CTEK PRO120 Answers Workshop Demand for Power Management, Supply & Charging

Today’s vehicles are more sophisticated than ever. A Ford F150 truck has nearly 130 million additional lines of code than an F-35 fighter jet. In 1969, Apollo 11 got to the moon and back on 4 kilobytes of data while today more than 4.1 billion kilobytes are needed for the average car to run Saturday errands.

Modern vehicles are computers on wheels, and as the complexity of electronic systems increases, battery maintenance and support have become critical elements of any service.

In 2013, a CTEK survey found 25 percent of all vehicles brought to a shop for service had batteries in need of attention. A follow-up survey in 2018 showed that number had jumped to 51 percent.

 “With the rising number of vehicles entering the workshop with an undercharged battery, premature battery failure is becoming increasingly common,” said Bobbie DuMelle, Executive Vice President of CTEK North America.

Vehicles are equipped with multiple computer systems controlling everything from automatic brakes and keyless entry to blind-spot warnings and infotainment systems. 

Those systems often need to be updated with the latest software when the vehicle comes in for service. In some cases, updates require the ignition to be on for up to 24 hours without the motor running, relying solely on battery power.

Software faults are a Top 5 reason for vehicles returning to the dealer. Steady voltage is critical when doing updates for software. A voltage drop can corrupt a download and cost thousands if an ECU is damaged or destroyed.

Voltage drops can cause unsolved electrical mysteries or “ghost faults,” and the more electronically connected a vehicle is, the more vulnerable it is to error.

“If the battery voltage is low, diagnostic time increases as technicians spend valuable time trying to diagnose ghost faults,” said DuMelle.

Custom shops also rely on battery support during modifications or upgrades to vehicles. A reliable power source is essential when installing features including remote starts, sensors, stereo systems or cameras or when wiring is updated during a classic car restoration. 

To ensure a vehicle’s battery is at full charge by the end of service, and to avoid battery run-down when the computer systems or electronic components are being updated, it’s critical workshops have an intelligent, powerful and easy-to-use battery support and charging solution they can rely on. 

The solution is CTEK’s new PRO120 extreme power management shop tool for power supply, charging and maintaining all types of 12v batteries.

Visitors to AAPEX 2019 were able to see CTEK’s PRO120 first-hand.

“We wanted professional workshop owners and technicians to know CTEK understands the demand for extreme power when working on today’s vehicles,” said DuMelle. “In working with OE’s, we designed the PRO120 to meet the technological needs while increasing workshop efficiency and productivity.”

CTEK’s PRO120 is designed to meet the most extreme power demands in any workshop, capable of supporting 120A charging at 12V, and compatible with gel, lead-acid and lithium-based batteries.

The PRO120 is all-in-one solution, coupling power supply needs with essential battery support to avoid battery failure or computer system damage.

It’s designed to be user friendly with just four buttons and a clear, easy-to-read LCD display.

During a demonstration event at AAPEX, DuMelle said attendees remarked on their “pleasant surprise at how easy the PRO120 unit is to work with.”

Much like an IV provides vital fluids to a patient during surgery, the PRO120 stays connected to a vehicle during service, restoration or upgrades providing crucial power support.

CTEK’s PRO120 is the smart choice for:

• Diagnostic work
• Flash re-programming
• Vehicle repair
• Vehicle modification
• Battery replacement
• Battery charging
• Battery reconditioning

CTEK’s PRO120 features rapid response, resonance converter charging technology to meet exact changing current needs during flashing and diagnostic procedures, to avoid stalling of the process and/or damage to vehicle components. 

It delivers 120A of power, even at 14.8V, and clean ripple-free voltage protects ECUs during flashing. 

“The stable output, even at high temperatures, was one of the most popular features mentioned by our customers at AAPEX,” said DuMelle. 

The PRO120 restores charge and reconditions batteries using a patented multi-step charging process. Using the “adaptive charging” mode, the unit automatically detects the appropriate settings for the battery and applies optimum settings for the fastest charge. 

 A fan-less convection cooling design allows for high operating efficiency, and the PRO120 has an easy-to-use interface with a clear LCD display. 

To learn more about the PRO120 or CTEK’s complete line of professional products, visit www.ctek.com.