Tag Archives: battery banks

We had AAAA really good show!

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CTEK National Sales Manager (Australia & New Zealand), Mr Robert Briggs at the CTEK stand

We recently attended the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) Expo, that attracted almost 8,000 trade and industry visitors to the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour. The show was extremely well attended by many of our Australian and New Zealand distributors as well as many important industry contacts.

People visiting our stand were able to hear about the new products that we will be launching over the next 12 months, meet with key CTEK staff and learn about how by using the CTEK unique charging platform, consumers and professionals alike can ensure that batteries are charged to maximum capacity to deliver peak power performance every time the vehicle is started. We were delighted to welcome CTEK Category Manager Peter White to the stand – visitors really enjoyed hearing from him about the many different charging solutions, such as storage, battery maintenance and DC-DC onboard charging, that can be delivered through our extensive product range.

Our presence at the show was further boosted by three of our distributors Ashdown-Ingram, Bainbridge Technologies & Low Voltage who all reported that they had a good show and handed out many of our new product brochures.

All in all a good show was had by all – the automotive aftermarket sector is looking forward to the future with lots of positivity and optimism. We would like to say thank you to everybody who supported the show or visited our stand, we look forward to seeing you at the next one!

How to look after a battery in storage…

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Whilst regular battery maintenance is becoming more commonplace as part of a regular vehicle service, batteries in storage are more often than not left unmaintained, reducing performance and lifespan. By making sure that batteries in storage are charged and maintained, you considerably reduce the risk of battery failure.

It’s a startling fact that around 70% of batteries returned during warranty are returned due to battery discharge rather than fault. Here’s some battery storage best practice:

Temperature: The recommended storage temperature for most batteries is 15°C; the extreme allowable temperature is –40°C to 50°C for most chemistries. Lead acid must always be kept at full charge during storage.

Voltage: Since all batteries gradually self-discharge over time, it is important to regularly check the voltage, and then apply a charge when the battery falls below 100% charge. Failure to do this will lead to sulphation. This occurs when the battery is left undercharged and the electrolyte solution begins to break down, converting into lead sulphate crystals that coat the battery plates, reducing the batteries ability to accept and hold a charge.

Storage: Stock should be used on a first in first out (FIFO) basis. Best practice is on wooden pallets– this is to allow circulation of air at ambient temp (if stored on a cold concrete floor this can create a heat sink). No stacking of batteries – stacking can cause damage to casings/ handles and in extreme cases shorting of the battery below.

Keep Clean: A dirty battery can discharge more quickly than a clean battery (small amounts of voltage can track across the moist dirt to earth speeding the discharge process). Always clean off dirt and moisture

CTEK chargers revive, charge, condition and maintain all types of 12V lead-acid batteries including maintenance free types and all chemistries including Wet, Calcium, GEL and AGM. Chargers are fully automatic, foolproof to connect, spark proof and reverse-polarity protected, for user safety – making them the smart choice in battery care.

Sail away with some serious power from CTEK

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Maintaining sufficient power supply is considered by many to be the single biggest challenge for boat owners. The issues of low battery performance, poor charging, and limited availability of DC power are made more of a challenge by the pure nature of a boat’s power requirements. They run for long periods with no charge whilst also having a high demand for power such as starting and daily running. The ever increasing issues of larger power requirements together with restrictions on space and weight mean that today’s boat owner is looking for new, smarter and more effective solutions to battery charging.

With many charging systems lacking the sophistication required to charge batteries beyond around 80%, boat owners are not using available battery power to the maximum. The CTEK range of chargers combat this problem by using patented technology to condition, 100% charge and maintain all types of lead-acid boat batteries, thereby maximising performance and increasing the battery’s capacity.

By installing a CTEK D250S Dual Smart Charger and a CTEK Smartpass Complete Management Unit into their boat, boat owners will give their batteries the ultimate in performance, power and lifespan. This impressive combination delivers the clout needed charge and maintain larger banks of batteries to ensure that all of the boats heavy duty appliances like fridges, lights and other critical systems are sufficiently powered so that owners can enjoy the good times, without the hassle of a flat battery.

Historically the approach to low battery performance was to throw yet more batteries at it – a costly approach in terms of outlay and weight. Our powerful, compact and lightweight chargers enable boat owners to realise maximum capacity from their batteries, ensuring sterling performance and optimum battery condition.

