Battery Protection Option

jakesvette

· #41 · Jan 19, 2014

I have a Battery Tender and it only came with the alligator clips and a hard wire connections. Does anyone know where I can get the adapter for C7 outlet in trunk.

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S

Dont understand why GM hasnt integrated an external port for charger plug in ..(rather then running through the hatch)

Has anybody implemented an aftermarket solution for a concealed outside charger plug-in?

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Chip

· #43 · Jan 19, 2014

jakesvette said:
I have a Battery Tender and it only came with the alligator clips and a hard wire connections. Does anyone know where I can get the adapter for C7 outlet in trunk.

Most auto parts should have them, but here is another option:Battery Tender Deltran Cigarette Lighter Adapter 081-0069-5 : Amazon.com : Automotive

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Jerry U

· #44 · Jan 19, 2014

blvdbrawler said:
I'm about to order my new C7 and I see this battery protection option. The dealers have given me 3 different answers...Can anybody explain exactly what this is/does? Is it worth it?

The Chevy charger looks like the CTEK 3300 I just purchased from Amazon for under $55. It is a high tech, 4 stage, 3.3 amp max charger with a pulsed maintenance mode. I had used my 15 year old battery charger on the C7 because I read a low battery voltage. After fully charging, removed the charger and in 24 hours it still read a low 12.4 volts. In my Street Rod I have a Schumacher charger connected as I have had for 8+years. However had one fail but the green LED still showed it was maintaining a charge! Thought it was the battery! Tried to get a replacement from them but was given a bogus place to send it! I bought the CTEK to see if perhaps this more sophisticated charger would be better. On the CTEK web site they show what looks like the Chevy charger, brand labeled for BMW, Lamborghini, Audi, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati! Used it, it said fully charged after ~10 hours but after I removed it, in 24 hours was still was reading 12.4 volts. Called the dealer service manager who said if all is working fine (which it is) don’t worry about it! Still monitoring, and it does stay near the 12.4 volts!

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Fdxpilot

· #45 · Jan 20, 2014

spaceaholic said:
Dont understand why GM hasnt integrated an external port for charger plug in ..(rather then running through the hatch)

Has anybody implemented an aftermarket solution for a concealed outside charger plug-in?

At least one vendor made kits to incorporate the Chevy/CTEK charger with a quick disconnect to permanent connections, that mounted either at the back by the license plate or in front through the grill for the C6. It shouldn't be long before they come up with a C7 variation.

Sent from my iPad using Corvette Stingray Forum

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CruznCorvette

· #46 · Jan 20, 2014

Maybe run a pigtail out the passenger side rear tail light air vent.

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1KUIKC7

· #47 · Jan 20, 2014

I got one with mine haven't used it yet! Drive it to much.

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Chip

· #48 · Jan 20, 2014

louloumax said:
mine will be sitting for 8 days in the cold with no charger on it. what should i expect when i try to start it on day #9?
does anyone have experience on how long the battery will stay charged if not driven? 5 days, 10?

I think as long as the battery is fully charged you should be OK, but the key is to make sure the battery is fully charged. Don't make the assumption that because it is a "new battery" you will be OK. Check it, charge it if necessary, and be mindful that long periods of non-use might give you low voltage issues and possibly shorten your battery's lifespan.

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Redc7

· #49 · Jan 21, 2014

As Chip said you should be fine, I only drove my ZR-1 once a week to once every 2 weeks and never had a problem.

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louloumax

· #50 · Jan 26, 2014 (Edited)

glen e said:
you should be ok...A car mfr could not sell a car if it would not hold a charge for a normal out of town business trip for 2-3 weeks....

if you want to not worry, disconnect the neg batt cable.

thx glen. AND chip AND redc7!

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G

glen e

· #51 · Jan 26, 2014 (Edited)

over the past week I have disconnected my batt about 5 times, twice overnight, while working on my steering wheel paint project. I would throw all the batt charger stuff aside if I wanted to store all winter and just disconnect the battery with this add on:

Over the past week, I have lost no settings by disconnecting, except the window indexing and what the radio starts on when I restore power (not the favorites, they stay). Everything else on the car stays. Buy a $9 2GB SD card and leave it in the slot - and just for safety, before disconnecting, just back up the vehicle settings on it, just in case over the winter something did affect all the settings.

Then charge it up, turn the green switch to "off" and put the car away....no cords, no wires thru the hatch, no nothing.

This is just my method of putting the car into storage...you may choose differently...

