Ctek Multi 4.3 smart charger?

[hammick]

I bought a Ctek 4.3 smart charger. Seems like a great charger. Wondering if anyone knows the details of any temperature compensation this has. Below is what the manual says but it has a cold weather setting which ups the voltage. Now if it had actual temperature compensation why the need for the cold weather setting?


"Ambient temperature -4°C to +122°F (-20˚ to +50˚C), output power is reduced automatically at high temperatures"

"Cold weather program
14.7V/4.3A . Use for charging at low temperatures and for power AGM batteries like Optima and Odyssey. -4ºF–41ºF (-20°C–+5°C)"

[bluewoo]

Page 8 tells all http://smartercharger.com/wp-content...al-mus-4.3.pdf

Think its only by user

[hammick]

Thanks but page 8 doesn't say anything about whether it has automatic temperature compensation.

I would agree that page 8 could be read that it's only compensated by user but the wording in the spec that output power is automatically reduced at higher temperatures tells me there might be more to it.

Seems like there is some sort of auto compensation but being an anal bastard I want to know the details.

For instance a Deltran Battery Tender Plus has a sensor in it that adjusts the voltage based upon the ambient temperature. Deltran explain in great detail on their website how it adjusts and even gives the algorithm.

Not trying to over-think things but I don't want to over or under charge my battery bank.

Hopefully somebody at Ctek who knows these chargers will respond to my support inquiry.

[bluewoo]

I understand it as the user has the option only for cold storage mode and it will only automatically cut back voltage if over heating or high ambient temp. Don't worry about being anal - I'm with you on that (im the same way) and hope you get an answer from the manufacture. It looks like a great charger for keeping a healthy battery.

[hammick]

Did some testing on the Ctek. Put it on my dirt bike in motorcycle mode (14.4v and .8a) and absorption was at a steady 14.3v I put the charger in a box and heated up the inside with my heat gun to about 100 degrees. Voltage did not drop. I'll also try this test it in float mode.

Did the same thing with my Deltran Battery Tender Plus and it shut down shortly after blowing the heat gun on it.

I do think the Ctek is more likely to fully charge golf cart batteries though. It keeps charging when the BT Plus goes into storage mode.

I think I'll keep the Ctek for golf cart batteries and topping of the truck/car batteries and use a small battery minder with temp compensation for the motorcycles. The BT Plus will do full time duty on my sump pump battery.

[bluewoo]

Thanks for sharing!!