Trickle charge question
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,271
Likes: 24,567
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The CTEK will work just fine, as will the Battery Tender Plus (it's what I use on mine).
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=Cosmic Charlie;1576541884]AGM batteries can use regular chargers, nothing special needed ... though some companies sell special chargers ...
correct me if I'm wrong ... for 8 years[/QUOTE
You really should not use a regular charger on AGM batteries. They actually do require a specific charger. below are the reasons for this:
-AGM's performs at very low voltage. Many battery chargers do not even work when the AGM still is operational. A charger designed for AGM's, such as a CTEK can recharge a battery from as low as 1.5V.
-Extremely high current due to low internal resistance. Most battery chargers are overloaded due to the current demand during recharge of an AGM battery.
-Sealed design, starved on acid. Acid lost due to overcharge is lost forever and causes premature battery failure. A charger designed for an AGM battery has a very tight control of voltage and won’t overcharge.
-most importantly:Higher Specific Gravity of the acid. This demands a higher charge voltage. MOST AGM battery mfg's recommend this.
correct me if I'm wrong ... for 8 years[/QUOTE
You really should not use a regular charger on AGM batteries. They actually do require a specific charger. below are the reasons for this:
-AGM's performs at very low voltage. Many battery chargers do not even work when the AGM still is operational. A charger designed for AGM's, such as a CTEK can recharge a battery from as low as 1.5V.
-Extremely high current due to low internal resistance. Most battery chargers are overloaded due to the current demand during recharge of an AGM battery.
-Sealed design, starved on acid. Acid lost due to overcharge is lost forever and causes premature battery failure. A charger designed for an AGM battery has a very tight control of voltage and won’t overcharge.
-most importantly:Higher Specific Gravity of the acid. This demands a higher charge voltage. MOST AGM battery mfg's recommend this.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 33
From: GRAYSLAKE IL
Oldtimer
St. Jude Donor '13
I've got the Ctek 3300 for some yrs & like it very much. Suggest u get the "comfort connect" cig plug & u won't have to fool with opening & closing the hood. I crack a window to plug into elect outlet. Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,112
Likes: 667
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Float chargers !
[QUOTE=mattmobile;1576563481]
I have a special built float charger built by VOC electronics #12118 and it is a special as it only chargers spiral wound batteries like the Optima Red top and any AGM battery. It's called "Battery-minder" and I have used it for years ! great float charger, it only starts charging if the battery's voltage drop to 11.5 and it only charges the battery up to 12.5 volts. It is guaranteed to never over charge a battery After that it doe something called 'disulphide' which is a plaque that builds up on your batteries lead plates or windings. You can see them as they are sold at National tool company stores.
AGM batteries can use regular chargers, nothing special needed ... though some companies sell special chargers ...
correct me if I'm wrong ... for 8 years[/QUOTE
You really should not use a regular charger on AGM batteries. They actually do require a specific charger. below are the reasons for this:
-AGM's performs at very low voltage. Many battery chargers do not even work when the AGM still is operational. A charger designed for AGM's, such as a CTEK can recharge a battery from as low as 1.5V.
-Extremely high current due to low internal resistance. Most battery chargers are overloaded due to the current demand during recharge of an AGM battery.
-Sealed design, starved on acid. Acid lost due to overcharge is lost forever and causes premature battery failure. A charger designed for an AGM battery has a very tight control of voltage and won’t overcharge.
-most importantly:Higher Specific Gravity of the acid. This demands a higher charge voltage. MOST AGM battery mfg's recommend this.
correct me if I'm wrong ... for 8 years[/QUOTE
You really should not use a regular charger on AGM batteries. They actually do require a specific charger. below are the reasons for this:
-AGM's performs at very low voltage. Many battery chargers do not even work when the AGM still is operational. A charger designed for AGM's, such as a CTEK can recharge a battery from as low as 1.5V.
-Extremely high current due to low internal resistance. Most battery chargers are overloaded due to the current demand during recharge of an AGM battery.
-Sealed design, starved on acid. Acid lost due to overcharge is lost forever and causes premature battery failure. A charger designed for an AGM battery has a very tight control of voltage and won’t overcharge.
-most importantly:Higher Specific Gravity of the acid. This demands a higher charge voltage. MOST AGM battery mfg's recommend this.
I have a special built float charger built by VOC electronics #12118 and it is a special as it only chargers spiral wound batteries like the Optima Red top and any AGM battery. It's called "Battery-minder" and I have used it for years ! great float charger, it only starts charging if the battery's voltage drop to 11.5 and it only charges the battery up to 12.5 volts. It is guaranteed to never over charge a battery After that it doe something called 'disulphide' which is a plaque that builds up on your batteries lead plates or windings. You can see them as they are sold at National tool company stores.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,052
Likes: 97
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
but there isn't any need to spend big bucks for the name brand units. i bought one from my local auto zone 5 years ago for my 78. it has an optima yellowtop battery in it and the charger is connected all the time when the car sits in the garage (it gets used maybe a couple of times a month). the unit cost me $25.00 and has done everything it is supposed to do (BTW it has all the same features as the "high priced spread" for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 4
From: Columbia SC
Ctek is supposed to be a great charger/minder. However, I advise everyone to closely monitor a new minder/tender, whatever. I, and friends as well, have purchased ones that proved to be defective and overcharged the batteries. These were not Cteks, please understand, but were big-name chargers. I don't trust any of them now until they have proven themselves under supervision.
