Good question. 
Priority Start Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
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From: Eldersburg Maryland
Priority Start Question
I just purchased a priority start pro for my 05 c6 but haven't received it yet. My question is can you hook up a battery tender with a priority start installed?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
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From: Orange County CA
The priority start is basically invisable to the car until the battery voltage drops to the pre-determined trip level. So , yes, you can use a battery tender.
I use a device called a Battery Minder, it's very similar to a battery tender in that it provides a 1 amp charge then switches to a float mode when the battery tops-off. Once it switches to float mode, it stays in float mode until the unit is disconnected and re-connected.
If the car has an episode of DBS, the float charger hasn't got enough poop to prevent it and the battery voltage will decline. At some point, the PS will trip and disconnect the battery as it should.
I use a device called a Battery Minder, it's very similar to a battery tender in that it provides a 1 amp charge then switches to a float mode when the battery tops-off. Once it switches to float mode, it stays in float mode until the unit is disconnected and re-connected.
If the car has an episode of DBS, the float charger hasn't got enough poop to prevent it and the battery voltage will decline. At some point, the PS will trip and disconnect the battery as it should.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
Originally Posted by vette4db
I apologize for being green in this area, but what is the purpose of the battery minder if it can't prevent the battery from going dead?
Again, I am sorry if the question comes across as sarcastic. Its not the intent.
Again, I am sorry if the question comes across as sarcastic. Its not the intent.
I was fortunate (?) enough to catch my last DBS while hooked up to the DVM. It registered a 1.2 amp draw. Normal draw for the car is around 30ma (.03 amps).
The float current being supplied to the battery is well below the 1.2 amp of the DBS event.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,503
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I am still looking for someone to post a picture of a priority one installed. It seems to install it the negative and positive posts are very close together.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 593
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Originally Posted by Lowlead
If the car has an episode of DBS, the float charger hasn't got enough poop to prevent it and the battery voltage will decline. At some point, the PS will trip and disconnect the battery as it should.
The PS though every time is disconnects the battery not only forces everything in memory to get erased but also would cause the PCM back to a total relearn state but worse is all the internal smog tests would get blown out and car would appear to have failed those tests plus all those tests would have to run until they are in a passed state again
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Originally Posted by boosted_z06
What is forgotten is if the battery is low to not start the car it still though preserves all the settings and using just the battery tender would prevent low battery
The PS though every time is disconnects the battery not only forces everything in memory to get erased but also would cause the PCM back to a total relearn state but worse is all the internal smog tests would get blown out and car would appear to have failed those tests plus all those tests would have to run until they are in a passed state again
The PS though every time is disconnects the battery not only forces everything in memory to get erased but also would cause the PCM back to a total relearn state but worse is all the internal smog tests would get blown out and car would appear to have failed those tests plus all those tests would have to run until they are in a passed state again
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
Originally Posted by boosted_z06
The PS though every time is disconnects the battery not only forces everything in memory to get erased but also would cause the PCM back to a total relearn state but worse is all the internal smog tests would get blown out and car would appear to have failed those tests plus all those tests would have to run until they are in a passed state again
That has never happened in the C6 nor have I heard (read) that it's happened to anyone else. Not sure what you mean about "internal smog tests".
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Originally Posted by dbradley
Never had DBS, but have the Priority Start on there so "if" I'm on the road it will start in the morning.........
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,498
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by dbradley
Never had DBS, but have the Priority Start on there so "if" I'm on the road it will start in the morning.........
I think the reason is that you have obviously been driving a bunch on your trip and charging the battery. And you usually drive daily while on the road.
If DBS is to occur, the car must sit long enough for the battery to drain to zero, and that has not been seen on your typical road trips.
Now, when your battery's already old and weak next year.....
And since you have '06, no DBS possible anyway!
Some dead batteries with '06 MN6, but virtually none with A4!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/poll...pollid=1500606
The MN6 numbers are a little better than demonstrated, since quite a few '05 MN6 people voted on '06 dead batteries by mistake.
Last edited by Hoonose; Apr 13, 2006 at 08:27 PM.
The original question was about the priority start/battery tender combination.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Yes, I have.
I hooked up the Priority Start after the unwarranted '05 DBS Panic.
I usually leave the car garaged for most of the winter so the Battery Tender Plus which I used on my last Corvette was hooked up over most of the winter.
Hooked it to the positive and negative posts of the battery with the Priority Start still hooked up. The first time I did it, I removed the small black wire of the Priority Start from the connector.
Took the car out on an Indian Summer day and afterwards hooked up the Battery Tender Plus again, but this time without removing the small black ground wire of the Priority Start. Checked with them about this and was told that it should be OK. No problems.
Still have the Priority Start hooked up, too lazy to remove it and with spring here, no need for the Battery Tender Plus. So yes, you can use them both.
I hooked up the Priority Start after the unwarranted '05 DBS Panic.
I usually leave the car garaged for most of the winter so the Battery Tender Plus which I used on my last Corvette was hooked up over most of the winter.
Hooked it to the positive and negative posts of the battery with the Priority Start still hooked up. The first time I did it, I removed the small black wire of the Priority Start from the connector.
Took the car out on an Indian Summer day and afterwards hooked up the Battery Tender Plus again, but this time without removing the small black ground wire of the Priority Start. Checked with them about this and was told that it should be OK. No problems.
Still have the Priority Start hooked up, too lazy to remove it and with spring here, no need for the Battery Tender Plus. So yes, you can use them both.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Apr 13, 2006 at 11:40 PM.
