Who uses CTEK MXS 5.0 for their winter trickle charger/tender?

[ORRadtech]

I generally use the Battery Tender brand and always hook directly to the battery with an extension to someplace convenient.
I know people have hooked to the fuse box but these over engineered cars BMS systems can cause issues. If I'm connected directly to the battery I know the maintainer will keep the battery topped up.

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[MCS]

Yeah, I can appreciate that. For me I'm going to hook to the terminals until I can get some time to get in there and build a more "plug and stay" kind of approach that I've seen in other threads.

 

[Balr14]

I have used that model CTEK battery tender for years. It works great. On some cars, it just plugs into the "cigarette lighter" (or whatever it's called now) port inside the car. I don't know if that would work on a Mustang, so I didn't try.

I also have a good battery charger that can do a lot more, like test the efficiency of your alternator, check the condition of each battery cell and correct cells that show sulfating. I mention this in case you are looking for more aggressive battery maintenance. But, the CTEK is silent, these chargers are not.

I need the charger more for lawn and garden equipment than my car.

 

[K4fxd]

The difference is a trickle charger charges all the time, a maintainer turns on and off and will not over charge the battery.

 

[WD Pro]

I have an extension for the CTEK and have it hardwired in the car with a plug hidden that I just plug into and close the hood. Having said that, I learned the hard way to check if I'm plugged in before backing out of the garage. Now, after having replaced the broken extension, I hang my ID holder on the steering wheel, anytime the car is hooked up.

Been there, done that ...

For those that spotted the CTEK extension lead with my Christmas presents, that was a replacement as I have been dropping it down the side of the engine so the charger can hide under the car with no wires coming out past the cowl or over the headlights / paintwork etc :

But when you drive off and forget about it you have to buy a new one ...

Fortunately the charger wasn't connected and it did zero damage to the car - after 20 miles it had survived surprisingly well with only a partially melted section (no shorting) and a scuffed plug on the end of the lead that was trailing under the car, I was very lucky

This is my idiot solution so it doesn't happen again :

WD

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[ORRadtech]

I have used that model CTEK battery tender for years. It works great. On some cars, it just plugs into the "cigarette lighter" (or whatever it's called now) port inside the car. I don't know if that would work on a Mustang, so I didn't try.

The BCM turns the "Power Points" (cigarette lighter) off after 10 minutes or so. So I doubt that would work well.
I always connect directly to the battery. That way the car cannot interfere with maintaining the battery.

 

[GTP]

I use a Schumacher tender that I got half off for $10. Works great. Quick-connect harness stays on the car, connected to one of the 3 fuse box leads and to the ground lug at the shock tower.

I also used a $7 Harbor Freight tender with no problems.

I have found that a battery not strong enough to start the car, will do so after overnight charging, or in the worst case after a couple of days (if you're in no hurry).

 

[ORRadtech]

Battery didn't have the power to crank it over. Had to jump start it from my winter beater (whoever makes jumper cables so short needs to be shot).

Consider getting yourself a jump pack. Much, much easier to deal with when needing to jump start a car and removes any possibility of electrical system damage from another car. I keep one in all my cars. They hold a charge for a long time, i only top them off once or twice a year.
Photo for example only.

 

[Qcman17]

The BCM turns the "Power Points" (cigarette lighter) off after 10 minutes or so. So I doubt that would work well.
I always connect directly to the battery. That way the car cannot interfere with maintaining the battery.

Is this the case that power is cut from the cig lighter after 10 minutes? I always unplug my dash camera from it for fear of the battery going dead if I left it plugged in?

 

[young at heart]

I generally use the Battery Tender brand and always hook directly to the battery with an extension to someplace convenient.
I know people have hooked to the fuse box but these over engineered cars BMS systems can cause issues. If I'm connected directly to the battery I know the maintainer will keep the battery topped up.

So yeah, will a simple hookup to the actual battery terminals then run the lead out from under the hood not work anymore? This is how I’ve always done it in the past but I’m not up on modern battery and charging technology so I could be missing something. This way the actual tender unit doesn’t have to go along for the ride nor do you have to open the hood.

 

[Snakebyte]

I was surprised that EVERY car, all 500 or so, at the Melbourne FL Muscle Car Museum had a CTEK maintaining every car battery. I've known large car collectors that take the batteries out, and others that follow a maintenance schedule for hooking up/charging batteries periodically, but that was a first for me. Pondering the different options taken, the muscle car museum had a better solution of the museums I'm familiar with for battery health. But there was definitely quite an investment in maintainers for those 500 or so cars.

 

[ORRadtech]

So yeah, will a simple hookup to the actual battery terminals then run the lead out from under the hood not work anymore? This is how I’ve always done it in the past but I’m not up on modern battery and charging technology so I could be missing something. This way the actual tender unit doesn’t have to go along for the ride nor do you have to open the hood.

Yes, that's what I was saying. I always hook directly to the battery terminals. Just use a long enough connector to get the plug where you want it. Amazon sells cords up to at least 25' so you could put the end pretty much anywhere though I don't think I'd want it all that long.

 

[ORRadtech]

Is this the case that power is cut from the cig lighter after 10 minutes? I always unplug my dash camera from it for fear of the battery going dead if I left it plugged in?

They definitely turn off after a period of time. It may not be exactly 10 minutes but it's definitely less than 30. It's been awhile since I sat in the car after turning it off but I think it may time out with the screen, which is 10 ish minutes.
You should try it and see. Turn the car off and sit inside, w/o opening a door, and time it.

 

[MCS]

Consider getting yourself a jump pack. Much, much easier to deal with when needing to jump start a car and removes any possibility of electrical system damage from another car. I keep one in all my cars. They hold a charge for a long time, i only top them off once or twice a year.
Photo for example only.

I am actually thinking of one of these this weekend when I had to bring my winter beater within 2" of my baby's front bumper..

 

[Skye]

From the Ford Performance instruction booklet.

Whichever tender you do purchase and install, I'd follow their guidance and instructions.

If considering wiring the unit in, for the safety of you and the car, disconnect the battery at the (-) first. Most know to keep safety in mind. Some don't.

When re-connecting the battery, it's going to be quiet. About 30 seconds on, you're going to hear all kinds of things energize; this is normal.

A slight buzzing sound from the tender when in use is also normal. The FP and CTEK unit displayed has a series of stages. The first four light up within an hour or two and the next three in the next 24 hours. The last and eighth stage might not light up until close to two weeks after connecting.

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