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coupeguyz51

· #52 · Feb 1, 2014

louloumax said:
mine will be sitting for 8 days in the cold with no charger on it. what should i expect when i try to start it on day #9?
does anyone have experience on how long the battery will stay charged if not driven? 5 days, 10?

Should start fine, mine did....I made the mistake of thinking that it would charge up my battery if I let it run in the driveway for about 20 minutes (too much snow, salt, sand on the road to drive it)....when I found out that was not the case, quickly ordered GM battery maintainer from Amazon and plugged it in on day 19...took about 19 hours for the battery to top off and green light go on...btw, instruction manual calls it the US 3300 and it looks suspiciously like the CTEK 3300, which I suspect it is....whatever, at least I know she will wake from her slumber fully charged up!

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louloumax

· #53 · Feb 13, 2014

just got back from an 11 day trip. no battery tender during that period. car started right up.

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urrtoast

· #54 · Feb 14, 2014

louloumax said:
just got back from an 11 day trip. no battery tender during that period. car started right up.

You would think at least a month or more should be ok, Pretty sure there are stingrays on car lots not being started or with Battery Tenders for long periods of time....

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coupeguyz51

· #55 · Feb 14, 2014

Disconnect battery, pull back carpeting to access battery to hook up alligator clips from other brands battery trickle chargers....
Why? Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work...
The GM battery tender is a CTEK product which everyone I've read comment is excellent...
So either buy that or the GM....you're paying a couple of more bucks for the Corvette Logo...???
So what?
You paid 70K plus for the car, do you really have to sweat nickels?
Plugging in the battery tender to the always on socket is like hooking up your radar detector
Why sweat the small stuff...just do it...imho

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jsvette

· #56 · Feb 14, 2014

coupeguyz51 said:
Disconnect battery, pull back carpeting to access battery to hook up alligator clips from other brands battery trickle chargers....
Why? Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work...
The GM battery tender is a CTEK product which everyone I've read comment is excellent...
So either buy that or the GM....you're paying a couple of more bucks for the Corvette Logo...???
So what?
You paid 70K plus for the car, do you really have to sweat nickels?
Plugging in the battery tender to the always on socket is like hooking up your radar detector
Why sweat the small stuff...just do it...imho

Agree, however, please be sure to use the accessory outlet at the back right of the trunk (in both the coupe and the convertible). It is the only one that is 'live' when the Stingray is turned off. The front accessory (that you might plug your radar detector into) is 'dead' when the Stingray is off and will not charge your car. When you use the correct (rear) outlet, then just bring the cord and unit out over the trunk lip and close the trunk normally; the weather stripping there will protect both the car and your charger cord.

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CruznCorvette

· #57 · Feb 14, 2014

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LT1xL82

· #58 · Feb 14, 2014

Wow, 57 posts on a trickle charger!

In keeping with relentlessly beating a dead horse: All "trickle charges" are not created equal. And no, the $5 wonder at the local discount store is NOT "just" as good as a quality charger. In fact, a junk charger can cause more harm than good. And...just because the car starts after a prolonged period of time without charging does not mean the battery has survived just fine. Leaving a battery connected without a trickle charger is about the worst thing to do to a battery. Disconnected without a charger for months is not the worst thing in the world. Lastly, "more amps" is not necessarily "better".

I have about 8 (!) Battery Minder units that maintain batteries for my boat, PWC, ATV, travel trailer, cars, snowmobiles, lawn mower, tractor... They serve me well. Battery Tender is another good brand. C-Tek (manufacturer of the Corvette Battery Protection Package") is considered pretty much top shelf. There are other good units I'm sure. But, they all cost more than $5!

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Boomer

· #59 · Feb 14, 2014

CruznCorvette said:

I'd get that concentrated bleach away from my Corvette. Ha Ha.

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Chip

· #60 · Feb 14, 2014

LT1xL82 said:
...In keeping with relentlessly beating a dead horse: All "trickle chargers...

Ok...First off it looks like this horse is still kicking...Let's define our charging equipment terms. A trickle charger is not the same as a float charger. A trickle charger will apply power regardless of the state of charge in the battery. It can and will, if left unattended overcharge / kill your battery. A float charger will determine the charging needs of the battery to maintain peak charge and apply power only when needed. Float chargers also have the secondary benefit of conditioning your battery slowing down the buildup of sulfate on the battery plates. Having said this about float chargers, they can fail and can continue to charge, so you need to check them from time to time. The led's will tell you what is going on.

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