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I have the OEM charger that plugs into the rear/hatch 12v adaptor, which works fine and is convenient. You can still use other trickle chargers without the auxiliary plug, but you'll either have to connect it to the battery under the floor in the hatch, or the connectors under the hood.
I have the OEM charger that plugs into the rear/hatch 12v adaptor, which works fine and is convenient. You can still use other trickle chargers without the auxiliary plug, but you'll either have to connect it to the battery under the floor in the hatch, or the connectors under the hood.
Thanks - will need to look for the connections under the hood (did a quick look last week and did not see anything - will need to read the book for location - thanks again
Thanks - will need to look for the connections under the hood (did a quick look last week and did not see anything - will need to read the book for location - thanks again
Thanks - will need to look for the connections under the hood (did a quick look last week and did not see anything - will need to read the book for location - thanks again
The "book" will not show you a connection as there is no official one! Jump starting, for example, must be done at the battery. I put a pic below of where you can connect the positive terminal of your existing charger under the hood, which is the power input terminal for the front fuse panel. It has a plastic cover that takes some effort to remove. Also DO NOT remove the nut on the post get another metric nut that fits over it if you want to use a ring terminal to a wire you can connect to your charger. You can use any chassis bolt for a ground.
However the easiest place is where GM states is the proper location - the power receptacle above the battery. It is covered in the Owner's Manual. It stays hot all the time, the one on the console shuts off with the engine so can not be used. In fact I spliced in an old plug I had to my old charger just be sure to get the polarity correct. You can buy a plug for ~$5
Front Positive Connection to the Fuse Panel. Don't remove NUT!! Just add another nut on top of ring terminal! Ground to any bolt. Inset shows plastic cover before removal and the main pic with it removed.
So, if my "OEM" charger is not exclusively designed for the Vette, I can use it on other cars?!?
Look up CTEK 3300. Just put those words in goggle. It's a universal charger that Chevy just has them put their name on so dealers can make ~50% and whatever GM makes in margin!
I bought mine when I got my C7 in October 2013 from Amazon for about $50 at the time to see if it would "help" my low battery voltage (it's still 12.4 after the surface charge is depleted.) It didn't, dealer said it was fine and when I checked my quality digital meter against a calibrated Fluke, as Marisa Tomei said in My Cousin Vinny "It was dead ***** accurate!
Only used it that one time for my C7, it works fine on my Street Rod that often is parked for several months waiting for a car show!
Yes, there is nothing fundamentally different about the Corvette's charging system from any other car. The one marketed by GM is a unit CTEK sells for use on any other vehicle.
So, if my "OEM" charger is not exclusively designed for the Vette, I can use it on other cars?!?
You keep on saying charger. That is only used to bring the battery up if its way down.
To put on and leave on car when your not going to drive it you need a TENDER. I leave my TENDER ON for 6 months as we get some bad winters up her, or if I will not drove my 15 for two weeks! Same deal with my now gone 07 Z06 and 05 Vert.
You keep on saying charger. That is only used to bring the battery up if its way down.
To put on and leave on car when your not going to drive it you need a TENDER. I leave my TENDER ON for 6 months as we get some bad winters up her, or if I will not drove my 15 for two weeks! Same deal with my now gone 07 Z06 and 05 Vert.
True. I have tender. Works great on the Vette. Will try on my Subaru when parked in the summer (winter vehicle).
Thanks - will need to look for the connections under the hood (did a quick look last week and did not see anything - will need to read the book for location - thanks again
walker, if your charger has a detachable end (just before the clamps) you can buy the 12v plug on Ebay for approx. 7 bucks w/free ship. From what I could find all chargers are alike in that area, and the ends are interchangeable. That's what I did, and everything works fine. Cheaper than a new charger, and easier than plugging under the hood.
walker, if your charger has a detachable end (just before the clamps) you can buy the 12v plug on Ebay for approx. 7 bucks w/free ship. From what I could find all chargers are alike in that area, and the ends are interchangeable. That's what I did, and everything works fine. Cheaper than a new charger, and easier than plugging under the hood.
Before I bought a CTEK 3300 tried my old battery charger to see if that would solve the low voltage issue, Used a part I had made for my electric pontoon boat. Cut a plug from an old car vacuum that was in my pile of "stuff" and connected it to two bolts in a piece of heavy plastic! Then just put the alligator clips from the charger on the bolts. Put red tape near the positive terminal! Plugged into the receptacle near the battery. Neither it nor the CTEK did any good! Have not used a charger since and live with the ~12.4 volts, obviously a weak cell. Have been on vacation several times in almost 3 years I have had my C7 years for 2 1/2 weeks, car started fine!
Before I bought a CTEK 3300 tried my old battery charger to see if that would solve the low voltage issue, Used a part I had made for my electric pontoon boat. Cut a plug from an old car vacuum that was in my pile of "stuff" and connected it to two bolts in a piece of heavy plastic! Then just put the alligator clips from the charger on the bolts. Put red tape near the positive terminal! Plugged into the receptacle near the battery. Neither it nor the CTEK did any good! Have not used a charger since and live with the ~12.4 volts, obviously a weak cell. Have been on vacation several times in almost 3 years I have had my C7 years for 2 1/2 weeks, car started fine!
Gotta love good old American ingenuity.
BTW Jerry, I've though I may be the only one that has that "pile of stuff." Comes in handy sometimes.
walker, if your charger has a detachable end (just before the clamps) you can buy the 12v plug on Ebay for approx. 7 bucks w/free ship. From what I could find all chargers are alike in that area, and the ends are interchangeable. That's what I did, and everything works fine. Cheaper than a new charger, and easier than plugging under the hood.
That's what I did as well. Got the 12v plug from Amazon. Only $2 but about $5 to ship it. As for the tender, I'm using a 1.5 amp unit made by Schumacher and sold at Wal Mart for about $20. Just swap (by unplugging) the alligator clips for the 12v plug and insert that into the accessory receptacle located on the rt rear side of the hatchback.
FWIW, I kind of wish the accessory outlet up front could also be used for that purpose, like on the C6. But no biggie.
Last edited by Squeaky Wheel; Jul 19, 2016 at 01:44 PM.
Reason: changed wording ..charger to tender
OK, to be technical, it's not "OEM," but the device that was included with the Battery Protection Package at $100. That's what I use(d).
I also have Deltran Battery Tender® that I've used on other vehicles, which I like... and may use on the Vette (under hood) for winter storage, which I might prefer over leaving the rear hatch cracked opened for extended periods. Whatever of the case, there are options...
Battery trickle charge
