Charging Unit
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Grand Junction Colorado
Charging Unit
I have a 2011 Grand Sport. I have the Corvette battery charger that plugs into the outlet in the console. I have used it fairly extensively over the last 4 years. It now seems to charge full blast all the time, never getting around to the trickle charge, and it gets very hot. The battery may be a little on the weak side, but it starts the car just fine. I wonder if the charger is no good, and if there is a way to get it fixed. It has fallen to the floor a time or two, but seemed to work ok even after the falls. Not any more.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
The console port has no power when the car is turned off. The plug on the right side of the trunk (vert) or hatchback area is the only one that has power 24/7. If you've been plugging the charger into the console port, it hasn't been doing anything to charge your battery. It's not working now, and it never has.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Grand Junction Colorado
The console port has no power when the car is turned off. The plug on the right side of the trunk (vert) or hatchback area is the only one that has power 24/7. If you've been plugging the charger into the console port, it hasn't been doing anything to charge your battery. It's not working now, and it never has.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Grand Junction Colorado
hmmm..... My Bad! Got the wrong place. I was wondering if it would work on some other vehicles, just by plugging into any power outlet. Will it? Like on a Subaru or a Ford?
NCM Life Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 55
From: Raleigh NC
I have a 2011 Grand Sport. I have the Corvette battery charger that plugs into the outlet in the console. I have used it fairly extensively over the last 4 years. It now seems to charge full blast all the time, never getting around to the trickle charge, and it gets very hot. The battery may be a little on the weak side, but it starts the car just fine. I wonder if the charger is no good, and if there is a way to get it fixed. It has fallen to the floor a time or two, but seemed to work ok even after the falls. Not any more.
John
Just noticed that maxpowers already replied
Last edited by jbeidl; Aug 19, 2018 at 05:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 694
You do not want to use a battery charger or trickle charger.
You need to get a battery maintainer.
I maintained my battery over the winter with the center console 12v socket as it was live all the time in my C6 (2007)
You need to get a battery maintainer.
I maintained my battery over the winter with the center console 12v socket as it was live all the time in my C6 (2007)
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 679
Likes: 279
From: Charlotte NC
It sounds like you have the GM Corvette maintainer that is just a repainted CTech brand unit. I have had a number of the CTech units and when they go bad they act like you describe I hate to tell you. They are not very durable and not repairable. You don't want that unit getting hot because they can start a fire. I have moved to NoCo G3500 brand units for my cars and they are about the same price ( $60 on Amazon) and are outlasting the CeTech brand. I like these because they do more than just charge, they desulfate as well. There are other brands as well so do your homework and get a replacement because they are good for prolonging the main battery in cars that are not driven on a regular basis.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 849
From: New Jersey
The Deltran "Battery Tender" models seem to be good quality units.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperSmar...arger/15779498
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperSmar...arger/15779498
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 552
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 874
From: Bay Area CA
Try hooking up the battery charger directly to the battery and see if it continues to get hot. Also, if the battery is going bad it will never fully charge even though the charger says it is. I check the health of a battery using a conductance test which measures the remaining CCA. CCA is the measure of amps the battery can provide for 30 seconds at 0*F while maintaining 1.2 volts per cell. So, if the battery is rated at 650 CCA (0*F), and the conductance test is 435 CCA's, then you know the battery has lost about 1/3 of it's power.