Has your car battery died? If you’re in the market for a new battery charger, there are two industry-leading brands truly worth delving into – NOCO and CTEK. Both manufacturers produce some of the best battery-preservation accessories in the business, along with many other quality products.
While NOCO has over 100 years of experience in the battery preservation business – you can read our full guide on NOCO here – CTEK was founded over 25 years ago in a small Swedish village by inventor Bengt Wahlqvist.
Despite the company’s relative infancy in comparison to its competitors, CTEK is now regarded as one of the world’s leading suppliers of battery chargers and other related tech, but what makes its products so good? We’ve broken down why we like CTEK so much with some of our favourite products for you to check out.
In 1997, Bengt Wahlqvist created the first ever battery charger to use electronic pulse technology for smoother, faster and safer battery charging – the first smart battery charger had been invented. Since then, the company has worked tirelessly to advance battery management technology, and today boasts a wide range of products to suit different engine sizes, vehicle types and battery chemistries. Some are even portable battery chargers, which can double as power banks.
We’ve long admired CTEK battery and trickle chargers for their sturdy build, fast charging performance and user-friendliness – these really are plug-in-and-go chargers that any motorist can easily grasp.
The best CTEK products at a glance:
The best CTEK charger: CTEK CS FREE – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: CTEK MXS 10 – buy from Amazon
The best CTEK EV charger: CTEK NJORD Go – buy from eBay
How we tested a CTEK charger
We have tested the CTEK MXS 5.0 which makes the shortlist in this article. It was tested over the winter period while my 1985 Mercedes was off the road due to a fuel pump issue. This was to keep the battery from running flat while parked up.
The best CTEK products 2024
The best CTEK battery charger
If the rest of your personal devices run out of juice while on the go, this battery charger features USB-A and USB-C charging ports to get them back up and running, though we especially like this example for its sleek, buttonless design. With its countdown LEDs and easy-to-read display, this is one of the most user-friendly chargers out there.
Pros
- Doubles as a power bank, which is useful when camping
- Portable, meaning you can charge a car battery or other things on the go
- Easy to use and easy-to-read countdown indicator
Cons
- Can only charge up to 130Ah batteries, which is less than other CTEKs
The most adaptive CTEK charger
Got a dodgy cell? The CS One is also capable of detecting a battery that can’t be fully charged and will notify you accordingly. However, assuming everything is in order, the countdown indicator will show you when you can restart your vehicle and how long is left to go until fully charged. It might be an expensive example, but this really is the only battery charger you would ever need.
Pros
- Compatible for both lead acid and lithium batteries, unlike most others
- Polarity free clamps make connecting and disconnecting a bit easier
- Countdown indicator built within and additional app functions
Cons
- Possibly a bit overkill for what most people require
The best overall CTEK trickle charger
It has an eight-stage charging and reconditioning process, is weatherproof and is popular among motorists that don't regularly use their car.
I sampled one for myself and was greatly impressed by its build quality; it feels like a premium product and belongs in a premium car showroom, trickling away special vehicles. I was also impressed by the fact that every time I disconnected it, the engine on my car fired right up without hesitation. This indicates to me that the MXS 5.0 kept it in good health over the cold winter period.
What I didn't find pleasing was just how much the optional extras in my sample charger added up to. I worked out in the end that the whole bundle would've totalled north of £140 - and that's including buying the item in the first place.
Read our full review of the CTEK MXS 5.0 here
Pros
- Very premium-feel and overall build quality
- Keeps most car batteries in good health, requiring no effort from the user
- The IP65 waterproof rating adds reassurance against little splashes
Cons
- The CTEK extras do add up in price
The best CTEK trickle charger for performance cars
The charging process is eight-stage, much like the 5.0, and it delivers twice the charging AMP (10A rather than 5A). It comes with the same level of extra equipment as the 5.0, meaning if you wanted to shell out on an extension cable and other accessories, it would cost quite a bit more on top of your standard purchase.
Pros
- Temperature sensor means it can optimise charging better than others, depending on the weather conditions
- IP65 waterproof rating makes it safe against splashes and dust
- Sublime build quality and materials, as well as more powerful charging than the 5.0
Cons
- The optional extras still cost a massive amount on top of the charger
The best CTEK charger design
This charger also features CTEK’s reconditioning mode, as well as its patented sulphation function: the pulsing of current and voltage to safely remove sulphate from the lead plates, restoring the battery’s health. Compatible with all 12-volt lead-acid battery types and complete with a reconditioning mode
Pros
- Very cool Gulf livery design in reference to historic motorsport
- IP65 waterproof rating ensures it's safe from splashes
- Has a time indicator and reconditioning mode
Cons
- Won't support lead acid batteries
Pros
- The more useful option if you wish to charge lithium batteries
- Capable of charging 5 to 60Ah batteries and can maintain up to 120Ah
- Has the same tech and capabilities as an MXS 5A charger
Cons
- Doesn't represent as good value as the chargers for lead acid batteries
Pros
- Very useful item to carry in the back of an EV
- Can be controlled by your phone via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Copes well in extreme temperatures, thanks to cooling tech
Cons
- Will never be as powerful as a rapid charger or similar
CTEK: FAQs about battery chargers
Can you get EV accessories other than the NJORD charger?
CTEK also produces a range of EV charging accessories, including wall boxes, charging cables, charging points and portable chargers. To ease the day-to-day pressures of EV car charging, CTEK maintains a cloud-based web portal for users to manage charge scheduling and view user statistics. There isn’t that much in the way of jump starters though apart from the CS FREE, and other brands offer better suited machines for that purpose.
Are battery/trickle chargers safe to use in the rain?
The best thing you can do is look out for an IP65 waterproof rating when looking for your next car battery charger. An IP65 indicates that a product is splash proof, but not completely waterproof. An IP66 can resist against water pressure, and IP67 is labelled on products that are completely watertight for up to 30 minutes under 1m of water depth.
What is the difference between the CTEK CT5 and MXS 5.0?
The main difference is the compatibility of the batteries they can charge. The CT5 charges anything between 20 to 160Ah, whereas the MXS 5.0 can happily charge batteries that are as small as 1.2Ah, but still being able to go up to 160Ah units. The CT5 also has a battery countdown indicator which tells you when your battery will be fully charged, via the hour labels on the face of the unit. If you do have capability on your mind, you can read our full guide on battery boosters for large engines here.
What is the difference between the CTEK MXS 5.0 and 3.8?
If you’re shopping for a CTEK battery charger, you will come across these two options at under the £100 mark. The main difference is that the 5.0 comes with a battery reconditioning mode, and the 3.8 doesn’t as it uses a slightly more rudimentary pulse maintenance setting – which isn’t quite as advanced. The MXS 3.8’s battery capabilities are a little smaller as it can only charge batteries with up to a 130Ah capacity, whereas the 5.0 can charge up to 160Ah units.
Can you leave a CTEK charger on all the time?
If you have one designed for trickle charging, you absolutely can. That’s what they’re designed for. Many owners of cars that aren’t in use for a while at a time tend to use trickle charges to stop the batteries from going flat. CTEK and NOCO are the preferred brands for them, and you will find that many prestige car dealers will use CTEK units to keep their stock in check.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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