How to prepare for a motorcycle road trip

Spring is just around the corner, and with it, the promise of longer days, milder temperatures and the thrill of getting out on the open road. Whether you’re new to motorcycling or a seasoned biker, it’s always good to plan ahead and properly prepare your motorcycle for each trip, avoiding any last-minute frustrations or disappointments, especially if your bike’s been out of action throughout the colder months.

The importance of battery support in vehicle workshops: Understanding de-rating

As modern vehicles continue to evolve with increasingly sophisticated electronic systems, the importance of stable voltage during servicing and repairs has never been more critical. From diagnostics and ECU programming to routine repairs, maintaining a consistent power supply is essential to ensure accurate and uninterrupted operations. This is where high-performance battery support systems play a pivotal role.

5 Essential Winter Battery Care Tips to Avoid Being Stranded

As the cold weather sets in, many drivers may not realize that frigid temperatures can have a significant impact on their car batteries. Cold weather can lead to decreased battery performance, making it crucial to take steps to ensure your battery remains in optimal condition. Here are five essential tips from CTEK to help you care for your car battery during winter, keeping you from being stranded in the cold.

Cold Weather Charging Myths: What Really Happens to Your 12V Battery in Winter

As winter approaches and temperatures begin to plummet, car owners often find themselves facing battery problems. A lot of misinformation circulates about how cold weather affects 12V batteries, particularly when it comes to charging. To help you navigate through the confusion, we’re debunking some of the most common myths about charging 12V batteries in freezing temperatures and offering science-backed facts that can help you take proper care of your vehicle’s battery.

Don’t Get Stranded on Your Way Home for Christmas

The holiday season is a magical time when families come together to celebrate, and for many, that means hitting the road to travel home for Christmas. But nothing can dampen the festive spirit like a dead car battery, leaving you stranded in the cold when you should be on your way to enjoy the celebrations. This year, don’t let an unexpected battery failure spoil your holiday plans. With CTEK’s CS FREE, you can keep your car charged and ready, ensuring a smooth journey home.

Why charging your car battery is just as important as changing to winter tires

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, many car owners are quick to schedule their tire change to swap to winter tires, ensuring safety and grip on icy roads. But while most people focus on the essential task of changing their tires, there's another critical part of vehicle preparation that often goes overlooked—charging your car battery.

Winterizing a car: Charging is Critical

As winter approaches, many vehicle owners face the important task of preparing their cars for the cold months ahead. Winterizing your car is essential for ensuring it stays in optimal condition while it's stored or used in freezing temperatures. While many focus on engine fluids and tire pressure, one of the most critical but often overlooked aspects is the battery. Ensuring your battery is properly charged and maintained can make all the difference in how well your car survives winter storage and how quickly it will be ready to use again in the spring.

Stay Safe this Halloween: Don’t Get Stranded on Haunted Roads

As the days grow shorter and the spooky season creeps in, tales of haunted roads and eerie encounters fill the air. Whether it's ghostly apparitions, strange noises, or mysterious happenings, there's one thing everyone dreads when driving on those desolate, winding roads at night—a flat battery. Imagine cruising down a foggy, isolated street, surrounded by the rustling of trees and shadows that play tricks on your mind, only to realize your car won’t start. The real horror isn’t in the shadows—it’s being stuck in the middle of nowhere without power!

Don’t buy a new car battery – Charge with CTEK Instead

When your car battery starts showing signs of weakness—like dim headlights, slow engine starts, or even a complete failure—it’s easy to assume the battery needs replacing. However, before rushing to buy a new one, consider an often-overlooked solution: charging your battery. Investing in a quality charger can not only save you money but also extend the life of your current battery, avoiding unnecessary replacements.

12V Battery Chargers: How to Use and What to Choose

A car battery is crucial for starting your vehicle and powering its electrical systems. However, like all batteries, it can drain over time. To keep your battery in top condition, investing in a high-quality 12V battery charger is essential. In this article, we'll explore how to use 12V battery chargers effectively and recommend the best options from CTEK.

Stop Killing Your Car Battery! 10 Things That Drain Your 12V Battery

Your car's battery is a critical component, providing the necessary power to start your vehicle and run its electrical systems. However, many drivers inadvertently shorten their battery's lifespan through common actions and oversights. Understanding what drains your 12V battery can help you maintain its health and ensure your car starts when you need it most. Here are ten things that can drain your car battery and how to avoid them.

Why Your Alternator is Not Enough for Charging Your 12V Car Battery

When it comes to maintaining the health and longevity of your car's 12V battery, relying solely on the alternator might not be sufficient. Many drivers assume that as long as they keep their vehicle running, the alternator will take care of the battery charging needs. However, this assumption can lead to a misunderstanding of how car batteries and alternators function, potentially resulting in battery failure or reduced battery life. If you’re using a battery charger like CTEK’s CS ONE you are better prepared for the road.

