CTEK lithium charger for Ducati 4VS/SP?

I’ve got an old CTEK 56-926 lithium battery charger. I’m hoping to use it with my V4SP. My dealer recommended I buy the OEM charger but I’ve read mixed reviews on the Ducati (Skyrich) branded model. Anyone using a CTEK lithium charger? Is there an adapter available that works with the DDA port? Thanks.

The 6-pin connector Ducati uses on the 2021+ bikes, I think, Kawasaki has been using. Its nothing more than a 6-pin OBD connector. So a Kawakaki to SAE plug might work.

We use CTEK for more then a decade on all our vehicles.. Aso on my ‘Li-ion’ 2018 V4S.

2 other relevant CTEK threads for V4.

Why charging via DDS port (same 6-pin connector the DDA dongle is connected to if installed)? Is DDS port in V4SP also under your seat? If so, impractical access.

As explained in other 2 threads, I wired CTEK’s own ‘Indicator’ connector directly to the battery for easy access and fed its monitor-connector out the battery compartment via the right-side wiring-loom of both horizontal looms towards dashboard. This thick rubber connector is snugly tugged away between airbox and wiring-loom when unused. From there I can even see its battery health blinking while riding when I want to. Works perfect.

one benefit of the LiFe battery is you can load it FAST.
i wouldn't do that over that flimsy connector.
maximum imho is a battery monitor.

with the ctek connector i observed a significant voltage drop and found the connector HOT.
i had to bend the females with a needle for stronger fit.
the quality is not the best.

chris16 said:

the quality is not the best.

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Never is a ctek charger, they use to be top of the line.

Top of the Line in your Fantasy/ their Marketing.
Just have a look at and also at a cheap chinese Amass Connector.
No Model Car driver would trust these CTEK connectors.

but saying flimsy i meant the DDS connector, the wire diameter is to small for high Ampere.

Interesting. I use ctek with their indicator adaptor/conmector in both my panigales without issue so far. Maybe I’ve been lucky?

chris16 said:

Top of the Line in your Fantasy/ their Marketing.

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"Marketing" only?
Personally, we never had an issue with both our CTek's in attached picture. They operate fine for many years now.
The general battery life of our 5 automotive Lead and Li-Ion batteries we kept/keep healthy with these 2 has never been as good.
I guess that says something about general CTek quality?

Since charging technology for these known automotive battery types is around for years, I consider Optimate or any other competitor brand around the same price point as good or bad as can be expected from these 'commodity' retail charging products.

Not sure why people are bashing this Swedish brand for the (lack of) quality of their charging products?

chris16 said:

... flimsy i meant the DDS connector, the wire diameter is toO small for high Ampere.

Click to expand...

I agree with you that -in general- low Voltage/ low Ampere parts of motorcycles wiring looms with -for their application- thinner dimensioned diameter wiring ánd unnecessary long wiring distances through meters of main wiring looms all the way to its batteries, is far from ideal for Ampere intensive charging.
Using the main wiring behind the DDS connector is no exception.

Although any section of a main motorcycle wiring loom is properly fused with at least 5Amps ánd most consumer-grade CTek chargers only output a maximum current of ~2,3A (PS-LiFePO4) or ~4A (XS4003@Car), moto-circuitry should be fine handling heat and incidental non-compliant peak-voltages.

Nevertheless unnecessary charging heat build-up from source-charger to target-battery should always be kept to a minimum where possible (ask any fireman ).
That's why I connect any charger always directly to the automotive battery.

The CTEK 'Indicator' connector is again no exception and rubberised (fe)male connectors seem fine for the job even when charging upto 4Amps
These CTek connectors can indeed become somewhat warm during the initial higher Amperage charging cycles, yet never hot.
My iPhone and Mac chargers for sure become hotter...

Lastly, the smart charging circuitry of CTek's is designed to protect against overheating ánd - when charger and battery remain constantly connected when parked - the charging cycles are most of the time considerably lower than max current or even lower when triggle charging.

the charger itself:
I'm not saying it is bad. maybe that's a language problem, by "Top of the line" i think about the best of the best.
And the CTEK is not. it is a relatively cheap consumer product.

the connector:
well, compare it to a connector with specified mating cycles.
i did it after the problem i had(and i'm not a liar) and was not surprised.
these open bullet type contacts are unworthy.

I use a CTEK on my Antigravity car battery, but I use this one (times 5) for all my bikes.

Thanks for everyone's responses. I'm going to stick with my CTEK for now since its worked well for me in the past. I'll report back if I have any issues.

Some Ducati shops can supply the Euro5 connector which is what is on the bike. You would probably have to get the Pig tail connector that Ctek sell to connect to the Ducati one. I think connecting directly to the battery is the best solution personally.

I had an issue with a Noco genius 26000 overcharge the skyrich battery. I would recommend using the Techmate TM471, with the lower 0.8a charging rate to recharge an anti-gravity battery. It designed for smaller batteries, takes longer to charge but conditions the cells correctly at a much lower amperage

OptiMate Lithium 4s 0.8A - OptiMate