GS-Riders International

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The German motorcycle magazine TOURENFAHRER tested 14 battery chargers. Some of them are also well-known and available internationally. I translated a summary.

CTEK XS 3600

Price (in Germany): Euro 69.95
Capacity: 0.8 A + 3.6 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 2 W / 12.5 W
Temperature casing: 38.5 C
Remarks: Very sturdy, solid cables and terminals, thick insulation on the terminals may occasionally lead to connecting problems, weather resistant. Universal charger for motorcycle and car usage. Excellent charging pattern. Suitable for pure lead batteries. Detects and treats sulphate.
Result: Very good. Test winner.

Optimate 4

Vendor: Hein Gericke
Price (in Germany): Euro 59.90
Capacity: 0.8 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 2.2 W / 15.5 W
Temperature casing: 41 C
Remarks: Very well crafted, water resistant according to IP64,sturdy terminals, charging information via 10 Leds, detects and treats sulphate.
Result: Very good

Telwin T-Charge 12

Price (in Germany): Euro 70.21
Capacity: 0.8 A, 2.0 A, 3.6 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 0.9 W / 15.5 W
Temperature casing: 46 C
Remarks: Sturdy casing, well crafted, solid cables and terminals. Compact and universal to use charger for car and motorcycle. Clear charging indicator. Suitable for pure lead batteries. Detects and treats sulphate.
Result: Very good

CTEK XS 800

Price (in Germany): Euro 54.95
Capacity: 0.8 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 0.4 W / 14.8 W
Temperature casing: 53.5 C
Remarks: Very sturdy, strong cables and sturdy terminals, thick insulation on the terminal may occasionally lead to connecting problems, weather resistant. Very good charger with clear indicators. Excellent charging pattern. Suitable for pure lead batteries. Detects and treats sulphate.
Result: Very good

Novitec Chargizi 1

Price (in Germany): Euro 23.95
Capacity: 0.6 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 2.2 W / 12.6 W
Temperature casing: 44 C
Remarks: Solid terminals, long cables. Good and compact charger with simple charge control indicator.
Result: Good. Price-tip.

Accu-Mate Compact

Vendor: Hein Gericke
Price (in Germany): Euro 29.90
Capacity: 0.6 A, charging starts after a 2 h testing sequence
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 1.4 W / 13.8 W
Temperature casing: 47 C
Remarks: Decent workmanship, terminals a bit small, cables are long. Value for money charger needs long charging times because of the delayed start. Easy charging control.
Result: Good

Automatic Charger AL 1600

Vendor: H-Tronic GmbH
Price (in Germany): Euro 29.95
Capacity: 1.6 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 3.4 W / 24 W
Temperature casing: 46 C
Remarks: Solid terminals, long cables, no charging indicator. Well crafted, simple and powerful, should be used for batteries from 16 A only. 6 V switch for older batteries, 8 V for NC batteries.
Result: Good

Battery Tender 400 Junior

Price (in Germany): Euro 33
Capacity: 0.4 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 0.4 W / 7.8 W
Temperature casing: 54 C
Remarks: Seating in the power plug somewhat loosely, cables and terminals solid, long cables. Good value for the money. Low power consumption, suitable for pure lead batteries.
Result: Good

Battery Tender 800

Price (in Germany): Euro 49
Capacity: 0.8 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 1.2 W / 14.9 W
Temperature casing: 42 C
Remarks: Sturdy, weather resistant casing, solidly build with good terminals and cables. Good charging pattern and efficiency. Price-to-performance ratio good. Simple charge control. Suitable for pure lead batteries.
Result: Good

BMW Charger 230 V

Vendor: BMW dealers
Price (in Germany): Euro 100
Capacity: 1 A, charging starts after a 2.5 h testing procedure.
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 2.2 W / 20.6 W
Temperature casing: 62.5 C
Remarks: Moisture resistant casing. For BMW motorcycles secure charging via factory power plug possible. High temperature of the casing, high energy consumption. Very gently charging pattern and exhaustive battery testing result in long charging times. Easy control via LED indicators. Suitable for pure lead batteries. Removes sulphate.
Result: Good

Saito ProCharger

Vendor:Louis
Price (in Germany): Euro 49.90
Capacity: 1.0 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 3.7 W / 21 W
Temperature casing: 49 C
Remarks: Simple plastic casing, sturdy terminals. Universal Charger for 6 and 12 V has relatively high power consumption. Detects and treats sulphate. Suitable for pure lead batteries.
Result: Good

HG Professional Charger

Vendor: Hein Gericke
Price (in Germany): Euro 49.99
Capacity: 0.8 A, 3.6 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 1.7 W / 13 W
Temperature casing: 32 C
Remarks: solid cables and terminals. Universal charger, has a special 14.7 V charging feature. Suitable for pure lead batteries. Detect and treats sulphate.
Result: Good

Polo Charger

Vendor: Polo
Price (in Germany): Euro 49.95
Capacity: 1.3 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 3 W / 29 W
Temperature casing: 63 C
Remarks: Simple casing, cables too thin and terminals too small, high operating temperature. Universal Charger for 6 and 12 V with too high power consumption. Detects and treats sulphate.
Result: Satisfactory

Polo Bikers Best 0.3 A

Vendor: Polo
Price (in Germany): Euro 4.95
Capacity: 0.3 A
Electrical consumption idle / in use: 0.7 W / 11.2 W
Temperature casing: 63 C
Remarks: Thin cables, terminals too small, no charge indicator, very hot casing. The very low priced charger manages charging batteries, but towards the end of the charging process the voltage is too high. Should only be used under constant supervision. Not suitable for long term battery maintenance.
Result: Just acceptable

source: TOURENFAHRER Mar-2009
Link to the original test: clicky (German)

Some Notes:

The test winner Ctek XS 3600 is now superseded by the new version XS 4003. It offers 8 step charging program including a new battery recondition function. There was already a first report in the German GS forum by somebody who managed successful revival of a 10 year old dead battery! Lets watch this spot further. Certainly the XS 3600 has not become any worse because the newer model has a new feature. It's meanwhile sold with some discounts. For the USA the equivalent Ctek model is MUS 3300. It is absolutely identical but with US voltage and plug. The XS 4003 is expected to be in your country around end of March 2011.

The Ctek XS 800 (USA = Ctek US 800) is superseded by the XS 0.8. The XS 0.8 is a real upgrade with a smarter 6 step charging program and improved idiot lights. In comparison to the stronger XS 4003 the recondition function is not available, and of course the low amperage makes not much sense for car battery use (except maintenance tickle charging in winter time).