Tag Archives: D250S Dual

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!

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.

 

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.

How to get batteries in perfect shape without shore power

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How to get the most out of electricity generated onboard

Join CTEK’s media workshop to learn more about these solutions. 17 November at METS in Netherlands (Marine Equipment Trade Show).

Batteries are like people. They suffer if they are left alone but will be your reliable friends if they are given proper attention. The focus for this attention in a boat has mainly been the shore power chargers. These have improved over the years and usually work quite well. There are significant differences between brands, but a boat that has been connected to shore power for a while could be expected to have batteries in quite good shape.

Much less attention has been spent on improving the current management when shore power isn’t available. Multiple battery banks were introduced many years ago, initially to guarantee engine start. Dedicated batteries for anchor winches and bow thrusts came later, to protect sensitive functions underperforming deep discharged batteries. Every new function and component further increased the complexity and reduced the efficiency of the electrical system onboard. Electricity onboard is controlled by diodes, switches or various types of relays. Their main purpose was to separate and isolate battery banks.

CTEK have introduced a family of modularized products that handles all these issues following a completely different concept. The system is based on a new principle onboard – separating consumption and charging of electricity. All electricity that is either generated onboard or transmitted to the boat either used directly or stored for later use.

The “Energy Management System” is a new component, SmartPass, that controls the flow of electricity onboard so that:

  • The Starter Battery is protected to guarantee start.
  • The Service Battery is charged with the voltage and current that maximizes life and minimizes charge time, even from a basic alternator.
  • Consumers, like fridge, light and navigation operate independent of the Service Battery when the engine is running.
  • The Service Battery is protected from harmful deep discharges and over temperatures
  • Dual alternators are flawless synchronized

The SmartPass works best when it is combined with a dual-input DC/DC charger and battery separator, CTEK D250S Dual. This unit could be used as a stand-alone unit:

  • Converts the alternator to a multi-step temperature compensated unit.
  • Voltage Sensitive Relay for separation of Starter and Service batteries
  • Solar panel regulator with Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT)
  • Maintenance charge also of Starter Battery.

Together these units perform even better. Based on these two components a Smart DC Grid could be designed by anyone after 15 minutes training. The system will provide the boat owner with more available battery capacity and longer battery life than any other system on the market.

For more info – please come to the Press Meeting November 17, 13.30 – 14.30 or 15.00 – 16.00 at room D404, Elicium Tower or contact Börje Maleus, see below

CTEK Adds To DC/DC Charger Range

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The DC/DC chargers when you don't have access to mains power

CTEK has launched both the D250S Dual and CTEK SmartPass, a new range of innovative DC/DC onboard battery chargers.

CTEK’s DC/DC chargers are powered from the alternator and, will not only charge leisure batteries, but also condition and extend their life, saving the consumer valuable time and money.

The new D250S Dual refines all DC sources including alternators, and solar and wind power, to perfectly match the amount of charge the battery requires whilst minimising charge time.

As with all CTEK chargers, the D250S Dual is a multi-step charger that automatically adjusts the charging voltage and current according to the battery state of charge and temperature – reducing a battery’s charge time.

A sensor inside the CTEK charger senses the surrounding temperature and adjusts the required charge by increasing the voltage from 14.4V to 14.7V in cold weather ensuring the battery is fully charged, and dropping the voltage in hot weather to avoid the problems of overcharging.

Available to work in tandem with the D250S Dual, the CTEK SmartPass is a total energy regulator for energy production, usage and storage in any 12V DC system.

The CTEK SmartPass allows energy produced from solar, wind, AC chargers and alternators are synchronised to maximise output and minimise charge time. The energy is then able to be distributed to different battery banks and/or equipment such as lights and navigational systems that need additional energy supply, while ensuring the battery remains fully charged.

Combining the CTEK D250S Dual and CTEK SmartPass ensures optimal battery charging.

The CTEK SmartPass manages the energy transfer through the CTEK D250S Dual, which then converts and produces the optimal voltage of 14.4V, even if the alternator only produces 14V.