Oh yes, I should update:
I went with the
CTEK MXS 5.0, because it has good local dealer support, and it seemed like a really good product.
After using it for over a Month now, I am extremely impressed, and cannot recommend it highly enough.
It works really well, you can select a low charge rate of 0.8A for smaller batteries, or 5A for higher capacity ones.
It has a multi stage method of charging:
STEP 1 DESULPHATION
Detects sulphated batteries. Pulsing current and voltage, removes sulphate from the lead plates of the battery restoring the battery capacity.
STEP 2 SOFT START
Tests if the battery can accept charge. This step prevents that charging proceeds with a defect battery.
STEP 3 BULK (AKA CC or Constant Current mode)
Charging with maximum current until approximately 80% battery capacity.
STEP 4 ABSORPTION (AKA CV or Constant Voltage mode)
Charging with declining current to maximize up to 100% battery capacity.
STEP 5 ANALYZE
Tests if the battery can hold charge. Batteries that can not hold charge may need to be replaced.
STEP 6 RECOND
Choose the Recond program to add the Recond step to the charging process. During the Recond step voltage increases to create controlled gassing in the battery. Gasing mixes the battery acid and gives back energy to the battery.
STEP 7 FLOAT
Maintaining the battery voltage at maximum level by providing a constant voltage charge.
STEP 8 PULSE
Maintaining the battery at 95–100% capacity. The charger monitors the battery voltage and gives a pulse when necessary to keep the battery fully charged. It goes into this mode if the charge is left connected to the battery for weeks on end, so the battery doesn't received a constant trickle of charge, which isn't good in the VERY long term.
I thought it seemed crazy, but my car actually runs better when first started now. It used to bog down a bit when putting on the throttle from idle when first started, but now it doesn't do that. I suspect it was because the car sits, sometimes for weeks on end without being started, and the battery was hovering right around the very minimum amount of charge available to start the car, and it got so low just before I bought the charger that the car wouldn't even start. So I think that the engine was having to work harder to provide a high amperage charge rate to the battery every time the car was started, whereas now, with the battery fully charged all the time, it doesn't have to do that. That's my theory anyway. Whatever the case, I'm glad I got this charger, and I'm sure my battery will last much longer using it.