fact that it has the readout and display so you get more detail on it than you do the CTEK.

    Anyone have any negative issues with Ferrari and Granite Digital?
     
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