Category Archives: Uncategorized

Think Pink!

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Recent research undertaken by CTEK has identified that a whopping 87% of women undertake some form of DIY, with activities ranging from decorating to car maintenance. The survey also identified that whilst only 27% of females had charged their car battery, 61% said that yes they would attempt a charge if required.

And so CTEK brings you the PINK Bumper – an ideal product to make your CTEK charger just a little more lady like!

The CTEK PINK Bumper is a cost effective solution that will provide maximum protection for CTEK chargers from 3.6A to 5.0A. The easy to fit, hardwearing, silicon rubber bumper will ensure a strong defence against accidental drops, scrapes and scratches and help the charger grip on angled or slippery surfaces.

CTEK starts Analyzing!

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Working in partnership with the world’s leading authority in electrical battery testing we have launched the CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer, a simple to use unit that tests, with high accuracy, the condition of all types of 12V lead-acid batteries, and provides an immediate indication of any action that is required.

Key features of the product are:

Compatible – the CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer is compatible with all types of 12V lead-acid batteries including Wet, Maintenance Free, Ca/Ca, Gel and AGM

Wide testing range – the CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer can test batteries ranging in size from 200A to 1,200A

Ease of use – simply attach to battery and follow the on screen instructions

Safe – producing no heat or sparks, the CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer also undertakes the test without placing a load on the battery, protecting the user, the battery and ECU settings

Fast, Accurate Results – the CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer tests the battery in seconds providing an instant on screen result which advises what action should be taken, either:

  • Battery Good – the battery is in good condition and there is no need to charge the battery;
  • Good Recharge – the battery is in good condition but charging is required to restore capacity;
  • Charge and Retest – charge the battery and test again (the Battery Analyzer wants to ensure the battery can retain the charge) or
  • Replace Battery – the battery can no longer be relied upon to provide adequate service and should be replaced immediately

The CTEK 12V Battery Analyzer has patented test functions for maximum accuracy and comes with a 2 year warranty.

Our entry into battery testing reflects the huge changes in vehicle technology. In order to ensure that the battery is providing optimum power to the vehicle, owners need to not only make sure that the battery is fully conditioned and charged, they increasingly need to be aware of the state of the battery too so that they can ensure the most appropriate action can be taken.

Check out our Comfort Indicator Cig Plug

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We have continued to expand our range of chargers and accessories by launching the Comfort Indicator Cig Plug, an accessory that will provide car owners with a simple way of identifying the state of their battery, without the inconvenience of attaching an independent battery tester, or indeed even lifting the bonnet.

By connecting to the battery via the cigarette socket, The CTEK Comfort Indicator Cig Plug can be left securely attached to the vehicle at all times and using a simple ‘traffic light’ system, provides a very simple and immediate indication to the charge levels of the battery.

The Comfort Indicator will indicate the battery’s condition:

  • Green – the battery is fully charged and does not need attention
  • Orange – the battery is below 90% state of charge, charging is recommended to avoid stratification
  • Red – the battery is below 80% state of charge and needs to be charged immediately, not only to be able to start the vehicle but to avoid the danger of the battery being permanently damaged through excessive discharge leading to sulphation – the biggest battery killer

The CTEK Comfort Indicator Cig Plug also features the unique CTEK Comfort Connect system that allows it to be attached to all CTEK 12V chargers up to 7A, permitting easy access to the battery for it to be charged.

As winter approaches, the Comfort Indicator Cig Plug is the perfect accessory for car owners who don’t have the facility to leave vehicle batteries on permanent charge or who have multiple vehicles sharing a single charger. What’s unique about this particular accessory is that it can be connected permanently to the vehicle without even having to attach it directly to the battery, making it even easier to check a batteries charge levels on a regular basis.

The CTEK Comfort Indicator Cig Plug offers peace of mind for car owners and helps avoid the inconvenience and potential expense of a flat battery – maybe it would make a nice Christmas present!

The BIG Question!

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Quite often we get asked the question ‘is a maintenance free battery really maintenance free?’ and the simple answer to this question is no – it isn’t! In maintenance free batteries, the electrolyte is sealed inside the battery case and cannot leak or create fumes outside the battery – which from a safety perspective is a good thing. Due to the fact that it is sealed however, the battery cannot be topped up with distilled water so effectively it isn’t maintenance free it’s maintenance impossible! Regardless of whether your battery is maintenance free or not you still need to ensure that the battery is regularly charged and conditioned to ensure that it is delivering maximum power to the vehicle.

