Beware: Aldi Automatic Battery Charger

[p38arover]

I bought a couple of Aldi AutoXS CPL2054 automatic battery chargers a year or so ago and they have worked really well.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/728.jpg

Recently, Aldi had them again so I bought another as did a friend. Whilst they look the same, have the same part no., and the instructional text is identical, they are not the same.

The most obvious difference was the inclusion of illumination for the LCD screen. Inconsequential, I know, but that's what made me look further.

On initial connection, the LCD screen shows the correct battery voltage cf. several of my digital voltmeters.

However, on pressing the Mode switch to start the charge cycle, the metering in the charger reads 0.75 volts low. "So what?", you ask. Well, it means that the charger thinks the battery is low on charge so it commences charge at the 3.8A rate. The problem is that it continues to read low and keeps charging the battery even when the battery is fully charged and then overcharges the battery.

As you can see from my pics below, the battery voltage is 14.86v and the charger reads 14.1 volts and the bars on the right indicating full charge are not yet fully illuminated.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54408&stc=1&d=1355445263

When it reached 15.04 volts, the charger read 14.2 volts and the bars were fully illuminated but the charge indicator still flashed.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54409&stc=1&d=1355445263

Eventually, the system decides the battery is charged and switches to standby. But wait! There's more. The battery terminal voltage now falls slightly so the charger, still reading low, thinks the battery is discharged so it starts charging again.

This testing was done on a near new battery in my Rangie.

Thinking I'd got a faulty unit (see my faulty good thread http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/36525-my-propensity-buying-faulty-goods-continues.html) I took it back and exchanged it for another.

Well, the replacement does the same and will be returned for a refund. To triple check, I borrowed my friend's unit which was still in the box and, guess what, it's the same. My recommendation to her will be to return hers for a refund.

So, I wouldn't recommend these recent ones to anyone unless I can be convinced I'm totally wrong and, if you have bought one recently (since October), check it.

[Yorkie]

ron,maybe your meter is incorrect, have you checked that? :angel:

(see faulty good thread http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-ch...continues.html)

:D :p

[p38arover]

I did. :D

I have 5 digital meters and they all read the same.

[Blknight.aus]

the motor cycle setting is for much smaller batteries.

if you use it on a full size battery it will overcharge a larger battery. (its something to do with the way the thing reads the voltage and internal resistance of the battery)

Grab the Ctek Manual for the same style charger the units are all but identicle internally the warnings are in the Ctek manual.


if you need to slow charge a battery and run a higher maintenance charge then put it on the snowflake icon.

[101 Ron]

I usually get a good run from Aldi products, but I have had issuses with two battery chargers I have purchased from them the same as above.
One was from the first batch sold a few years ago and the other from a batch sold about six m0nths ago.
The last one would only show half of the display and the earlier one worked OK for about six months of occansional use before it died.
Thanks for the info about over charging.........I wasnt aware of that one.
I will throw it.
I dont mind too much as I have done very well with other Aldi purchases like their generaters, winches, UHF radios etc.
Ron

[p38arover]

the motor cycle setting is for much smaller batteries.

if you use it on a full size battery it will overcharge a larger battery. (its something to do with the way the thing reads the voltage and internal resistance of the battery)

I wasn't using the motorcycle setting although the charger would get used for my bike - note the car icon on the display.

[p38arover]

The last one would only show half of the display and the earlier one worked OK for about six months of occansional use before it died.

One of the reasons I bought this one was that one of the previous units had the display fail like yours.

[Yorkie]

ron, i have a jaycar unit i paid about $70 for, think it is 3.6v charge and trickle charges, has bike and car setting. no issues so far and for the money cannot complain. :)

[p38arover]

ron, i have a jaycar unit i paid about $70 for, think it is 3.6v charge and trickle charge

3.6 volts is a bit low for a car battery. :p

[Orangi]

Mine has come up with the Error message and will not go away. Tried it on two other batteries. Unfortunately I can not find my ALDI receipt.

[loanrangie]

Mine has come up with the Error message and will not go away. Tried it on two other batteries. Unfortunately I can not find my ALDI receipt.

Shouldnt matter if you bought it in the recent sale.

[incisor]

mine is still going great...

[d2dave]

I dont mind too much as I have done very well with other Aldi purchases like their generaters, winches, UHF radios etc.
Ron

I purchased a generator from Aldi a few years back. It would not start.

Before I took it back I thought I would have a look to see if it was something simple.

Turned out no fuel was getting past the fuel tap, so I took it back.

They offered me another but I said no thanks, if this is what quality control is like I will take a refund.

[Don 130]

Mine has come up with the Error message and will not go away. Tried it on two other batteries. Unfortunately I can not find my ALDI receipt.
As far as I'm aware, the Dept of fair trading says you don't need the receipt if you can be show you bought the item from that merchant.
Those are not sold by any other merchant.
Don.

[Orangi]

Thanks Don, Aldi gave me a refund without fuss. As I walked out another check out lady said that it was the second one for the day.