Battery Tender Question
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
FWIW, I did have a CTEK fail. Not saying it's an inferior product but it did happen. What I wound up doing is reverting back to a Battery tender plus and got one of their longer extension cords. I was able to snake it through the gills on my GS and tuck in with a Velcro strip when not in use. It was really easy to do. Clipped of one plug, installed a couple of high quality eyelets and an the hot to the spot next to the fuse box and ground to a spot on the frame. I did the lighter adapter thing with the CTEK for a while before it failed but really didn't like running the cord out the door. CTEK also doesn't have the longer cord ( or at least I couldn't find one) so I couldn't run that one through the gills as I hoped I would have been able to.
as to OP's q. and others, my schumacher fr. advance auto was pretty inexpensive. after about 5 years it did fail. no freebie.
the ctek 3300 is all you need. just note to use it, a lot, even when you leave the car a few days. can't hurt. get the one from one of the vendors that includes the car cig lighter connection and run it over the top of the window vs. under the door (door, even with "dimple" does crimp wire). and remember each time you disconnect it from the hot outlet (cig or console), you have to plug it in AND reset it to car charge by pushing the buttons. if you don't do that, it's connected but it's not doing a thing.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
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From: San Francisco CA
That may be it. All I can say is that I've been at this Corvette thing for 41 years and tried almost everything, including MANY different battery tenders. Many have failed, over charged, went into float mode when the battery needed charging etc. This one works flawlessly. I haven't tried the Schumacher but I have no plans to change at this point.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Good info on battery tenders on the forum if you do a search. I use a Deltran Battery Tender Jr. which works fine but they make a Plus which may be better. Other brands are popular as well like CTEK. I connected to the negative and positive terminals of the battery. There is a small bold that holds the cable tight to the post. I removed the bolt being careful not move the cable connection and put the O-ring connection over the screw then replaced the head bolt. I tied up excess wire from the tender connection from the battery so I could keep it neatly secured by the battery area when not in use. There is a plug on the other end of the cable you attached to the battery that mates the plug that comes from the battery tender. Once joined then plug the tender into a wall plug directly or via extension cord. Just follow manufactures directions and you are good to go. I do not close the hood but rather allow the hood to rest on the stops which leaves a small gap which I run the wire from out over the fender. That is what I do and there may be a better safer way so check it out. Some guys ground the tender to the motor and some use an adapter to the lighter in the car and run wires under the door. Whatever system/method you use a tender will solve the dead battery problem.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Toronto, Canada
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
To guard against forgeting the CTEK and driving away with it still plugged in (yes, people do that and I have no wish to imitate them); I use the cig lighter plug and bring the wire in under the driver door, so it drapes across my seat.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
To guard against forgeting the CTEK and driving away with it still plugged in (yes, people do that and I have no wish to imitate them); I use the cig lighter plug and bring the wire in under the driver door, so it drapes across my seat.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: ABQ NM
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...8436423&sr=8-1
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
To guard against forgeting the CTEK and driving away with it still plugged in (yes, people do that and I have no wish to imitate them); I use the cig lighter plug and bring the wire in under the driver door, so it drapes across my seat.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
Pretty hard to miss seeing it.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...8436423&sr=8-1
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
The 7002?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
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From: San Francisco CA
For a weekend car, definitely use a good battery maintainer.
You can connect directly to the battery. That's what I did when I first got my CTEK. Then I experimented with other methods.
Bottom Line: IMO it's more convenient to use CTEK's optional outlet adapter. http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-263-Co...=pd_sim_auto_1
Either outlet works fine. I use the center console outlet because that's where I store the adapter.
And I leave the lid open as a reminder to disconnect it before driving away.
Just make sure you don't crimp the cord -- it should move easily when the door is closed.
Lots of threads on this topic, like this:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...r-hook-up.html
You can connect directly to the battery. That's what I did when I first got my CTEK. Then I experimented with other methods.
Bottom Line: IMO it's more convenient to use CTEK's optional outlet adapter. http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-263-Co...=pd_sim_auto_1
Either outlet works fine. I use the center console outlet because that's where I store the adapter.
And I leave the lid open as a reminder to disconnect it before driving away.
Just make sure you don't crimp the cord -- it should move easily when the door is closed.
Lots of threads on this topic, like this:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...r-hook-up.html
CTEK 56-263 Comfort Connect Cig Plug by CTEK
Buy new : $11.99 $9.99
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Battery Tender, Schumacher, even Harbor Freight all are "computer" controlled and will desulfate the battery as well as any other. The one thing I dislike about the CTEK is that it may have to be manually reset when the power goes off while all of the others are totally automatic in going through their various modes of operation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 769
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From: Niceville Florida Panhandle
St. Jude Donor '15
Battery Tender
Check these out! I have had three of them on different cars...awesome product!
http://store.corvettemuseum.com/detail.aspx?ID=3495
http://store.corvettemuseum.com/detail.aspx?ID=3495
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Price. It's got the Corvette tax added from the factory.
Battery Tender, Schumacher, even Harbor Freight all are "computer" controlled and will desulfate the battery as well as any other. The one thing I dislike about the CTEK is that it may have to be manually reset when the power goes off while all of the others are totally automatic in going through their various modes of operation.
Battery Tender, Schumacher, even Harbor Freight all are "computer" controlled and will desulfate the battery as well as any other. The one thing I dislike about the CTEK is that it may have to be manually reset when the power goes off while all of the others are totally automatic in going through their various modes of operation.
Not sure about other models of CTEK.
I thought I saw someone complaining about this problem with a Schumacher, but haven't looked up the thread.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
"Battery Tender, Schumacher, even Harbor Freight all are "computer" controlled and will desulfate the battery as well as any other. The one thing I dislike about the CTEK is that it may have to be manually reset when the power goes off while all of the others are totally automatic in going through their various modes of operation."
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 847
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
I bought one of each. Plus some of the other 'less expensive' tenders cuz I have too many toys with batteries. I'm impressed with the ctek's, but depending on the need and your level of care, the Schumachers from Walmart may be just fine. I have one boat, two waverunners, the GS Vette and a riding mower. And I admit I was experimenting with them a little.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,913
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From: Cary NC
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...8436423&sr=8-1
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
...
If you enjoy a dozen battery diagnosis status lights as I do.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I use the Battery Tender Plus (green one) on my Z.. with the Cig lighter adapter...so simple and easy to connect, and run the cord through the slit in the door sill, and you can shut the door all the way without crimping the cord. This is especially nice for Z06 (and some GS), ZR1 folks who have the battery in the rear hatch compartment.
honestly even if my battery where under the hood, I would use the cig lighter adapter too. the easiest way IMO
honestly even if my battery where under the hood, I would use the cig lighter adapter too. the easiest way IMO
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I use the Battery Tender Plus (green one) on my Z.. with the Cig lighter adapter...so simple and easy to connect, and run the cord through the slit in the door sill, and you can shut the door all the way without crimping the cord. This is especially nice for Z06 (and some GS), ZR1 folks who have the battery in the rear hatch compartment.
honestly even if my battery where under the hood, I would use the cig lighter adapter too. the easiest way IMO
honestly even if my battery where under the hood, I would use the cig lighter adapter too. the easiest way IMO