It’s a big myth that maintenance free batteries don’t need charging – they are still placed under huge strain due to sophisticated vehicle electronics that require an ever-present electrical supply. Indeed with battery related problems being the number one reason for breakdown assistance call-outs across the globe it’s more important than ever to regularly use a battery charger to ensure that the battery is kept in optimum condition. This will protect against costly call out charges and the frustration of a breakdown.

Due to the sealed nature of the battery motorists need to make sure that an appropriate level of charge is delivered to the battery, this is because the ambient temperature can significantly affect the charging process. If the ambient temperature is above 25 degrees, batteries should be charged at a lower voltage to avoid overcharging. If a battery is overcharged it will lose water through evaporation, and water is something that we have established cannot be replaced in a maintenance free battery.

The best charger to use to protect against fluid loss is a smart charger, such as the CTEK MXS 5.0. Using state of the art technology to determine accurate readings of the battery’s charge and condition, the CTEK charging system will ensure that the appropriate action is taken to optimise the battery for use, thereby maintaining the batteries reliability and protecting it against fluid loss. So remember, maintenance free really isn’t maintenance free at all!

 

Cream of the crop in battery charging

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Agricultural workers are used to the short windows of time that they have to complete essential work during the year. Whether this be just a few weeks, days or hours, it is key that all vehicles and machinery are in correct working use for this period in order for optimum efficiency.

A flat battery on a vehicle could prove to be a financial disaster for a farmer’s business. Due to the nature of work in agriculture, machinery spends a much greater length of time in storage, for it then to be taken out seasonally at particular times through the year – any delays in usage, even for just a few hours, could prove to be very costly.

These long storage periods mean the batteries are prone to deep discharge, with capacity and longevity problems likely. To protect the battery against these potentially costly problems it’s really important that the battery is regularly charged and conditioned by a battery charger that can deliver an appropriate charging cycle.

Using patented technology, the CTEK MXS 10 smart charger will relieve worries over vehicle battery life with a 10 day ‘float’ ensuring maximum charge level for ‘in season’ usage, and patented ‘pulse’ maintenance to maximise battery life for extended storage during the year. The MXS 10 is intended for unsupervised use, making it perfect for the months when not in use.

Does recycling mean we are throwing batteries away too early?

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Did you know that as much as 99% of a 12V lead acid battery regularly used in cars, motorbikes, golf buggies, motorhomes and other leisure pursuits is recycled? So we can dispose of our batteries safe in the knowledge that we won’t harm the environment, but are we in fact harming our bank balance sooner that we need to?

Some very basic research that we undertook at a recycling centre indicated, through just testing battery voltage alone, that up to 72% of batteries disposed have a voltage above 5V. Many of these seemingly dead batteries could be revived through a recondition and recharge. This won’t be the case with all of them, but even if 50% of batteries that are disposed of could be revived, just think how much less we would spend on batteries every year.

This figure backs up other research that we have undertaken in automotive workshops that has highlighted that as many as one in three vehicles have an undercharged battery. This will cause sulphation, something which hampers the batteries ability to accept or retain charge and it could eventually kill the battery.

A regular battery charge as part of a maintenance routine could easily double or triple a battery’s service life, significantly reducing the number of battery failures and therefore the number of batteries being produced and recycled.

The CTEK MXS 5.0 battery charger offers a unique eight step-approach to battery care, available at the touch of a button, to ensure that any lead-acid battery is optimally conditioned, charged and maintained. As well as offering a diagnostic function to determine whether a battery can not only take but retain a charge, the MXS 5.0 removes harmful lead-sulphate from the plates using its patented desulphation mode before commencing its charging cycle, while the unique ‘Recond’ reconditioning mode can be selected to restore deeply discharged batteries which would normally be discarded.

 

Buyers of used cars may be missing basic vital signs.

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How long does the average used car buyer take to check that they are actually getting a good deal? Well, if you follow the recommendations, quite a long time!

A standard ‘guide to buying a used car’ will advise consumers to check a whole host of potential problems, from the condition of the tyres to the clutch pedal, several even point out the ‘hidden’ costs of buying a used car such as car tax and insurance rates. Once this decision to purchase has been taken however there are other basic checks that you should carry out before you start driving your new purchase that won’t be covered under vehicle warranty.

