Hooking up tender
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Phoenix (Fall/winter/spring); Seattle (summer)
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Hooking up tender
I'm a few days away from putting my 03 coupe away for a few months and I've got a new Battery Tender ready to hook up ($39 at Costco).
I'm brand new to the corvette, so forgive some pretty basic questions here:
Any of you have tips for hooking up the Tender, routing wires, etc? Do you use the gator clips or ring connectors? Where do you attach the negative wire?
Thanks.
I'm brand new to the corvette, so forgive some pretty basic questions here:
Any of you have tips for hooking up the Tender, routing wires, etc? Do you use the gator clips or ring connectors? Where do you attach the negative wire?
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Dunedin Florida
I have a yellow top battery with top terminals and side terminals. I used the ring connectors on the top terminal for a permanent installation. I run the wire straight up along the fender so it sits just under the wiper.
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I've used a Battery Tender Plus on my '03 for the entire 6+ years I've owned it. I just keep the hood popped open and run the wires over the passenger front fender and use the clips to hook right onto the side posts of the battery. I use this method whether it is for a short term use or for winter storage. I also use an old soft towel to lay over the fender and run the wires on top of the towel - just a little extra protection for the paint.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
When I had to store mine for the NE winters, I ran an ext. cord underneath and up through the engine compartment and set the tender low so I could completely close the hood. I used the clips just because I didn't want anything in the engine compartment when not using it. I attached the + to the terminal and the - to the alternator bracket. That's probably not necessary but it's right there so I figured why not.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: GRAYSLAKE IL
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St. Jude Donor '13
Ditto w/Vetteman Jacks post. In the winter for my DD I use the plug into a power port... CTEK Comfort Connect Cig Plug. www.ctek.com.
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Instructor
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From: Phoenix (Fall/winter/spring); Seattle (summer)
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
Any advantage/disadvantage to connecting the negative cable to the negative terminal vs. something else like the alternator bracket?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Chicagoland
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Le Mans Master
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From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
Probably not. It's just habit from jumping cars in the old days. You had to be careful to not have a spark happen when you hooked up the negative so you grounded that to the frame as opposed to the battery.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 763
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From: Long Grove IL
No tender on my C5 for the ~4 or so months it sits during the winter, the AGM battery starts flawless when I bring it back out. However the STS-V gets a Battery Tender (800 mA) connected via the alligator clips on the battery terminals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Do you disconnect it? A dead battery can freeze and possibly crack the case.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
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From: Hugo MN
I pull that battery and store it on a bench in the basement. Periodically during the winter and prior to re-installing it I will use the CTEK and bring it to a full charge. During the summer I connect to the cigarette lighter adaptor whenever I don't anticipate using the car for a week or more.
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I let my 02 sit for 4 weeks and she'll not start