Cheaper, cosier and just as beautiful: Five destination dupes for an unforgettable holiday

From Amsterdam to Paris and Venice - many popular destinations are often overcrowded, overpriced and therefore not very inviting for a relaxing city break. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives that are just as beautiful and authentic as their famous doppelgangers - but without the crowds. According to Expedia, these so-called destination dupes are particularly popular this year. Discover five charming destinations that are on a par with their great role models.

How does heat affect the car battery?

As summer heats up, it’s not just our bodies that need extra care—your vehicle’s battery requires special attention to stay in top shape. High temperatures and long road trips can put extra strain on your battery, so understanding its unique needs during the summer is crucial. Fortunately, the CTEK CS ONE smart battery charger is here to help keep your battery healthy, no matter how hot it gets.

Get Ready for the School Start with CS FREE: Your Ultimate Battery Solution

As the new school year approaches, parents are busy preparing for the morning rush. From packing lunches to ensuring the kids have their essentials, every second counts. But nothing throws off your morning routine like a dead car battery. Fortunately, CTEK’s CS FREE is here to save the day, making sure you're never stranded and always prepared.

Optimising Workshop Efficiency with Battery Support Units

In the dynamic landscape of modern automotive workshops, Battery Support Units (BSUs) have emerged as indispensable tools, especially during software updates and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogramming. These critical operations necessitate stability in battery voltage to ensure seamless data transfer, making the role of BSUs crucial in maintaining optimal performance and safeguarding against potential pitfalls.

How to charge batteries at sea

CTEK's Long-Standing Partnership with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet: Insights from Jacob Göthberg

In an insightful interview, Jacob Göthberg, Industrial Design Engineer and Team Leader at CTEK, shares the journey and impact of CTEK’s decade-long collaboration with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet’s technical branch. Here, Göthberg provides a detailed look into the program’s beginnings, its evolution, and the benefits it brings to students and the industry alike.

Motorcycle Maintenance Perspectives: Insights from Mirsad and Tom from CTEK

In the world of motorcycling, ensuring your bike is well-maintained is paramount for safety and enjoyment on the road. Mirsad Fazlic and Tom Verta, two employees at CTEK, share their perspectives on motorcycle care, dream trips, and the tools they rely on.

How long do motorcycle batteries last?

A lot of people wonder, how long do motorcycle batteries last? The average lifespan of a motorcycle battery ranges from 2 to 5 years for lead-acid models and 5 to 10 years for lithium-ion types. These values depend on the battery’s quality, chemistry, construction, and other characteristics. However, it’s important to note these values are determined by manufacturers or independent research in a controlled environment. In real life, factors like driving habits, environmental conditions, and maintenance determine the actual battery’s performance and durability.

What should you do when you leave your motorcycle parked?

Whether you are parking your bike for a moment or planning to leave it in your garage during the winter, it’s important to remember some essential considerations. These practices are crucial for an enjoyable riding experience and to preserve your bike’s mechanical integrity and battery health. So, what should you do when you leave your motorcycle parked? Let’s dive into this article to see some suggestions.

How to jumpstart a car – the safe way

Facing a dead car battery can be a frustrating experience, especially when you're in a hurry or far from help. Jumpstarting a car is a common solution, but traditional methods involving jump cables and jump starter packs can pose risks to your vehicle's electronics and battery. Enter the CTEK CS FREE Adaptive Booster and Battery Charger, a revolutionary device that not only powers up your flat battery swiftly and safely but also acts as a portable battery charger, ensuring your vehicle batteries remain in peak condition wherever you go. In this article we’ll learn how to jumpstart a car the safe way.

Prepare your car for winter with a simple yet crucial step —charge your battery!

In Sweden, all car owners must transition to winter tires by December 1st. What many overlook is the impact of cold weather on the car battery. The colder it gets, the more crucial maintenance charging becomes, especially for vehicles covering shorter distances. While the switch to winter tires is routine for most, it's time to include another seasonal activity — basic battery maintenance. Car owners can ensure trouble-free journeys and a longer-lasting vehicle by taking a few simple steps.

CTEK’s Training Manager answer frequently asked body shop questions

Did you know that around 75% of vehicles stored in a workshop have a battery that needs attention? By that we mean it needs charging, conditioning and in certain cases replacing. With modern vehicles relying on sophisticated and costly electronics, lead-acid batteries are being used under more challenging conditions than ever before. As a result, battery care has become a pressing issue, particularly as inadequate maintenance leads to a rapid decrease in battery life.