  • Oil – Under the bonnet, wipe the dipstick then stick it back in to get an accurate reading and top it up with the recommend type of oil if it’s too low. Running an engine without oil can cause no end of problems ultimately resulting in the engine seizing up all together and having to be replaced.
  • Lights – Are all your lights working, or has a bulb gone? Switch them all on then walk round the car. Make sure you test indicators in both positions and get a friend to check whether your brake lights work when you press the pedal.
  • Tyres – Check the tyre pressures and look for any signs of damage or uneven wear. Check the tread depth – the legal limit is 1.6mm but when it gets below 3mm, starting thinking about replacing them.
  • Battery – Give the battery an overnight charge as soon as you get the vehicle home to bring the battery up to maximum capacity. The used car up for sale will be subjected to a variety of ‘checks’ on electric windows, stereos, heated seats, air conditioning and other electronic functions, along with several short test drives that will have drained the battery.
  • Water – Check the water (coolant) level. When the engine is cold, it should be between the max and min marks on the coolant reservoir. Only do this with a cold engine.
  • Windscreen wipers / screen wash – Top up your screenwash with a mixture of water and anti-freeze. Follow the instructions on the anti-freeze bottle to work out how much to put in. Running out can be dangerous, especially in winter.

These factors won’t necessarily result in immediate vehicle failure in the car showroom or seller’s home but this is something that may strike shortly after purchase. To protect against costly breakdowns as a result of not undertaking basic vehicle checks, we recommend undertaking all of these checks as you get the vehicle home. Dealers will happily undertake repairs that fall under warranty but won’t be prepared to rectify problems caused by lack of basic maintenance.

Can you improve your green credentials?

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Over the past few years we have seen new regulations come into force, requiring retailers selling batteries to provide collection and recycling facilities for the eventual disposal of the 800,000 tonnes of automotive batteries placed on the EU market every year.

This ruling however won’t have a great deal of impact on the environment – the automotive battery is already considered by some to be one of the most recycled products in the world.

The increased care and maintenance of automotive batteries however would dramatically reduce battery failures, in turn cutting down carbon emissions and ultimately the needless replacement of thousands of tonnes of automotive batteries every year.

It is heartening to learn that in America as an example, as many as 99% of batteries are turned in for recycling. It is also good to understand that the majority of the battery components can be reused – the lead in a 12-Volt battery can be recycled, the electrolyte repurposed and the plastic ground up and reused. Whilst this activity significantly reduces environmental impact in terms of landfill pollution there is still the requirement for the battery to be transported numerous times from initial consumer disposal, to recycling plants and subsequent distribution of the separated battery parts. Recycling 800,000 tonnes of battery isn’t quite as good for the environment as it first seems; think of the effect on our carbon footprint.

Our research indicates that whilst as many as 1 in 3 batteries are not working to full capacity, they are not defective. A regular battery charge as part of a maintenance routine could easily double a battery’s service life, significantly reducing the number of battery failures and therefore the number of batteries being produced and recycled.

Let’s not also forget the financial impact on the consumer; by regularly using a battery charger, such as the CTEK MXS 5.0, to protect and maintain batteries, motorists can keep their batteries healthy and avoid expensive replacement costs of new batteries.

Undertaking regular battery charging and conditioning can increase your green credentials, save you time and money whilst also ensuring that your vehicle starts first time, every time.

CTEK now available from Halfords stores in the UK

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In the UK, we have teamed up with Halfords, the UK’s leading retailer of automotive and leisure products to offer our award winning range of chargers and accessories. Using www.halfords.com customers can order and pay on line and the charger will be delivered free to their local store for them to pick up at their convenience.

Halfords web based sales figures make for interesting reading indeed 87% of their online orders are collected in store and these figures aren’t just unique to Halfords, other retailers such as John Lewis and Next are also seeing a big increase in store collection.

Web enabled shopping within the automotive sector is growing, with customers selecting and purchasing goods outside stores, or making informed decisions about what stores to visit based on their research. It’s good to see that consumers still value the benefit of face to face information and advice that they can get from the retailer when they collect the product from the store.

So, as the weather improves and consumers think about getting cherished vehicles ready for the season, we are expecting to see lots of CTEK chargers being collected from Halfords stores!

Car owners shift to maintenance from distress

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We recently undertook a survey that identified 94% of car owners associate battery care with vehicle reliability. 84% of those surveyed viewed battery charging as a preventative measure rather than a distress activity, highlighting a growing awareness of the need to regularly charge a car battery.

With modern vehicles placing their battery under greater strain than ever before through sophisticated electronics that require an ever-present electrical supply, the CTEK survey completed by 1,114 people, has identified that consumers now have a greater understanding of the importance of battery care and maintenance.

The high power demands of modern vehicles and the drain from parasitic loads such tracking devices and alarms means that a battery can now potentially become flat much quicker. It’s therefore really encouraging to see the increased awareness surrounding battery charging, which until very recently was viewed by the majority of motorists as something that you only did when your car wouldn’t start.

Regularly charging and conditioning can extend battery life by as much as 300% and prevent the risk of a flat battery – go and give your car battery some love!