Trickle Charging a C7 battery

Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the battery.

The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.

My question:

Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
C5 and C6?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

On 12/30/2013 3:56 PM, Smarty wrote:
> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the
> battery.
>
> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>
> My question:
>
> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
> C5 and C6?
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.

Turn off the car, open door, remove ignition key. Plug something into
the accessory socket. If it works, you can trickle charge via that
outlet. If it's dead, so are you hopes of trickle charging in that manner.

Most of the trickle chargers available these days (battery maintainers)
have both battery clips as well as a plug and socket. Why not just
connect a lightweight cable and plug to the battery? Summer months,
leave the plug capped and cable stowed next to battery. Connect it to
the maintainer cable in the winter. That's how I do it with my C5 and
formerly did it with my C4.

On 12/31/2013 12:09 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
> On 12/30/2013 3:56 PM, Smarty wrote:
>> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
>> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
>> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
>> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the
>> battery.
>>
>> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
>> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>>
>> My question:
>>
>> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
>> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
>> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
>> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
>> C5 and C6?
>>
>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Turn off the car, open door, remove ignition key. Plug something into
> the accessory socket. If it works, you can trickle charge via that
> outlet. If it's dead, so are you hopes of trickle charging in that
> manner.
>
> Most of the trickle chargers available these days (battery
> maintainers) have both battery clips as well as a plug and socket.
> Why not just connect a lightweight cable and plug to the battery?
> Summer months, leave the plug capped and cable stowed next to
> battery. Connect it to the maintainer cable in the winter. That's
> how I do it with my C5 and formerly did it with my C4.

Thank you for the helpful advice. I was concerned that the 12 volt
sockets had diodes or some other method to prevent a current source to
drive them rather than use them as a source of current. I also worried
that the modern technique of disabling a power port when the key is off
may, as you have indicated, disable the port after the engine is shut down.

I like the idea of a direct connection to the battery, and indeed did
that very same thing on both my C5 and C6. In both cases, however, I did
not make such an attachment when the car was in the warranty period. I
merely opened the hood and used the alligator clips / connectors
directly to the battery.

With the C7 battery concealed under trunk carpeting, this does not
appear to be an option, although I may actually find it to be easier
than I think. I have not pulled up the trunk carpet to really research
this carefully, and felt my "best" option for the warranty period would
be to use one of the 12 volt sockets.

The C7 actually has a 12V port in the trunk, and perhaps this one will
stay alive after the engine is off. I intend to test this as soon as the
trickle charger and accessory cigarette plug cord arrive.

Thank you very much again.

>
>
>

Smarty wrote:
> On 12/31/2013 12:09 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>> On 12/30/2013 3:56 PM, Smarty wrote:
>>> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
>>> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
>>> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
>>> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the
>>> battery.
>>>
>>> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
>>> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>>>
>>> My question:
>>>
>>> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
>>> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
>>> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
>>> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
>>> C5 and C6?
>>>
>>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>>
>> Turn off the car, open door, remove ignition key. Plug something into
>> the accessory socket. If it works, you can trickle charge via that
>> outlet. If it's dead, so are you hopes of trickle charging in that
>> manner.
>>
>> Most of the trickle chargers available these days (battery
>> maintainers) have both battery clips as well as a plug and socket. Why
>> not just connect a lightweight cable and plug to the battery? Summer
>> months, leave the plug capped and cable stowed next to battery.
>> Connect it to the maintainer cable in the winter. That's how I do it
>> with my C5 and formerly did it with my C4.
>
> Thank you for the helpful advice. I was concerned that the 12 volt
> sockets had diodes or some other method to prevent a current source to
> drive them rather than use them as a source of current. I also worried
> that the modern technique of disabling a power port when the key is off
> may, as you have indicated, disable the port after the engine is shut down.
>
> I like the idea of a direct connection to the battery, and indeed did
> that very same thing on both my C5 and C6. In both cases, however, I did
> not make such an attachment when the car was in the warranty period. I
> merely opened the hood and used the alligator clips / connectors
> directly to the battery.
>
> With the C7 battery concealed under trunk carpeting, this does not
> appear to be an option, although I may actually find it to be easier
> than I think. I have not pulled up the trunk carpet to really research
> this carefully, and felt my "best" option for the warranty period would
> be to use one of the 12 volt sockets.
>
> The C7 actually has a 12V port in the trunk, and perhaps this one will
> stay alive after the engine is off. I intend to test this as soon as the
> trickle charger and accessory cigarette plug cord arrive.
>
> Thank you very much again.
>
>>
>>
>>
>

