Battery chargers

OutkastBoss

OutkastBoss

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Saint louis
I just got a Optima d34m it is the same as a yellow top chemically in every way but the case and the auxiliary posts are on top.

Anyway I was thinking of getting the Noco Genius 3500 or 7200
I have the Noco genius 720 charger for our atv batteries and really like it.


What do you guys use and do you think its worth spending the $ on the Noco 7200 for the extra features?
 
I use a CTEK MUS4.3 for my AGM and lead acid batteries. It is a charger/maintainer system and has lawn&garden, conventional lead acid, and AGM settings. Mine has worked great. It retails for about $80.
 
The Noco and CTEK look very similar in design and operation to me.
 
the CTek mus 4.3 and the G3500 seem to be almost identical with 8 stage charging and agm modes with deep discharge recovery and desulfation.

The Noco is suited up to a 120ah batt where the Ctek is up to 110 ah. Not that it matters since both are well above what I need .

also the Ctek charges at 14.4 / 14.7 / 15.8 V
and the Noco is more variable with 4 voltage changes that do not go as high at 7.2/14.4, 7.4/14.7V (Cold/AGM)

The Ctek is the only one that states it has automatic detection of end-of-life batteries that eliminates surprises.. I figure either the Noco has a similar feature or you would see it does not charge to the 100% on the indicator anyway.

http://www.geniuschargers.com/G3500/specs
http://smartercharger.com/products/batterychargers/ctek-multi-us-4-3/

Ctek has been around longer and has a great reputation and most rebranded high quality chargers like porsche or the like use are usually cteks.. Found the mus 4.3 for $63

The Noco is a newer brand that is on par with Ctek and a lot of people seem to be really happy with their stuff. I have the smaller noco charger for my daughters atv batteries and have been happy with it. It seems to have a slight edge in ability to handle a better battery and might be slightly easier on the batt with a more variable charge rate that doesn't go as high. found it for $58

These are virtually a tie in my book with Noco being tested and approved and Noco being the new guy pushing to be the best.
 
If we move up price wise we would compare C-teks new Mus4.3 test and charge that I found for $109.

It is the same as the 4.3 but with test features
"Three easy to use programs to test battery voltage, start power and alternator performance to provide a complete picture of battery and vehicle charging system health."
I think we may have a winner here, This one sounds useful.

Lets compare to Noco's next offering in that price range the G7200 at $99
It offers 12 step charging and is a beast for charging 14-230ah batteries.

The 7200 offers
"Step 12: The 16V BOOST mode is used to recover battery capacity from a stratified (sulfated) battery by applying a specialized high 16.5V (17V Max) voltage to soften and melt down sulfate from the battery plates so that the material becomes usable again."

This one is too strong for my 5ah agm battery for my rc crawlers.
I have the Noco750 for that. ( it maxes out at 30ah)
It would be cool to be able to use the extra battery recovery features like desulfation that aren't on the 5 stage g750 I currently own though.

It has a charge rate of 4.4/28.8V, 14.7/29.4V (Cold/AGM)
starting at the lowest rate of all the chargers mentioned here but having the highest rates by a lot.

http://www.geniuschargers.com/G7200/specs
http://smartercharger.com/2013/12/c...y-alternator-testing-functions-one-charger-2/

Looks like Ctek 4.3 test and charge is going to be the winner out of this price range.

hmm.. C-tek makes a mxs 5.o $92 that seems to be similar to the 4.3 with variable charge automatically adjusted relative to ambient temperature.
It also comes in the test and charge model as well for $175

If you don't need the test gimmick the 5.o seems to be the best value with the most features.

here is a cool video of the test features Ctek now offers. ( im sure they can be done cheaper with a multi meter?) this looks easier for one person and convenient enough to get done more often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI6DVMWl7CI
 
Final recap:wave1:

The Napa one didn't have a mode for Agm like the others and no information about any of the "smart charger features the others offered.

What I found in the $50-$60 range:
I.m.o. The regular Ctek 4.3 is a tie with the G3500 having a slight edge on price, max capability and charge variation levels.

What I found in the $100 range:
I.m.o. the C-tek 5.o offers the more charging features for the $ while still doing small batteries and is the cheapest in this category by a small amount.
Its ability to change the charge rate in relation to ambient temps is a good feature.
the test and charge feature brings this out of my budget for a charger.

The ctek 4.3 test and charge offers useful diagnostics for the lazy or one person garage with or without a multi meter. ( I don't own one) it is the most expensive in this category by a small amount. It however has no extra charging features than the lower priced options.

And finally the Noco 7200 Offers the fastest charging and most variable steps in charging , at a middle of the road price with the added feature of a 16v boost mode that is supposed to break down sulfate and restore batteries more thoroughly..
It has a non charge feature of a power supply setting. In the middle of this price range ( they are all close) and Its only downfall for me is that I charge these small batteries and while I don't need a better charger for them it would not hurt to possibly recondition them instead of replacing them as they get discharged and left for days sometimes on trips.

Imo the charging features of the CtekMxs5.0 and the 7200 are similar with the edge going to the more powerful charger the 7200. However if you need to charge smaller batteries and don't need the faster charge it may be overpowered.

For me I think I will get the 4.3 Test and charge.. Maybe someone can find this info useful in their decisions when they search this topic.

BTW the C-tek should be on Snow mode for agm batteries.
 
OutkastBoss said:
Final recap:wave1:

The Napa one didn't have a mode for Agm like the others and no information about any of the "smart charger features the others offered.
Click to expand...

NAPA's website is notorious for being garbage, I assure you it has an AGM setting (I own one), but it sounds like you're looking for something more than just a simple charger.

I gotta hand it to you, you're thorough lol. lots of good info here :thumbup:
 
GrimmJeeper said:
NAPA's website is notorious for being garbage, I assure you it has an AGM setting (I own one), but it sounds like you're looking for something more than just a simple charger.

I gotta hand it to you, you're thorough lol. lots of good info here :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Yea I dont know how how I missed it but it does say it does AGM right on Napa's site. It does looks like a nice charger but I think your right about me looking for more than just a charger.

My brothers got a big roll out charger after this I would be curious to see the specs on it. I wonder if it's that much bigger for a reason.

And yea I can be a bit obsessive on my research sometimes LOL. I don't make a lot of purchases i'm unhappy with though. :dunno:
 
if an optima hits less than 10v most chargers with a protection circuit read the battery as having an internal short and won't charge them.

more info here: http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/faqs (look in the section under "CHARGING" called "Do I need a special charger for my OPTIMA® battery?"

i pull optimas out of the core pile at work every time we get one in and i would say a good 60% of them are still good they just need the right type of charger. hell the one in the 2 door i sold to dumptruck is still going strong and its got a '05 date code on it, and it came out of the core pile in 2011.
 
a repo place.

I'll have to lok at the sticker when I get home.
It's totally bare and I'm gonna have $50 more in wiring and salvaging some jumper cables for clamps.

It's fully fawesome.
 
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