to trickle or not to trickle
The following 3 users liked this post by Acta_Non_Verba:
#27
Looks like CTEK has a good sales rep who knows how to close deals with car manufacturers. $;-))
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Stenzel-Germany (04-17-2022)
#29
Super Member
No, of course you don't need it every day. But if you park for weeks, it is certainly a good recommendation. It can't do any harm.
Balancing should also only take place in this mode.If you do this regularly, it doesn't take long.Would consider it maintenance.
I personally charge now from 2 weeks. Have a 2nd MB C-tec in the garage.Lasts 2 x 1 minute.Makes me feel better
Can't tell if all C-tec are the same.Some have a "mode" button, some have a "reset" button.They are also available with 3 to 14 LED controls.
I do not believe it, but believing is not knowing.
As I mentioned in my review, my GT battery was 3 times in the "I am dead" mode.I have several (exactly 14 :-) ) good chargers from 5 different manufacturers.
And only the original MB C-tec charger managed (several times) to resuscitate the battery.
That is my personal experience.
Can every C-Tec do this?I do not know that.Since I don't own any other C-Tec apart from 2 MB C-Tec.
Best regards
Stenzel
Last edited by Stenzel-Germany; 04-17-2022 at 04:47 PM.
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det000 (04-18-2022)
#30
Junior Member
I have been working with Lithium based batteries for several decades. They are very different from the lead acid batteries we are accustomed to have in our cars. Li-ion batteries have a finite number of cycles and keeping them on a chemistry-specific charger/tender will enhance their life. By a lot. I purchased a CTek for my 2018 GTS.
The following 5 users liked this post by Dave Backmarker:
Acta_Non_Verba (04-18-2022),
det000 (04-18-2022),
reignz (04-18-2022),
Stenzel-Germany (04-20-2022),
thebishman (04-18-2022)
#32
Super Member
Hi,
Found this:
Charged EVs | A123 shifts focus to starter batteries - Charged EVs
Think its the OEM.
There's a lot more, than cells.
Best regards
Stenzel
Found this:
Charged EVs | A123 shifts focus to starter batteries - Charged EVs
Think its the OEM.
There's a lot more, than cells.
Best regards
Stenzel
#33
Junior Member
Stengel, The date on the article about A123 is 2015. Unfortunately, they have gone out of business. It was a great technology.
#34
I have the MBZ/CTEK and a NOCO genius 10, both of which seem to do the same job ... depending upon which side of the garage in which the GTR is parked.
#35
Super Member
did not know that.Thanks for the hint.
In the picture, the battery is 100% identical to my installed one.Even the bus connection is there.
Even if the company no longer exists, they probably used to make the batteries for MB.(My GT was assembled in September 2017)
I was just trying to show that these batteries consist of much more than a few cells.
You can clearly see the electronics / balancer unit.
Best regards
Stenzel
Last edited by Stenzel-Germany; 04-20-2022 at 07:32 PM.
#36
Yes, definitely more than just cells. The dealer had to replace the battery on mine when I bought it as it was dead from sitting around undriven. The service advisor told me they had to program the battery to the car.
#37
Super Member
Hi,
what i found out . Many chargers charge with current pulses.Various C-Tec also do this.
This is also good for normal batteries.But not for lithium batteries.
The end-of-charge voltage is also slightly lower.So you should make sure that it really is a lithium-compatible charger.
his means that normal batteries can also be charged without any problems.
I still don't know what the ominous "Reset" button does. (Must push with Lithium Batteries)
Suspect he's sending secret morse codes to the battery.Content: I am a expensive MB charger, accept me.:-) :-)
At least that's how it seemed to me. This MB charger works.
Best regards
Stenzel
what i found out . Many chargers charge with current pulses.Various C-Tec also do this.
This is also good for normal batteries.But not for lithium batteries.
The end-of-charge voltage is also slightly lower.So you should make sure that it really is a lithium-compatible charger.
his means that normal batteries can also be charged without any problems.
I still don't know what the ominous "Reset" button does. (Must push with Lithium Batteries)
Suspect he's sending secret morse codes to the battery.Content: I am a expensive MB charger, accept me.:-) :-)
At least that's how it seemed to me. This MB charger works.
