Thread: Projecta or ctek

Hi 953, it all depends on what you what to do with the battery charger, it's horses for courses.

Do you have large batteries that need to be charged as quick as the batteries will let you charge them, then go with the Projector.

If time is not a consideration, going on the info available from Ctek, this would be the better charger.

Although it would take MUCH longer to charge the battery to a full charged state, it does a better job of charging the battery correctly and therefore ( theoretically ) the battery should last longer.

Anther consideration is, how are you planning to use the battery once charged.

How many AH is your battery ? Less than 100AH and a 15A charger may be too big.

For a chinese job the Projecta brand does not seem too bad. Tried Repco for them at trade price. At least you can take it back if it fails.

BradM

PS Agree with Isusu110

Actually folks, unless it’s an AGM of less than 70 A/H, the 15 amp charging rate is of no significance other than it can charge quicker than the Ctek.

Most AGM batteries should not be charge with a current greater than 20 to 25% of the battery’s total capacity or in other words, a 15 amp charger can safely be used on AGM batteries of at least 70 to 75 A/H or bigger.

Flooded wet cell batteries are virtually self governing when it comes to the charging current so you can use a 1000 amp charger on them and not cause any harm to them.

Point is though, most battery manufacturers recommend a slow charge as being the better for the battery in the long term but a slow charge may not be convenient in many cases so it’s a trade off using a bigger charger.

Cheers

I brought a Projecta 1250 from Easter Auto Elec??? in ringwood for about $80 which I assume is similar to the CTEK. Its main purpose is to keep rarely used batteries charged.

ie My Disco only goes out every few weeks at the most, so this unit charges the battery, then lets it discharge, then charges etc.. and can be mounted in the car

Depends on What you purpose is.

Stu

Thanx 4 the replies,
I bought an Exide orbital, it has a 50amp/Hr rating & is sold as a combo deep cycle/starting battery. Im not sure if its a AGM GEL or whatever, it does`nt state that.
I wanted 2 use it purely as an accessories battery with the ablity 4 the odd emergency crank. I have another older charger with reasonable amps but no maintenance mode, so I figure Ill go the ctek 4 the purposes Im using it .
The disco is also fitted with the same battery 4 2 years now & has been great. I bought this battery at the club discount price of $192 which pretty much scrubs the cost of my annual membership fee.
Cheers Dean.

Hi 81stubee, is your charger a two ( or more ) stage charger, if so what is should do is charge the battery then once charged, it will drop the charging voltage back to a level that “maintains” the battery.

Info on Projector’s web site is not real clear on exactly how some of their chargers work.

What it should actually be doing is apply a voltage level to the battery that stops the battery from self discharging.