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How does this work? You plug it into the back port then hook it up to the battery. Wouldn't this be using the battery to charge the battery?
Thw c-tek Maintainer is an electrical device that take house current and changes it to 14V dc. The C-tek output is plugged into the rear cigarette lighter hole in the rear of the car (that one is hard wired to the battery). The maintainer then tops off the car battery.
The front cigarette lighter holes are "switched" sources of 12v and will not charge the battery in the rear of the car.
My connection is done at the fuse box in the engine compartment which is also hard wired to the battery. I use the front as my power source in the garage is at the front of the car and I pull in nose first to the garage. When I back out, the magnetic connection drops off and lands on the floor.
I purchased one of those bright red REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT tags and put a small clip on the end and clip it to center dash a/c vent. Tag hangs down and covers the push button start. So in case I don’t see the bright red tag I feel it covering the Start Button. For some reason I have a fear of forgetting to unhook charger.
Same parts I had on my C6, I just reused them on the C7. I have to clean the bug gut hits off for a good connection but other than that, no issues since 2008 or so with the parts.
Elmer
Elmer,
F.Y.I. There's a spring loaded cover that can be added to the magnetic connector. This setup worked great on my C7 Z06. I'm still trying to figure out how to make this work on my ZR-1.
Contacts are wired directly but need the magnet pull to "engage" them for the charge. SO, you can put a VOM on the 2 contacts and get no reading. If you disconnect the magnet head from the c-tek cord and put the head on the contacts, you can get the 12v reading from the battery on the leads from the magnetic head.
How about a 40 gallon metal garbage can upside down with 25 empty aluminum beer cans stacked on top? Put that in the path of the car and that'll remind you pretty good too! My way is automatic, it just falls to the floor and does not tax my brain cells to remember to disconnect before I break some stuff!
Elmer
If your brain cells are that weak that you can not notice a cord hanging out of your rear hatch from the battery maintainer, you must be a real hazard on the road.
If your brain cells are that weak that you can not notice a cord hanging out of your rear hatch from the battery maintainer, you must be a real hazard on the road.
Yup, I'm a older version of Evyl Kneivel. I flash my lights a lot and I've worn out 3 horns on the car. I like to tailgate too! Since my cord hangs off the front of the car, I really don't look for an electric cord hanging out the rear of my trunk!
Thanks for the visual. I do this but have a directly connected to my battery with a tender from amazon. Cost about $20. I'd imagine the charger with a c7 logo on it probably cost about $70 or more?
It's too bad it doesn't work like my 1980. There is a small hole in the bottom of the battery compartment where I dangle a connector to the battery. It disconnects too if I forget and is a quick connection to the battery without having to reach into the back ans set it all up again.
Thanks for the visual. I do this but have a directly connected to my battery with a tender from amazon. Cost about $20. I'd imagine the charger with a c7 logo on it probably cost about $70 or more?
It's too bad it doesn't work like my 1980. There is a small hole in the bottom of the battery compartment where I dangle a connector to the battery. It disconnects too if I forget and is a quick connection to the battery without having to reach into the back ans set it all up again.
My charger came with the car, you can get it with or without the logo, you're right, it's cheaper without the logo. Takes about 10 seconds to open the trunk and plug cord in, I'm perfectly happy with what I have.
I was looking at my car today thinking about where I might install the magnet plug. Was thinking about this area circled in yellow. What do you think Elmer? Did you consider this spot then decide against it for a reason I’m not seeing? I’m going back out to the garage and take a look at where you installed yours. Could you get behind it ok?
I was looking at my car today thinking about where I might install the magnet plug. Was thinking about this area circled in yellow. What do you think Elmer? Did you consider this spot then decide against it for a reason I’m not seeing? I’m going back out to the garage and take a look at where you installed yours. Could you get behind it ok?
I don't really remember what is back of that. Might be a bracket or part of the brake duct assembly. You'll probably have to take off the nose and browse around in there to find a good spot.
If you really want one of these connectors, maybe mount it under the fender well or hidden. No need for it to be showing. Just need a convenient place to connect it to.
But I'm in the "just plug it in the trunk and close it club."
02-18-2019, 11:53 AM
