Finding the correct battery charger to suit your needs can be difficult. We offer battery chargers from leading brands Midtronics, CTEK and DEFA. These brands are well known within the automotive industry for their technology, reliability, useful features and ease of use

We have created this Battery Charger Buying Guide to help you find your new charger.

Consumer

If you are looking to maintain your vehicles 12v battery at home without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong with a CTEK MXS 5, 5A smart charger. Priced at under £100 you get a lot of charger for not a lot of money. Fitted with CTEK’s 8 step charging, MXS 5 will de-sulphate your battery and once charged, the charger will enter a float mode. Float mode allows you to leave the charger connected for months at a time, whilst protecting the battery from overcharging and damage.  

Another great consumer charger from CTEK is CS ONE. This charger is the easiest charger to use on this list. Fitted with CTEK’s APTO (adaptive charging) technology and polarity free clamps, the charger does all the thinking for you. The clamps can be connected to either of the battery poles and as soon as they have been connected you don’t have to press any buttons or set any modes. The charger will automatically determine what battery you have connected and start efficiently charging. Connect to the CTEK app for more functionality. CS ONE is also able to charge Lithium batteries including LifePO4.

Workshops

For most workshops we recommend CTEK PRO 25S. Delivering 25 amps of charging power, the PRO 25S is a great fit for most workshops. Fitted with CTEK’s 8 step fully automatic charging, you not only have an efficient way to charge a battery, but you know that the battery is leaving your workshop in the best possible condition. PRO 25S also offers a 25A Supply Mode that can support workshop diagnostics and is compatible with all 12V batteries, including Lithium. CTEK also offer the PRO 25SE, fitted with the same technologies as the PRO 25S however it is fitted with 5 meter cables and comes included with a handy wall bracket.

If you are looking for a 12V & 24V workshop charging solution, CTEK offers the MXTS 40. Offering 40A when charging at 12V or 20A for 24V sets, MXTS 40 is a tried and trusted charger for workshops that charge a mix of 12V and 24V systems. Changing modes and voltages is easy to see on the built in display. For diagnostics, MXTS 40 offers user adjustable output voltages and automatic parallel load compensation which makes sure that the power supply voltage and amperage is constant. Any batteries you connect to the MXTS 40 will be charged and maintained thanks to CTEK’s built in 8 step fully automatic charging routine, with dedicated modes for AGM and Ca/Ca batteries.

Fleet/Heavy Duty Workshops

For fleets we recommend Midtronics ChargeXpress Pro 50/2. CX Pro 50/2 is a twin output diagnostic charger offering both 12V and 24V charging. Using the 2 sets of clamps you can either charge 2x 12V batteries at 25A each or a 24V battery set at 50A  total, with each battery in the set receiving the same charge without the need to disconnect the brace. There is no need to worry about damage to the battery due to the built in cahrger safety features. The charger has peak voltage detection and uses its intelligent charge mode to charge the batteries safely and efficiently. Simple one button operation allows you to easily start the charger and switch modes.

For workshops requiring a lot of power for diagnostics, CTEK Pro 60 and Pro 120 are both fitted with the same powerful features but have different amperage. Pro 60 has up to 60A of power and the Pro 120 has up to 120A. In power supply mode, the chargers will deliver a selectable output voltage in 0.1v increments. For charging, the adaptive charging technology will automatically analyse the battery and select the optimal current for safe and efficient charging (Lead-Acid only). Whilst using the charger, sensitive electronics will be protected due to its low ripple and no flutter.

Showroom

Showroom charging poses a unique challenge. Customers looking for a hands on experience with vehicles want to test the vehicles features however, This places great strain on the vehicle battery and is not advisable without provision of a connected power supply.. Showrooms require chargers that are out of sight and reliable to keep batteries charged and maintained. DEFA’s Showroom charger range combats these issues with cleverly designed chargers with powerful features. Available in 2  12V model of  32A and 50A respectively, there is a showroom charging solution for whatever vehicle you are demonstrating. To keep the charger hidden, the cables are detachable allowing you feed the cables through the engine bay to the charger under the vehicle. The chargers will not be heard either, thanks to the convection cooling design meaning no noisy fans The chargers have a simple one button design allowing non technical staff to easily set up the chargers. DEFA’s 50Aversion also includes 12V  Lithium charging.

On the Go

Always on the go and need a charger to stay with you? CTEK CS Free allows you to charge wherever you are, without the need to be connected to the mains. Fitted with an internal battery, CS Free can be taken with you and will retain its charge for 6 months. You can also use this to charge other devices such as smartphones and tablets.  Using CTEK’s Adaptive Boost technology, CS Free can do the job of jump cables whilst reviving your battery safely. There is also no need to select modes on the charger, it will automatically determine the battery and start charging. For fully off the grid charging, connect CS Free to a CTEK Solar Panel.

Conclusion

Whether you are a private consumer or running a national fleet business, the product that is right for you is available from Rotronics. Below is a summary of all of the chargers features.

If you require more support choosing what charger is right for you, contact a member of the team today.