CTEK Battery Charger

Check Break · Aug 4, 2017

Years ago, maybe ten, I bought a CTEK Model 7000 smart charger. It's worked well but unfortunately it's design does not live up to it's price tag. The strain relief on the 12v output is woefully inadequate and the insulation on the wire pair is gone. The problem is the output wires have to be soldered to the circuit board, something I'm not capable of doing. The charger has to be returned to CTEK or sent to a friend of mine for repair. I was going to buy another but now their top of the line charger is north of $200. I don't see the value. I'd like to find out what other folks are using in the way of smart chargers with a pulse function that desulfates the battery plates. There's others out there that are far cheaper but I don't know how they perform.

hydro70guy · Aug 4, 2017

Ask this question in tool talk section, they talk a lot about batteries and chargers. Gets a little over my head but interesting. Also check
archives.

Joe

Steve@Advance · Aug 4, 2017

Could you open the case, cut the wires a few inches from the solder connection, splice in some new leads? The insulation is probably still good inside the case, protected from the elements. Just be sure to keep the polarity properly marked.

That's pretty common for Chinese made rubber, to rot and crack prematurely. If it's still a good charger, be a shame to discard it because of bad leads.

Check Break · Aug 5, 2017

Thanks. I'll check out tool talk. Unfortunately there's not much wire to solder to. The break is right on the end of the strain relief. I'd have to toss the strain relief to do what you suggest. The charger needs a receptacle where the strain relief is so the 12v leads can be removed and plugged back in. Maybe that's the solution. I have someone who can do that if it's possible. In the meantime I'll check out Tool Talk for a substitute charger.

Chilidawg · Aug 5, 2017

Location? Maybe one of us is close enough to help with the solder job.

gears · Aug 6, 2017

Optimate 3 or 4 (I use an older 3 model)

Advance auto just clearanced their Cteks I bought 8 of em, $7.50 for the little 8.0 and 21 for the bigger 4.3

Check Break · Sep 2, 2017

(quoted from post at 17:38:23 08/06/17) Optimate 3 or 4 (I use an older 3 model)

Update. Thanks for the Optimate tip. I couldn't help myself and bought the 10A Model 7 for the shop. It beats the CTEK hands down. I'll buy one of the lower amperage models for myself. The only downside to this charger is the price. Otherwise it's the best I've ever used.

CTEK Battery Charger

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