Alternative to an AM battery conditioner

[jonnyfox]

Just thought I'd ask the question. Aston Martin are quoting £310 for their battery conditioner with the mangntic contacts under the rear plate. Can anyone recommend an alternative of similar spec? Lol I do like the convenience of that idea however.

Thanks
Jonny

[V8LM]

CTEK MX5 with the connector that is available separately (eg. https://www.ebay.co.uk/c/842897370)

[Dewi 2]

I think Aston Martin might now be supplying a different trickle charger, but it used to be a CTEK product branded with the Aston Martin logo.

I needed to replace my original unit a few years ago, and was very lucky that it coincided with a post on here. We were helpfully told about a 'Black Friday' type cut price by Amazon. The offer only lasted a few hours, but I think I paid £35 for a new CTEK MX5 trickle charger.

At £310, that is some mark up ! 
Do you think they can sleep at night ?

It would be interesting if someone looks to see, what branding label is on the main dealer showroom trickle chargers.

[Buzz Killington]

Got mine from Clive at CCC charger.

https://www.cccharger.co.uk/

Look remarkably similar to the real thing at a 3rd of the price. I got the cigarette lighter version as required for my car but he does a magnetic one. Works very well so far.

[cayman-black]

V8LM said:

CTEK MX5 with the connector that is available separately (eg. https://www.ebay.co.uk/c/842897370)

This is what i use!

[Manners79]

Me too. Been using CTEKs for years on a variety of cars and now the Aston. Works perfectly. It even 'rescues' somewhat abused leisure batteries on my camper vans! And I can close and lock the boot on the cable on the first stage without damaging the cable or compromising boot security / weather protection (MY2011 V8V Roadster).

One thing to be aware of if you do have a wire trailing into the boot... I put a tag on my steering wheel (one of those "Remove Before Flight" ones cos I AM that tacky) just to remind me not to drive off with it still plugged in! Everyone else is probably smarter than me but I find it worth idiot proofing myself!!!

[cayman-black]

lol i did do that once , drove out of the garage with it still plugged in.

[redkite]

Lidl and Aldi both do one for around £12.

They have some great reviews, i use one on other Cars.

They stock them periodically in batches and they sell out very quickly.

[JonnyCJ]

Manners79 said:

Me too. Been using CTEKs for years on a variety of cars and now the Aston. Works perfectly. It even 'rescues' somewhat abused leisure batteries on my camper vans!

Thought I was the only one with a camper van and an Aston in the garage. Must admit I do have a chuckle at the difference in mindset between the two. One seats 6 and is happy chugging along at 60mph (65 Split), the other seats 2 (V8V) and is at it's best being chucked around country lanes at naughty speeds.

Both on a CTEK to remain on topic.

Edited by JonnyCJ on Monday 30th December 13:54

[Manners79]

JonnyCJ said:

Thought I was the only one with a camper van and an Aston in the garage.

To be honest they are so unbelievably different that in a weird way they work well together. The newer van (a 34 year old T25 so not exactly modern!) is pretty much my daily driver and soaks up kids, dogs, tip runs...all the stuff best kept away from the V8V! Then the Aston always feels special. There is also a '71 Bay awaiting a bit of TLC (which, when I drive it, gets more attention than the Aston!).

You can keep your 4x4s...the driving position in the van is awesome!!!!

[IanV12VSRs]

cayman-black said:

lol i did do that once , drove out of the garage with it still plugged in.

I’ve done that a couple of times as well. Clive (CCCharger) kindly developed an extender that means no harm done if you drive away with it still plugged in. I can tell you it works

[anonymous-user]

I have been using a ctek 0.8 xs on my car for a couple of years no problems.

[jonnyfox]

Thank you, I really appreciate all the advice. Will have shop this evening.

[mioh]

Last time I checked CTEK made battery conditioners for Aston Martin. Also for other car brands like Audi, Bentley, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lambourghini, Maserati, Maybach, McLaren, Mercedes, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce. All battery conditioners with the car brands name on the battery conditioners. Probably same electronics inside as the ones with the CTEK logo.

I've got two Ctek XS 3600 and three Ctek MXS 5 and they all doing a great job. Since CTEK sponsoring the club of Aston Martin Sweden some battery conditioners got nice stickers.




How I connected the CTEK to my DB9.

[LTP]

Late to the thread but a shout out here for an OptiMate 6.

https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/optimate-6

They are not to far from me so I drove over to pick one up; bought the cigar lighter accessory as well so I can plug it into the boot socket of the Vantage, plus an extended lead.

I now have the Optimate screwed to the wall of the garage near to a power socket using the charger's moulded-in fixing holes and I run the extended cable overhead on the roof joists, so it drops down just by the boot of the car when it's in the garage. No trailing cables on the garage floor and it's always ready to use. Tests, charges and conditions the battery (as I'm sure all the rivals do). I just hook the trailing cable and plug up out of the way on some handy nails when I take the car out.

Edited by LTP on Wednesday 1st January 15:47

[Shrimpvende]

I have a CTEK MXS 5.0 and the CC Charger magnetic adapter, grand total of under £100 so not too bad.

I do have a question though - do I need the AGM setting on the CTEK? I have the new vantage, all I can find in the handbook is that it is a 92AH battery - not what type it is.

Cheers!

[alscar]

Afaik the agm setting is only for a deeply discharged battery recondition.
Tbh I always just keep mine on the second setting ( car icon ) on all my vehicles connected.
Other than on the quad bike and lawn tractor obvs.

[Jon39]

mioh said:

A wonderful line of Asto Martins.

Club visit to the CTEK factory presumably.

[jonnyfox]

Buzz Killington said:

Got mine from Clive at CCC charger.

https://www.cccharger.co.uk/

Look remarkably similar to the real thing at a 3rd of the price. I got the cigarette lighter version as required for my car but he does a magnetic one. Works very well so far.

Thanks Buzz. Arrived today and works a treat. And thanks to Clive, must have put it in the post the morning after I placed the order.

[Buzz Killington]

jonnyfox said:

Thanks Buzz. Arrived today and works a treat. And thanks to Clive, must have put it in the post the morning after I placed the order.

No worries Jonny.