CTEK D250SE Query (with Renogy battery)

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YellowHound

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Have just been looking at how to install my Renogy Lifepo4 100Ah battery under my driver's seat.

Unfortunately the Renogy 30A battery charger that I bought with the battery is simply too big to fit in the available space (I have an amplifier installed in the same location that I absolutely do not want to move). I will advertise it on here shortly.

So I'm looking at a CTEK D250SE as an alternative. I know this will fit (currently have the equivalent non-lithium unit attached to the existing AGM battery under the seat) but is it a marginal output for the Renogy battery?

Hopefully you knowledgeable chaps can advise.

Thanks!
 
yes the CTEK SE version has lithium profile.

its 25A charge rate . . .

it should charge the Renogy lifepo4 the same as any other 25A charger . . .

it will get HOT though, so keep it ventilated. . .


1652884841006.png1652884882462.png



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the REDARC BCDC1240d is even smaller . . . take a look


www.12voltplanet.co.uk

REDARC BCDC1240D - 40A DC-DC Charger & MPPT Solar Controller

REDARC BCDC1240D dual 40A DC-DC charger & 600W MPPT solar controller. Compatible with smart alternators & charges all battery types, inc. lithium.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk




1652884948789.png1652884958988.png
 
Thank you @Dellmassive
That Redarc is pricey compared to the Ctek, and I will need to get the tools to attach cable terminations.
Don't have any way currently of cooling the Ctek - wonder if I can come up with some sort of fan arrangement?
 
Hi, I’ve just swapped out my AGM battery for a Renogy 100Ahr Lithium battery. I reconfigured the battery identification lead to the positive terminal as the instructions say but I‘m dammed if the CTEK D250SE will switch in to charge the new battery. It even refuses from he solar panels too. The CTEK may well have a Lithium charge cycle, but is it compatible with my new Renogy battery? - all fully logged - As I drive with the fridge on I just watch it drop down to 70% Charged - refusing to use either the alternator or solar panels. All fuses good, all wiring correct. Any ideas?
 
Jimsky said:
Hi, I’ve just swapped out my AGM battery for a Renogy 100Ahr Lithium battery. I reconfigured the battery identification lead to the positive terminal as the instructions say but I‘m dammed if the CTEK D250SE will switch in to charge the new battery. It even refuses from he solar panels too. The CTEK may well have a Lithium charge cycle, but is it compatible with my new Renogy battery? - all fully logged - As I drive with the fridge on I just watch it drop down to 70% Charged - refusing to use either the alternator or solar panels. All fuses good, all wiring correct. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Post some screen shots of the app and a few pics of the battery and charger
 
Thanks for your response. Some numbers:

ENGINE OFF RED WIRE ON POSITIVE FOR LI BATTERY

Li status - 73% Charge
CTEK Statis: Charging Starter Battery from Solar in 3s pulses (Implies Service battery full)

Starter Battery: 12.57v
Solar: 22.3v (in between pulses)
Service Li battery: 13.26 v (Current to battery 0A)

ENGINE ON RED WIRE TO POSITIVE
Starter: 14.29v
Solar: 22.3v
Service: 13.32v

Basically it seems to want nothing to do with the Li battery! Hence my concern about compatibility.

Wiring

Top left: Solar +
Bottom left: Starter + and RED battery select wire
Bottom Right: Service battery +
Top Right: Earth from both batteries and solar

Ideas?

E6CD7599-A3E4-41A8-B18C-7FA376D131A2.jpeg

D3DE8796-9661-4CEA-91BC-5AD1D8ABD3C9.png
 
Update - if I put the battery select cable (Black) - on to the (-)terminal for an AGM battery it starts charging properly from the Alternator at 2.5Amps (very low - should probably be higher)

I’ve isolate the solar for now. Makes me think the Lithium profile might just not be right for the Renogy battery.

Wonder whether I should bin off this CTEC as a lost cause and just by the Renogy DCC50s
 
Should the black not go to the +ve for the service battery connection (‘out’ - bottom right on your picture)?
 
Hi - thanks, the instructions are not specific on this. I have tried it there but will try again for good measure, thanks, Jim
 
Jimsky said:
Hi - thanks, the instructions are not specific on this. I have tried it there but will try again for good measure, thanks, Jim
Click to expand...
On changeover, it changed from supplying the service battery from the solar panels 0.5A to deciding that was better given to topping up the starter battery. On starting the engine - it would charge the service battery at 0.5A only all three lights on. On turning engine off it reverted to giving the service battery 0.5a from the solar. The impression ai get is that the CTEK thinks the battery is full and therefore thinks it needs no charging…… is the CTEK just not suitable for this Lithium battery? - anyone else have this configuration working? Thanks, Jim
 
Jimsky said:
Hi, I’ve just swapped out my AGM battery for a Renogy 100Ahr Lithium battery. I reconfigured the battery identification lead to the positive terminal as the instructions say but I‘m dammed if the CTEK D250SE will switch in to charge the new battery. It even refuses from he solar panels too. The CTEK may well have a Lithium charge cycle, but is it compatible with my new Renogy battery? - all fully logged - As I drive with the fridge on I just watch it drop down to 70% Charged - refusing to use either the alternator or solar panels. All fuses good, all wiring correct. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
@JIMSKI can you confirm if the Renogy has M8 terminals please as I have a new battery arriving this week.
 
Dellmassive said:
Post some screen shots of the app and a few pics of the battery and charger
Click to expand...
This morning I was able to confirm that the battery select cable is working - the solar panel were charging the battery at just 0.26 A but it was at the right voltage for a lithium battery. Removing it changed the voltage. So that’s all good. Starting the van resulted in the A lamp switching on but no additional current to my depleted Li battery. Ammeter on the Starter battery shows it starts with receiving 5A from the alternator but this then steadily drops to less than 1A as it becomes fully charged. CTEK just refuses to use the alternator, but will use solar.
 
If the starter battery is up to 80% then the alternator drops the output. If you put the fan on to setting 2 it pokes the alternator into action. My sterling b2b needs to see 13volts + before it starts charging. Also regenerative braking pokes the alternator.
 
keith baker said:
If the starter battery is up to 80% then the alternator drops the output. If you put the fan on to setting 2 it pokes the alternator into action. My sterling b2b needs to see 13volts + before it starts charging. Also regenerative braking pokes the alternator.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’ll give it a go. CTEK seems to be limiting what it’s prepared to give from solar or alternator to just 0.5A. Renogy have confirmed that they would not normally use a charge profile like the one the CTEC gives out. Battery just wants to charge with a straight 14.2V - no profile. The issue might just be an incompatibility between the battery and CTEC.
 
Dellmassive - that was an excellent study you performed and I'm sure in there is the reason why I'm having similar problems. I have just purchased the Renogy DCC50A DC-DC charger. I don't mind doing that - 50A is better than 20A, and with the Bluetooth dongle it gives fantastic analytics to help understand if it is workign properly or not. It's not badly priced either. It'll take a week to come - I'll drop a message to see if that sorts the problem out.
 
I still have my CTEK250SE but it has been problematic, sometimes not charging unless I disconnect and reconnect the +ve wire. Support have been useless including a 4 MONTH delay in replying to me from March this year which they blamed on the previous years Covid and that they were extremely busy. They then suggested it was the battery even though a new battery and a year old one was affected in the same way. (I had provided a weeks worth of charging profile). I pointed this out and they referred me to the retailer (who is no longer trading). When I pointed this out, they went silent on me and have not contacted me since...I started communications with them over a YEAR ago! My advice based upon their customer service/tech support....steer clear.
 
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