CTEK is well known for its high quality vehicle charging solutions, offering chargers suitable for consumers and professionals. A lot of CTEK’s products have their unique 8 Step charging technology built in, but what does that mean and how does it work?

Some other chargers on the market will provide the battery with a certain voltage and that’s it. Leaving the battery for extended periods could overcharge and damage the battery, leading to irreparable damage. CTEK’s 8 step charging system is designed to not only charge the battery but to also protect and care for it. Most of CTEK’s chargers are fitted with their unique 8 step charging system. This not only charges the battery but also tests it to see if it can even accept a charge in the first place, avoiding the risk of overcharging. So, how does the 8 step charging work?

Step One – Desulphation

Before charging takes place the charger will disulphate the battery. Sulphation occurs when a battery is deprived of a full charge for an extended period of time. The charger’s voltage will pulse, this will remove the sulphates from the lead plates inside the battery, restoring the battery’s capacity.

Step Two – Soft Start

After de-sulphating, the charger will test the battery to see if it can accept a charge and to check its capacity. Once the charger has tested the battery it will then move on to step three.

Step Three – Bulk

Charging starts! Using the maximum current available, the battery will be charged as safely and efficiently as possible. The charger will continue on step three until the battery’s capacity reaches 80%.

Step Four – Absorption

Charging continues however the current will start to decline. By decreasing the current it will protect the battery’s capacity, increasing its lifespan.

Step Five – Analysing

Once the charging stage has completed, the charger will then test the battery to see if it can hold the charge that it has received. If the battery cannot hold the charge it will need to be replaced.

Step Six – RECOND Mode

RECOND mode is CTEK’s specially designed function for reconditioning deeply discharged batteries. If your battery does not need reconditioning, this optional step can be skipped.

Step Seven – Float Mode

Once the battery has been fully charged the charger will maintain the battery voltage to keep the battery fully charged. It will give the battery a fixed low level of current for 10 days, before moving on to step eight. 

Step Eight – Pulse Mode

If  long term maintenance is required, and to avoid overcharging and damaging the battery, the charger will go into Pulse mode. This mode will continuously monitor the battery and maintain charge between 95%-100% capacity depending on what the battery requires. This is what allows you to connect the charger long-term and forget about it.

What products are fitted with 8 Step charging?

You can find CTEK’s 8 step charging in a variety of their products, from consumer products such as MXS 5.0 and also in professional workshop chargers like the PRO60 and PRO120. CTEK’s 8 step charging makes charging simple by allowing you to connect the charger to the battery and not have to worry about damage whilst also protecting the battery from sulphation and, if using the RECOND mode, acid stratification – another battery killer