By charging leisure batteries whilst on the move, the versatile CTEK D250S Dual DC-DC Smart Charger helps boat owners break free from over-reliance on AC power. It can also operate with solar or wind power to charge house batteries, and once these have been safely brought up to 100% state of charge, the D250S can also deliver a maintenance charge to the starter battery. Fully automatic, the 5 stage charger supplies up to 20A to all 12V batteries of 40-300AH and is IP65 classified ideal for marine use

CTEK’s Smartpass Complete Power Management unit boosts D250S charge capability further, minimising charge time to give maximum capacity sooner. Smartpass has a charging current up to 80A for 12V batteries between 28-800Ah.

The Smartpass will even ensure critical devices such as emergency lighting always function. When the voltage on the leisure battery is low, the Smartpass will protect the operation of critical appliances by disconnecting non-essential items until there is sufficient power to re-connect.

 

Workshops charged to guarantee battery performance

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Battery problems account for an ever growing number of workshop visits – when checked 1 in 5 vehicles arriving in workshops have a battery problem. Oil and other fluid levels, tyre pressures and brake condition are all regularly checked and monitored and with the help of CTEK’s unique technology, workshops can now offer this level of service to their customers’ vehicle batteries – easily, safely and without disruption to usual workshop routines.

To make the most of this opportunity the modern workshop needs to be equipped with an up-to-date battery analyzer.

Complemented by a CTEK charger and its patented 8-step cycle, workshops can automatically charge and condition a vehicle’s battery to ensure it is at full capacity while connected to the vehicle – identified problems will be dealt with by the charger or be brought to the attention of the technician.

The process

1. Workshop to test the battery using the analyser and printer when vehicle arrives.

2. The printout will indicate the battery’s condition a) good condition, no action is required b) good, but in need of a recharge c) replace the battery

3. Customer to be advised of the outcome as part of the review of additional work required

4. If the battery requires re-charge and the customer agrees to the cost of this service

5. The vehicle battery will be charged and conditioned by the CTEK unit

6. At the time of payment use the printout from the analyser as evidence for the customer of the work carried out

So, with state-of-the-art CTEK equipment, some minimal training and product familiarisation workshops will be able to create a completely new source of revenue and increase customer satisfaction whilst protecting and enhancing their business reputation.

Charging ahead with Lithium-Ion technology…

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Here at CTEK we have just launched the Lithium XS, a high efficiency, diagnostic 5A battery charger, specially designed to recharge and balance the cells of Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.

So we thought that we would take a look at Lithium-Ion technology, what it is being used for and the potential challenges that we face in maintaining them.

Whilst in the vehicle arena Lithium-Ion batteries are a relatively new concept they have actually been around for a number of years. Indeed lithium-ion batteries are incredibly well used – you can find them in laptops, PDAs, mobile phones and iPods. And the reason for their popularity is that they are lightweight, safe (just think how much we throw our mobile phone about) and hold twice the energy of a nickel-based battery – many of these benefits have huge appeal to car, motorcycle and other vehicle owners.

There are many different chemistries of Lithium-Ion batteries and when talking about vehicle batteries it is the Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery that is used as a direct replacement for the lead acid battery typically found in vehicles. Indeed the Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery holds four times more energy that of a lead acid battery and is much more light-weight. For these reasons we are starting to see the introduction of Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LifePO4) batteries in sports cars such as the McLaren MP4-12C (where weight is a priority) and other more niche markets such as mobility scooters are also increasing the use of them.

So why aren’t we all using them? Well the Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery doesn’t come without challenges…

Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are more expensive than their lead acid equivalent. Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries sometimes do not work to full potential in cold climates, at least until it warms up under a working load

But, all in all the future is looking bright for the Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. But don’t forget, whilst Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are lower maintenance alternatives to lead-acid, it’s still a good idea to invest in a specialized Lithium-Ion battery maintenance system like the CTEK Lithium XS. Developed using CTEK’s advanced and patented charging platform, the Lithium XS charger will ensure that batteries are charged to maximum capacity to deliver peak power performance every time the vehicle is started, and extend the life of these high performance, high cost batteries.

It was good to see you!

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This month we attended Automechanika, considered by many to be the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive industry. Taking place in Frankfurt, Automechanika provided the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors with the opportunity to exhibit their products to the thousands of visitors attending the show.

