C7 Battery Maintainer
 

Anyone have experience yet with this new battery maintainer from GM, that you can order as an option with your C7?

I have a convertible. After examining the procedure to hook this device up to the power port in my trunk; I observe that the two trunk lights stay on unless the trunk is completely closed.
And, you can't completely close the trunk, as long as the battery maintainer cord is connected to a home power source.

I didn't see anything in the instruction booklet that came with it about having to leave the trunk open the whole time that the maintainer is connected..........with the two trunk lights on?

I waited a good while to see if the two lights eventually go off, but they seem to stay on as long as the trunk is open.

I'm hoping that some of you folks can provide input here.

I would assume the trunk lights in the convertible work like the coupe lights and they do shut off after a fairly long period of time, I do not really know how long it takes. The first time I used my maintainer I was concerned about this also. I hooked up the maintainer went in the house checked in about 1/2 hour and they had turned off.

Disregard the above post.
I re-read a paragraph in the owner's manual, and learned that all of the vehicle's lights are designed to turn off, after 10 minutes, if the vehicle is not running.

Sure enough, after ten minutes the two trunk lights went out. I just didn't wait long enough, prior to submitting the above post.

All is well, and my maintenance charger is working

How does it work, Im getting one, just plug in the battery port for how long?

A c7 will start after a month worth of sitting. Posts all over the boards verifying this. If you store for longer, get a maintainer, anything shorter and it's not needed.

I read the instructions, its quite simple, just plug in and wait for it to light up as full. Will it harm the battery if we are away on a trip and I leave it plugged in for a week?

It won't harm the batt whether plugged in 1 day or 1 week or 1 month or 1 year etc... I have my 'vert plugged in with trunk closed. No kinks on the cord neither... but I am careful and do have the cord flat (not tangled or spiraled) and cord closed on the corner of the trunk lid. No issues.

I have been using a Deltran Battery tender Plus on my 1999 C5 for a couple of years. The unit has worked flawlessly since I purchased it. When I purchased unit cost was around $50.00. Not sure what they cost now but would be willing to bet it is under $100.00

What is the max charging current the C7 Battery Maintainer puts out? It looks pretty small. The Battery Tender is 1.25amps.

also I drive my vette once a week and I only have 500 miles on it, when should I use the charger, when I know I won't be driving it for a few weeks or too new to worry about it?

3 weeks or more sitting, hook it up.....

Will this work on other vehicles?

Yes, however it may not work through the other car's power port, depends on how the electrical system is designed. You can get the C-Tek alligator clips from the manufacturer, and many local speed/street rod shops sells the accessories. I've been using one on my '74 Stingray for several years now. The only difference between your maintainer & mine is you have the new Stingray logo printed on the case.

I bought a ctek and it works great. I use it on my other cars also.