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Do you think it's important to use the MB charger (instead of a CTEK charger, for example) for regular daily trickle charging? Or is it only necessary for recovery of a deactivated battery?
Hi,
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; Apr 17, 2022 at 04:47 PM.
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.
Either that, or the Ctek is recognized by many as a quality product.
Hopefully that. They were also likely the first into that market space. Often products that were first and retain a favorable market position are simply better designed.
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.
Stengel, The date on the article about A123 is 2015. Unfortunately, they have gone out of business. It was a great technology.
Hi Dave,
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; Apr 20, 2022 at 07:32 PM.
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.
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.
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?
checked my 18 GTC today. The compartment had a portable tire inflator and a tire repair kit - no trickle charger
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.
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.
it appears that that is what has happened. Probably too late to contact the dealer.
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.
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.
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; May 7, 2022 at 04:10 AM.
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
Hold reset for 10 seconds then the full led lights.
If the battery doesn’t need charging, no lights are displayed on the charger, is that correct? (Except for the green power LED)
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.
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
Hi Stenzel, thanks. In my case, 10 sec hold on Reset and the full battery led briefly flashes, that’s it. I guess if the Batt is full, no LEDs will flash or stay lit, even if it’s providing a maintenance trickle or pulse?
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.
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
Should this be a put on take off routine or put on and leave?
... 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.
FWIW, I use that socket (GTR Pro) at the end of track days to re-inflate my tires for the drive home. It's an "always on" connection.
FWIW, I use that socket (GTR Pro) at the end of track days to re-inflate my tires for the drive home. It's an "always on" connection.
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?
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