....your C7 has a key?

--
- Rufus

On 12/31/2013 10:29 PM, Rufus wrote:
> Smarty wrote:
>> On 12/31/2013 12:09 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>>> On 12/30/2013 3:56 PM, Smarty wrote:
>>>> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
>>>> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
>>>> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
>>>> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the
>>>> battery.
>>>>
>>>> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk,
>>>> and
>>>> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>>>>
>>>> My question:
>>>>
>>>> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
>>>> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I
>>>> have to
>>>> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
>>>> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years
>>>> on my
>>>> C5 and C6?
>>>>
>>>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>>>
>>> Turn off the car, open door, remove ignition key. Plug something into
>>> the accessory socket. If it works, you can trickle charge via that
>>> outlet. If it's dead, so are you hopes of trickle charging in that
>>> manner.
>>>
>>> Most of the trickle chargers available these days (battery
>>> maintainers) have both battery clips as well as a plug and socket. Why
>>> not just connect a lightweight cable and plug to the battery? Summer
>>> months, leave the plug capped and cable stowed next to battery.
>>> Connect it to the maintainer cable in the winter. That's how I do it
>>> with my C5 and formerly did it with my C4.
>>
>> Thank you for the helpful advice. I was concerned that the 12 volt
>> sockets had diodes or some other method to prevent a current source to
>> drive them rather than use them as a source of current. I also worried
>> that the modern technique of disabling a power port when the key is off
>> may, as you have indicated, disable the port after the engine is shut
>> down.
>>
>> I like the idea of a direct connection to the battery, and indeed did
>> that very same thing on both my C5 and C6. In both cases, however, I did
>> not make such an attachment when the car was in the warranty period. I
>> merely opened the hood and used the alligator clips / connectors
>> directly to the battery.
>>
>> With the C7 battery concealed under trunk carpeting, this does not
>> appear to be an option, although I may actually find it to be easier
>> than I think. I have not pulled up the trunk carpet to really research
>> this carefully, and felt my "best" option for the warranty period would
>> be to use one of the 12 volt sockets.
>>
>> The C7 actually has a 12V port in the trunk, and perhaps this one will
>> stay alive after the engine is off. I intend to test this as soon as the
>> trickle charger and accessory cigarette plug cord arrive.
>>
>> Thank you very much again.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
> ...your C7 has a key?

Similar to the C6 and C5, in having a fob used as a remote control as
well as a key. The only difference in the C7 is that the key is hidden
inside the fob, and can be extracted by a simple motion. In the older C6
and C5, the key was a separate item and was not designed to be stowed
inside the fob..

Smarty wrote:
> On 12/31/2013 10:29 PM, Rufus wrote:
>> Smarty wrote:
>>> On 12/31/2013 12:09 AM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>>>> On 12/30/2013 3:56 PM, Smarty wrote:
>>
>> ...your C7 has a key?
>
> Similar to the C6 and C5, in having a fob used as a remote control as
> well as a key. The only difference in the C7 is that the key is hidden
> inside the fob, and can be extracted by a simple motion. In the older C6
> and C5, the key was a separate item and was not designed to be stowed
> inside the fob..
>

My '08 Z06 key stores inside the fob...hopefully I'll never have to use
it. Though I have had the fob battery die on me once - now I keep a
spare in the box.