We were delighted to see so many of our customers at the CTEK booth, along with some key industry contacts – the event proved to be a really great opportunity to talk to the industry. It was clear to see that there is an increased focus on battery management, as buyers are looking to meet the demands that complex vehicle technology and battery chemistries are placing on the sector.

From a consumer perspective, there is clearly a real appetite for easy to use products to perform complex tasks using simple ‘plug and play’ operation. For the professional sector, many of our conversations centred around the increased requirement for battery support during flash programming to protect against damage to ECU’s and disruption to the diagnostic process. There was also a great demand for a charger with the ability to deliver a charge sophisticated enough to fully charge start-stop batteries.

Automechanika gave us a great opportunity to showcase lots of new and interesting products that we have added to our range. The design of our booth reflected the exciting new approach that we have taken to the CTEK design and brand building that can also be seen in packaging, leaflets and other marketing material.

The SMART choice in charger protection

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We have continued to expand our range of charger accessories by launching the CTEK Bumper, a cost effective solution that will provide maximum protection for CTEK MXS 3.6 and MXS 5.0 chargers. The easy to fit, hardwearing, silicone rubber bumper will ensure a strong defence against accidental drops, scrapes and scratches and help the charger grip on angled or slippery surfaces.

You should be all too familiar with the concept of the bumper case, a solution that is heavily used by smartphone users. Customer feedback indicated that CTEK owners wanted something to offer protection against bumps and scrapes, so we used the mobile phone bumper as the template for our design.

The CTEK Bumper is already proving a big hit with CTEK owners as it provides an inexpensive way to add extra protection.

 

Are you coming to Automechanika?

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During September we will be exhibiting at Automechanika, considered by many to be the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive industry. It is taking place in Frankfurt on 11th – 16th September and provides visitors with the opportunity to visit the 8 halls filled with a unique spectrum of products from the fields of automotive parts, car washing, workshop and filling-station equipment, IT products and services, accessories and tuning.

We will be showcasing our ranges of consumer and professional smart battery chargers that will ensure any 12V or 24V battery is optimally conditioned, charged and maintained. If you are attending Automechanika please come and visit us to discover how our award winning product range can provide complete battery management and care from one unique and patented system.

We will also be using the event as an opportunity to launch some new products and accessories.

So come along and find us at Hall 3, Level 1, Stand F81 – we look forward to seeing you there.

Opening times 2012

11-15th Sept – 9am to 6pm

16th Sept – 9am to 5pm

 

The importance of power whilst on the move

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With today’s power hungry motorhomes sporting more and more technological gadgets and systems, and the motorhome owners appetite for routes that take them off the beaten track, and therefore to sites without electrical hook ups, the charging and maintenance of the leisure battery is becoming an increasing challenge. Without the luxury of being able to a) power consumables (fridge, lights, TV etc.) whilst parked and b) give the leisure battery a decent over-night charge using mains power, motorhome owners need to ensure that they take a strong approach to battery maintenance to not only ensure continuous power to the battery but also ensure that the life and condition of the battery is protected.

It is a complete myth that charging from the vehicle alternator is the fastest way to charge your battery. Whilst when first turning on the engine the alternator can deliver a charge of up to 90 amps or more, it will very quickly drop off to a low level, effectively delivering a trickle charge that will probably never bring the battery up to 100% capacity.

By not charging the leisure battery up to 100% capacity, the battery will be cycled more often than necessary which will increase stratification, drastically reducing capacity. Even worse, sulphation will occur, reducing capacity event further and shortening battery life significantly.

By using a good quality onboard charging system, such as the CTEK D250S Dual, motorhome owners are able to safely condition and charge their batteries whilst on the move. With the capability to continuously deliver a 20 Amp charge to the motorhome battery, so for example the D250S Dual would take 4.5 hours to recharge a 90 amp hour battery.

When the motorhome is not on the road, the D250S dual can also act as a solar regulator, continuing to provide a charge to the battery even when the vehicle is stationary. When the leisure battery is fully charged it will divert solar power to the starter battery.

When going off the beaten track, the leisure battery becomes an even more important feature of the motorhome. Care and maintenance of the battery won’t only ensure that those vital consumables are working at all times, it will also considerably extend the life of the battery – we think by as much as three times – as well as maximising capacity.

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.