CTEK reveals - Astonishing numbers of vehicles are entering the workshop with discharged batteries

As the owner of a workshop, it is crucial to consider various factors when vehicles come in for service or diagnostics. These factors become even more important when taking into account a recent European survey carried out by battery management specialist CTEK, where over 700 workshop employees participated. Almost 20% of the technicians surveyed said that out of 10 vehicles arriving at their workshop, 3-5 have a battery problem – so up to 50%.

Find my car battery – A CTEK guide

You are probably visiting this page because you don’t know what battery type (or chemistry) you have in your vehicle. You are not alone! We are often asked how to find this out, and as we told you when we returned the results on our charger selector tool, if you know what battery type you have, our charger selector tool can help you identify a product that exactly matches your vehicle, battery type and budget.

Don’t let the summer fool you - Charge your 12V battery!

As the summer heat intensifies, it's not just our bodies that need extra care and attention; our 12V vehicles also require special consideration to ensure optimal performance and reliability. With scorching temperatures and extended road trips on the horizon, it's essential to understand the unique charging needs of your vehicle during the summer season.

How to charge a mild hybrid

Mild hybrids are vehicles equipped with both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and a small electric generator / motor, which assists the engine during starting, cruising or hard acceleration. The 48V battery which powers the hybrid system is recharged using the vehicles kinetic energy through regenerative braking. The generator captures the energy during coasting and braking to be stored and used for restarting the engine and acceleration. Even though the electrical system is recharged by generative breaking, you still need to charge the 12V battery. You need the 12V system for almost all of the functions in your car such as air conditioning, lights, opening of the doors, the radio, windows etc.

How much does it cost to charge your battery?

With the rising cost of electricity and the increasing cost of living, one of the most shared questions we’re being inquired these days is “how much does it cost to charge my car battery?”

How to be environmentally conscious with a petrol or diesel car

CTEK’s top tips for reducing your carbon emissions, if you’re driving a petrol or diesel car.

CTEK’s guide to avoid ghost faults in the workshop

When a vehicle arrives for fault-finding or repair, the first thing you will do in most cases is connect it to a diagnostic tool, to find out where the fault is. But if the battery is not supported and has low voltage, an incorrect error code may be reported by the diagnostic tool – this is known as a ‘ghost fault’. It happens because the vehicle is trying to protect the unsupported battery, which it does in many cases by shutting down the systems it does not really need, like the radio, the air conditioning, or the start/stop function – and that is recorded as a fault.

Don’t get stuck out in the cold this winter

With the first flakes of snow appearing in the sky and temperatures set to plummet, urgent action is needed to make sure your car battery is fully charged, so you don’t get stranded out in the cold and dark with a flat battery this winter.

4 tips for extending vehicles battery life

With a global shortage of new cars and ongoing concerns over the increased cost of living, we are seeing motorists hanging onto their vehicles for longer. For these older vehicles, additional care needs to be taken to keep the vehicle’s battery in peak condition. CTEK has the following tips for drivers of older cars, to keep their vehicle batteries in the best of health, extend battery life by up to three times and avoid the cost and inconvenience of vehicle breakdown.

Wise winter storage for smooth spring start ups

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road in your classic or sports car, motorbike or boat during the summer months. But with autumn just around the corner, if you’re thinking about putting your treasured vehicle away for the winter, CTEK, the leading global brand in battery charging solutions, has some useful advice for wise winter storage that will keep your vehicle battery in tip top condition, ready for a smooth spring start.

Getting your head round battery support in the workshop

Today’s automotive workshops are facing up to a number of challenges. The current economic climate doesn’t help but even so, a lot of the issues that workshops frequently come up against have been around for a while.

No power at your storage location? No problem

Batteries which are standing for an extended period will inevitably slowly discharge over time and, if left long enough, will go flat. And that’s something commonly experienced with occasional use vehicles that spend lots of time in storage or sitting on the driveway. The answer is, of course, to hook it up to a battery charger and maintainer – but what happens if you park your vehicle somewhere that doesn’t have a power outlet?

Don’t let summer be one big breakdown

Today’s motorist knows the importance of proper maintenance procedures on their vehicle in preparation for the winter months, but are placing their car at risk of breakdown during the summer months due to lack of vehicle maintenance that’s according to CTEK the leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

Drivers are Keeping their Cars for 12+ Years

With rising new and used car prices and a shortage of cars at dealerships, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has recently reported that EU cars are now on average 11.8 years old, whilst research firm S&P Global Mobility recently reported that the average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways hit a record high of 12.2 years in 2021, increasing for the fifth straight year in a row.