I haven't seen a C7 up close, but it sounds like they put the battery in
the C7 in the same location as on my Z06 - right rear? Difference being
that mine is in what was/is a storage compartment with a lid in an
standards C6, and the hinged lid is still there and provides easy access
to the battery. So how are you supposed to change the thing?

But I should think that the ability to charge it would be similar to
being able to do the same on my Z06 - check with a tech.

--
- Rufus

you need one of these:

http://www.corvettemods.com/Corvette...go_p_9382.html

On Monday, December 30, 2013 3:56:44 PM UTC-6, Smarty wrote:
> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
>
> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
>
> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
>
> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the battery.
>
>
>
> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
>
> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>
>
>
> My question:
>
>
>
> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
>
> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
>
> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
>
> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
>
> C5 and C6?
>
>
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks.

....I can only wonder if that one is really any different from this one -

<http://www.corvettemods.com/Corvette-C6-GM-Battery-TenderCharger_p_5518.html>

Which was actually going to be my first suggestion.

--
- Rufus

wrote:
> you need one of these:
>
> http://www.corvettemods.com/Corvette...go_p_9382.html
>
> On Monday, December 30, 2013 3:56:44 PM UTC-6, Smarty wrote:
>> Having owned C5 and C6 convertibles which have been stored for the
>>
>> winter, I have become accustomed to using a trickle charger directly
>>
>> connected to the battery for many years. The rest of the car has been
>>
>> disconnected and only the trickle charger has been connected to the battery.
>>
>>
>>
>> The new C7 battery is no longer under the hood. It is in the trunk, and
>>
>> not as easily to disconnect and trickle charge.
>>
>>
>>
>> My question:
>>
>>
>>
>> Can I trickle charge via the cigarette lighter socket or another
>>
>> auxiliary power 12 V socket which the car also provides? Or do I have to
>>
>> get into the trunk, remove the trunk lining, and then connect directly
>>
>> across the battery as I have previously done for the last 15 years on my
>>
>> C5 and C6?
>>
>>
>>
>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks.

On 1/11/2014 1:34 PM, Rufus wrote:
> ...I can only wonder if that one is really any different from this one -
>
> <http://www.corvettemods.com/Corvette-C6-GM-Battery-TenderCharger_p_5518.html>
>
>
> Which was actually going to be my first suggestion.
>


Wow! What a deal! With that sale price, I wonder how much better it
would be than a Schauer or Black & Decker for about $80 to $90 less?

Suppose it would be just the thing if you were going to show your car
and wanted to put the battery maintainer on the roof so everyone knows
you're "keeping it real."

Would you buy windshield washer fluid in a jug with a C-7 logo on it for
$12.00?

On 1/11/2014 5:25 PM, Unquestionably Confused wrote:
> On 1/11/2014 1:34 PM, Rufus wrote:
>> ...I can only wonder if that one is really any different from this one -
>>
>> <http://www.corvettemods.com/Corvette-C6-GM-Battery-TenderCharger_p_5518.html>
>>
>>
>>
>> Which was actually going to be my first suggestion.
>>
>
>
> Wow! What a deal! With that sale price, I wonder how much better it
> would be than a Schauer or Black & Decker for about $80 to $90 less?
>
> Suppose it would be just the thing if you were going to show your car
> and wanted to put the battery maintainer on the roof so everyone knows
> you're "keeping it real."
>
> Would you buy windshield washer fluid in a jug with a C-7 logo on it
> for $12.00?
The re-branded CTEK charger is an excellent charger, and similar to the
one I am using. I can do without the C& logo and extra price premium. If
there is one thing a C7 does not need, it is any additional attempts to
grab attention with C7 logos. This C7 is a magnet for drawing anybody
and everybody's attention,

For whatever it is worth, BTW, the CTEK charging through the trunk
auxiliary port is working out great. Very nice way to keep it charged.
The only very minor problem is to be sure the trunk lid is down far
enough to prevent the interior trunk lamps from illuminating / drawing
power, while at the same time not applying a lot of crushing force on
the CTEK cable which is coming out of the trunk to the charger.
>
>
>