MXT 14 CTEK Battery Charger
10th Nov, 2020
Getting the right charger for a battery is essential for ensuring that the battery recharges properly. Both the specifications of the battery and the charger need to be studied so that there are no compatibility issues. For the battery, it is important to check its voltage rating and then checking if it can be handled by the charger. Most chargers are designed for 12V batteries but there are chargers which are specifically designed to handle 24V batteries. Enertec aims to highlight this distinction by providing overview of the MXT 14, a charger for 24V batteries from CTEK. We would cover the charger from different perspectives so that the vendor has clarity regarding the chargers features and is able to convey them to their prospective customers.
MXT 4.0’s big brother, MXT 14 is designed for larger 24V batteries. This makes the charger ideal for use with batteries present in freightliners, powerful 4x4’s and big buses. It comes with different specialised modes that make the charger useful in different conditions. Recond mode is used to revive deeply discharged batteries while the supply mode allows to take the battery out for inspection without disrupting the supply to the electronic systems. Its different safety features, which include short circuit protection, spark-free charging and reverse polarity protection, makes the MXT 14 a trustworthy choice for both technicians and customers alike.
Before looking at a breakdown of the charging steps, let us have a look at the technical data of MXT 14. The charger has 3 different maximum charging currents and charging voltages for 3 different modes. 14A/28.8V for the normal mode, 14A/27.2V for the supply mode and 1.5A/31.6V for the recond mode. The charger follows the 8-step automatic charging cycle, and it is designed for 24V lead-acid batteries. It can charge batteries with capacities ranging from 28Ah to 300Ah. The range increases to 500Ah when it comes to charging the battery for maintenance purposes. It has a IP44 rating which makes it suitable for outdoor use. It comes with a 2-year warranty.
The charging process of the MXT 14 comprises of the following 8 steps:
- The first step performs desulphation. This is basically the process of removing any sulfate deposits on the plates of the battery. By doing so, it restores the charge holding capacity of the battery.
- Once the desulphation is completed, the charger performs a soft start on the battery. The purpose of the soft start is to check if the battery is capable of accepting charge. If results are OK, then the charging process begins.
- Initially, the charging is done in bulk. In other words, the maximum charging current is used for charging the battery until it reaches 80% of its full capacity.
- Beyond the 80% charge level, the charging shifts to absorption. This implies a gradual decrease in charging current until the battery reaches 100% charge level.
- Upon completion of the charging process, an analysis of the battery’s charge holding capacity is done. If it is deemed that the battery cannot hold a charge, then it is best to replace the battery.
- Next, the charger runs the RECOND program. This program is used to revive deeply discharged batteries and it is useful for batteries that have been dead for a while.
- The last steps focus on the maintenance of battery and are the reasons why this charger is considered as a “plug and forget” solution. The battery is maintained at full charge level using a constant voltage charge or float charge.
- The final step makes use of pulse charging for maintenance of charge levels between 95% to 100%. It does so by monitoring the battery levels and provides a pulse of voltage if needed to keep the battery in its fully charged state.