I bought my caravan 2nd hand and was pleased that it included a 15A Ctek charger under the bed to charge the onboard battery(ies) when connected to 240V. Noticed fairly recently that it was a bit noisy but then next time I checked it was quiet (still running). Just found out that the charger now will not turn on. No lights, indicators, nothing. Power OK at 240V socket so Cket must be stuffed.
It is well out of warranty so I have contacted Ctek in Sweden and they tell me that there is no one in Aus who can fix it. IS THIS TRUE?? Surely there must be someone who can. I thought it must be a fuse on the 240V side but investigations (opening the casing) prove this to not be the case. Ctek will fix it but charge me 73 Euro (Currently about $AUD 110) PLUS postage both ways. This could nearly be the price of a new one. Anyone know of a fixer for the unit here in Aus??
aussie_paul said
02:56 PM Mar 19, 2016
The Setec is not worth spending any money on. They are a substandard 240volt charger only partially charging the house batteries. I have installed a separate multi stage charger to operate when on mains power BUT more importantly when I use the genset for coffee machine, aircon etc the batteries are being significantly charged. That and the DC to DC charger from the tug, have really improved my ability to live away from mains power.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:58:45 PM
DeBe said
05:39 PM Mar 19, 2016
Un fortunately what people don't seem to realize is any Switch Mode Power has a life span. This is related mainly to the Electrolytic capacitors in them, they deteriorate (dry out). At the first signs of them playing up replace all the capacitors. If power supply fails its usualy catastrophic & not worth repairing. With any SMPS longer life is accompanied by keeping them cool (if it has a fan make sure it is working, some are temperature controlled) Heat is a killer of electronic equipment.
-- Edited by DeBe on Saturday 19th of March 2016 05:39:48 PM
JackoFJR said
06:03 PM Mar 19, 2016
I have a CTEK 5amp charger only a few months old .
Camping at Mallacoota a week ago , I plugged it into a power point in the Park Laundry , to charge a AGM batt , it got that hot , I could only touch the back of it for about 10 seconds ,
Thought it must be buggered , tried it when we got home , all good .
Any thoughts ?
DeBe said
06:58 PM Mar 19, 2016
If it gets that hot its too hot, expect a short life. Any decent charger will have a cooling fan built in.
Marken said
07:12 PM Mar 19, 2016
Thanks for the input.
Now I might as well open up a whole NEW can of worms by asking what replacement charger (15A or more) should I get??
Yuglamron said
08:36 PM Mar 19, 2016
I have a CTek 240 Volt version that has a supply mode which runs the fridge which is 12 Volt only. Any time I am on mains it's on. No problems so far three years on.
My Two Cranking batteries are Optima red top 12 volt wired for a 24 volt output. I have a Projecta mains powered charger which has been running them for three years pretty much full time. I reckon the Projecta brand are more substantial and reliable so would recommend them.
Bryan said
10:24 PM Mar 19, 2016
JackoFJR wrote:
I have a CTEK 5amp charger only a few months old .
Camping at Mallacoota a week ago , I plugged it into a power point in the Park Laundry , to charge a AGM batt , it got that hot , I could only touch the back of it for about 10 seconds ,
Thought it must be buggered , tried it when we got home , all good .
Any thoughts ?
Jacko, I read somewhere that a 5 amp charger is too small to charge a big battery although the ctek site reckons it can do it
-- Edited by Bryan on Saturday 19th of March 2016 10:26:52 PM
JackoFJR said
11:57 PM Mar 19, 2016
I don't know what the problem was at Mallacoota , it's doing the job just fine now at home , only just warm charging the same battery .
wasn_me said
03:00 PM Mar 20, 2016
aussie_paul wrote:
The Setec is not worth spending any money on. They are a substandard 240volt charger only partially charging the house batteries. I have installed a separate multi stage charger to operate when on mains power BUT more importantly when I use the genset for coffee machine, aircon etc the batteries are being significantly charged. That and the DC to DC charger from the tug, have really improved my ability to live away from mains power.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:58:45 PM
You're right Paul Setec chargers are very poor performers. I think the poster is referring to Ctek chargers. I've had a 7 amp Ctek in my workshop for about 10 years with no problems. I had one in a past van with no problems..
Cheers Pete
aussie_paul said
03:46 PM Mar 20, 2016
aussie_paul wrote:
The Setec is not worth spending any money on. They are a substandard 240volt charger only partially charging the house batteries. I have installed a separate multi stage charger to operate when on mains power BUT more importantly when I use the genset for coffee machine, aircon etc the batteries are being significantly charged. That and the DC to DC charger from the tug, have really improved my ability to live away from mains power.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:58:45 PM
You're right Paul Setec chargers are very poor performers. I think the poster is referring to Ctek chargers. I've had a 7 amp Ctek in my workshop for about 10 years with no problems. I had one in a past van with no problems..