Best regards
Stenzel
#38
Member
Originally Posted by moellerandersen;[url=tel:8546770
8546770[/url]]On the left side in the trunk, I see:
- The 12V outlet to trickle charge
- The compartment in the bottom for the tow hook
- The hidden compartment on the side for the wheel repair kit
I do not see the trickle charger itself. I thought it came as standard with the car (see enclosed photo from the brochure) or am I mistaken?
- The 12V outlet to trickle charge
- The compartment in the bottom for the tow hook
- The hidden compartment on the side for the wheel repair kit
I do not see the trickle charger itself. I thought it came as standard with the car (see enclosed photo from the brochure) or am I mistaken?
#39
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
#40
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2018 Diamond White GT-R
Stealerships and past owners keep these to sell down the road. My GTR was raped of 1 key, charger, all manuals, luckily, I was refunded 1K by the selling dealership to cover the cost of replacement.
#41
Member
Originally Posted by 57 GTR;[url=tel:8552657
8552657[/url]]Stealerships and past owners keep these to sell down the road. My GTR was raped of 1 key, charger, all manuals, luckily, I was refunded 1K by the selling dealership to cover the cost of replacement.
#42
As long as you purchased a new or certified car from a Benz dealer, my attitude would be "if it's on the build sheet, it's part of the car and needs to be supplied" ... but I'd approach it gently.
#43
Junior Member
Thread Starter
just an update since I started this thread: I ended buying the Mercedes branded unit at the dealership, it was only around $150, which is basically the same price as the no-name brands I've seen, there's only one version of trickle charger Benz sells and it's good for all types of batteries, including the Lithium in the GT, I had their mercedes corp tech confirm this to the parts clerk who didn't know. I also called 3 other dealerships and asked the same question, they all came back with the same response: the one Benz sells is made for all battery types. I used it already successfully btw.
#44
Super Member
Hi Gil,
Thanks for feedback.
Good choice. It is best, to use the charger regularly. Recommend you, every 4 weeks, overnight.
Just see this as part of normal maintenance. I am confident, that it will extend the life of the lithium battery.
Important: After connecting, press the reset button for about 5 seconds, until one of the yellow LEDs on the charger lights up.
Best regards
Stenzel
Thanks for feedback.
Good choice. It is best, to use the charger regularly. Recommend you, every 4 weeks, overnight.
Just see this as part of normal maintenance. I am confident, that it will extend the life of the lithium battery.
Important: After connecting, press the reset button for about 5 seconds, until one of the yellow LEDs on the charger lights up.
Best regards
Stenzel
Last edited by Stenzel-Germany; 05-07-2022 at 04:10 AM.
#45
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W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
Hi Gil,
Thanks for feedback.
Good choice. It is best, to use the charger regularly. Recommend you, every 4 weeks, overnight.
Just see this as part of normal maintenance. I am confident, that it will extend the life of the lithium battery.
Important: After connecting, press the reset button for about 5 seconds, until one of the yellow LEDs on the charger lights up.
Best regards
Stenzel
Thanks for feedback.
Good choice. It is best, to use the charger regularly. Recommend you, every 4 weeks, overnight.
Just see this as part of normal maintenance. I am confident, that it will extend the life of the lithium battery.
Important: After connecting, press the reset button for about 5 seconds, until one of the yellow LEDs on the charger lights up.
Best regards
Stenzel
If the battery doesn’t need charging, no lights are displayed on the charger, is that correct? (Except for the green power LED)
#46
Super Member
Hi Surge,
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
#47
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W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
Hi Surge,
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
On a related note, can that rear 12V socket be used for anything else? I noticed it won’t power a tire inflator even with the engine running. The manual says 150W max, but my pump is below that and it doesn’t work.
#48
Super Member
Hi Surge,
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
Lithium battery:
If you connect the trickle charger, nothing normally happens (no yellow LED) until the reset button is pressed.
After 5 (rather 3) seconds, an LED lights up and shows the "charging status".
If the battery is charged, the last (Full) LED should be lit.
(This is never the case with my battery, since the charge management is 80%)
Would charge anyway at 100% & 24 h, does no harm and gives the battery time to balance.
Best regards
Stenzel
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bluedelusions (10-23-2022)
#49
#50
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W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
The rear socket doesn’t work with my inflator. I know the current draw is limited on that socket. But not sure if it’s just dead altogether. Does anyone know know where the fuse is for the rear socket?