Been looking at Ctek and optimate, but I’ve no idea which one to buy
The ctek ones seem to do a bulk charging mode then a trickle mode, which I don’t know is any good for a gel battery
What make and model are you using?
Cheers
Personal choice but for the cold winter months when the cars tend to be hidden away a bit more than in summer, I use a spare Optimate (used to have more than one motorbike - down to one now) that I have for the Eumos on a lead acid battery.
For the Sport, with a gel filled battery, its connected to an Acumen charger (same style as the Optimate) with no obvious signs of any problems.
The Acumen was cheaper than the Optimate and purchased via the net from Busters Motorcycles Spares and Accessories.
 Ctek is my choice.
   Regards Geoff Peace.
I’m more than happy with my ctekÂ
 Its been said its down to personel choice I have used the opimate4 on both my mk2.5 sport and I will be using it on my Mickyako this winter when I put it away for the winter.
AlanÂ
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The CTEK has a much higher charge rate than the Optimate.
Over winter, I use a ÂŁ15 trickle charger from LIDL (that appears to be based on the CTEK). My dad had an Optimate but now also uses a LIDL charger as it’s much faster.Â
If you have a local branch keep an eye out for when the stock comes in as it usually sells fast.
Im waiting, its gata be soon, September, possible october, surely not november or later.
Hi
B&Q do a £15 smart charger. It’s a 2Amp which is excellent for keeping your battery charged over the winter.
R-B
 I have been told that the Panasonic original MX5 battery is not gel but AGM(Absorbed glass matting). This is basically a sophisticated lead acid battery that holds the acid in matting and does not leak.
Not sure what westco or optima are though.
I have two motorbikes and the MX5 and have used a single optimate charger to charge/condition all of the batteries for years. My own feeling is that it is unnecessary to leave the battery permanently connected to the charger/conditioner. I simply rotate the charger throughout the winter or during lean usage periods. I would also be wary of fast chargers - although convenient, I would expect them to put more stress on the battery and shorten its life.     Â
Got to be the CTEK XS3600 for me over the Optimate.
The CTEK can be switched between 3.6 amps for a standard lead acid battery or 0.8 amps for the AGM battery - both rates use an intelligent charge programme and on the 0.8 setting can be left on the car permenently in winter as a conditioner…
The CTEK is therefore good for all types of battery fitted to all cars.
The Optimate will only charge at 0.8 amps and would be rather slow on a large high capacity battery.
Whatever you do, DO NOT use a fast charger on the Panasonic AGM battery, you will irretrievably damage it and “blow out” the glass fibre.
 Ive had the £12 Lidl charger for about 5 years now...........No idea how good it is though as ive never had to use it. I just try to give the car at least one run per week during Winter weeks.
 In case anyone is interested Aldi are getting some chargers in on sunday priced at £13 something.
Cheers saintjanet
Is it this sunday coming?
I don’t see them listed on the website
It’s actually from Thursday 4th October. £13.99. Click on “Get your car ready for winter”
 Problem with both the ALDI and LIDL smart chargers maybe also with the expensive ones.
I let both the Panasonic in my Mk2 and the battery on the ride on go flat.
Both charges said Ok these are 6 volt batteries and charged them up to 6V and stopped.
So I got a £10 trickle charger that only gives out 0.25 amps and left on overnight. That took them up to about 12 Volts then put the batteries back on the smart charge for some hours and the smart charger then charged it up as if it was a 12v battery.
That was trying both the LIDL and the ALDI charger.
Â
Definitely not the CTEK. I’ve charged from flat, halfway and just top up with no problem.
Don’t know enough about the LIDL/ALDI ones but juging by the price I’d be suprised if they done what the CTEK does.
 A totally flat battery is to be avoided as seriously shortens its life if it can be recovered.
Got a totally flat battery on a MK2 I have just bought. My Optimate 4 can’t cope with it as needs at least 2 volts to activate the process. Guess I will have to stick it on a standard charger for an hour or so to generate enough life for the Optimate to take over.Â
rhino
I have read somewhere that if you let the Panasonic drop below 40% charged it can permenently damage the battery.
 Had a totally flat battery on my partners Skoda Fabia. I connected it to a good battery with jump leads but did not try to start the car and I also connected a Lidl charger to the Skoda battery.After about half an hour I carefully disconnected the jump leads and then left the charger on for nearly two days. This seems to have worked well as she has had no further trouble.Incidently when I first connected the charger without the jump leads all sorts of strange things were happening such as the indicators flashing and side lights coming on although they were definately switched off. I assume that by having the jump leads on it fooled the charger into starting a proper charging cycle.It seems this trick works if you haven’t access to a trickle charger.
Kev