Cheers Pete
Oops.. Just when I thought I knew everything
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Sunday 20th of March 2016 04:13:42 PM
Woody n Sue said
09:10 PM Mar 20, 2016
I too have had a Ctek charger for some years now on the farm and it has never missed a beat also have two in my van one for 240 and one Dc to Dc they get my vote
Marken said
06:36 PM Mar 21, 2016
I thought that aussie_pauls opinion of the Ctek a bit harsh as I believed that it was just about the bees knees of chargers. I just thought he spelled it wrong!!! Anyway I have decided to use my spare Ctek (25A) and cut the wires off the old one to put a temporary connection via an Anderson plug with an extra fuse for when I really need to have a charger in place. It was a bit extravagant having TWO Ctek chargers around I suppose but it was there anyway. Thanks to everyone who offered their advice. Regards
-- Edited by Marken on Monday 21st of March 2016 06:41:24 PM
Two Strays said
11:26 PM Mar 22, 2016
Hi all
I have used and still use a Ctek 15000 charger for eight years. Initially I used it for 3 years in my Jayco Heritage charging the inhouse battery. Now it is used to maintain two Deep Cycle batteries for HF and VHF radios. I also use it to charge vehicle batteries when required. I have had no trouble at all with the unit. I would have no hesitation in purchasing another one.
Happy Caravaning
oldtrack123 said
12:29 AM Mar 25, 2016
aussie_paul wrote:
The Setec is not worth spending any money on. They are a substandard 240volt charger only partially charging the house batteries. I have installed a separate multi stage charger to operate when on mains power BUT more importantly when I use the genset for coffee machine, aircon etc the batteries are being significantly charged. That and the DC to DC charger from the tug, have really improved my ability to live away from mains power.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:58:45 PM
He does say a CTEK, not a Setec
Having said that the op may find some electronics repairer who may have a go but If it is a special part, it may only be available from CTEK who may decline to sell.
I bought my caravan 2nd hand and was pleased that it included a 15A Ctek charger under the bed to charge the onboard battery(ies) when connected to 240V. Noticed fairly recently that it was a bit noisy but then next time I checked it was quiet (still running). Just found out that the charger now will not turn on. No lights, indicators, nothing. Power OK at 240V socket so Cket must be stuffed.
It is well out of warranty so I have contacted Ctek in Sweden and they tell me that there is no one in Aus who can fix it. IS THIS TRUE?? Surely there must be someone who can. I thought it must be a fuse on the 240V side but investigations (opening the casing) prove this to not be the case. Ctek will fix it but charge me 73 Euro (Currently about $AUD 110) PLUS postage both ways. This could nearly be the price of a new one. Anyone know of a fixer for the unit here in Aus??
The Setec is not worth spending any money on. They are a substandard 240volt charger only partially charging the house batteries. I have installed a separate multi stage charger to operate when on mains power BUT more importantly when I use the genset for coffee machine, aircon etc the batteries are being significantly charged. That and the DC to DC charger from the tug, have really improved my ability to live away from mains power.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of March 2016 02:58:45 PM
Un fortunately what people don't seem to realize is any Switch Mode Power has a life span. This is related mainly to the Electrolytic capacitors in them, they deteriorate (dry out). At the first signs of them playing up replace all the capacitors. If power supply fails its usualy catastrophic & not worth repairing. With any SMPS longer life is accompanied by keeping them cool (if it has a fan make sure it is working, some are temperature controlled) Heat is a killer of electronic equipment.
-- Edited by DeBe on Saturday 19th of March 2016 05:39:48 PM
Camping at Mallacoota a week ago , I plugged it into a power point in the Park Laundry , to charge a AGM batt , it got that hot , I could only touch the back of it for about 10 seconds ,
Thought it must be buggered , tried it when we got home , all good .
Any thoughts ?
Now I might as well open up a whole NEW can of worms by asking what replacement charger (15A or more) should I get??
I have a CTek 240 Volt version that has a supply mode which runs the fridge which is 12 Volt only. Any time I am on mains it's on. No problems so far three years on.
My Two Cranking batteries are Optima red top 12 volt wired for a 24 volt output. I have a Projecta mains powered charger which has been running them for three years pretty much full time. I reckon the Projecta brand are more substantial and reliable so would recommend them.
Jacko, I read somewhere that a 5 amp charger is too small to charge a big battery although the ctek site reckons it can do it
-- Edited by Bryan on Saturday 19th of March 2016 10:26:52 PM
You're right Paul Setec chargers are very poor performers. I think the poster is referring to Ctek chargers. I've had a 7 amp Ctek in my workshop for about 10 years with no problems. I had one in a past van with no problems..
Cheers Pete
Oops..
Just when I thought I knew everything
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Sunday 20th of March 2016 04:13:42 PM
I thought that aussie_pauls opinion of the Ctek a bit harsh as I believed that it was just about the bees knees of chargers. I just thought he spelled it wrong!!! Anyway I have decided to use my spare Ctek (25A) and cut the wires off the old one to put a temporary connection via an Anderson plug with an extra fuse for when I really need to have a charger in place. It was a bit extravagant having TWO Ctek chargers around I suppose but it was there anyway.
Thanks to everyone who offered their advice.
Regards
-- Edited by Marken on Monday 21st of March 2016 06:41:24 PM
He does say a CTEK, not a Setec
Having said that the op may find some electronics repairer who may have a go but If it is a special part, it may only be available from CTEK who may decline to sell.