Battery charging

[SmokinAces]

I purchased the Ford Performance MXS 5.0 and it came with the following recommendations. Positive first, negative second. Reverse the order when removing. Install negative after the BMS

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[Bitten in '69]

Looks like a re-labled Ctek.

 

[volcanogod]

The reason to connect the negative last is done so to a remote ground is to avoid hydrogen based explosion. As lead batteries charge they release hydrogen. Any spak may result in the battery blowing the top of the battery off in the air. I've seen this 1st hand in the USAF where 2 x large 6VDC batteries in series had a open end wrench fall and short negative to positive and the wrench turned pink. At that point each cell blew the cap off like rockets. After only a few the hydrogen was ignited and the tops of both batteries launched like a rockets in the air spewing gas and acid.

Most folks have no idea about the potential in their car batteries or even the Lipo jump boxes pose. Be safe out there!

 

[Frank.Herbst]

This has been covered in detail before. We were told going to the battery negative terminal bypasses part of the charging system that keeps track of how much charge goes into the battery. Positive terminal is OK but you should use a body point for the ground of your charger cable set. Others have shown a good place to connect to previously in this post.

 

[m3incorp]

It most likely is. Corvette rebadges the CTEK for their applications...but it still has the CTEK label also.

Looks like a re-labled Ctek.

 

[dom418]

I’ve been connecting my trickle chargers directly to the battery for 20 years and have never had an explosion. Interesting

 

[lenFeb]

I’ve been connecting my trickle chargers directly to the battery for 20 years and have never had an explosion. Interesting

Threads are like having conversation with my doctor friends. Before conversation you're fine and healthy. After the conversation you're severely sick.

 

[kz]

The reason to connect the negative last is done so to a remote ground is to avoid hydrogen based explosion.

It is really to avoid shorting it - once negative is connected, accidental touch of positive terminal anywhere on car's metal surface short circuits the battery.

 

[460Fred]

Threads are like having conversation with my doctor friends. Before conversation you're fine and healthy. After the conversation you're severely sick.

And guess what, Dr’s die at the same rate as everyone else. Nobody gets out alive! ;-)

 

[galaxy]

Good info that I do not dispute, but for the life of me and in the simplest of terms, I cannot see how the battery/charging system knows where the ground is connected in a closed loop system like this. But apparently it does.

 

[Frank.Herbst]

Good info that I do not dispute, but for the life of me and in the simplest of terms, I cannot see how the battery/charging system knows where the ground is connected in a closed loop system like this. But apparently it does.

It's because the ground cable heads back to a harness, not directly to the frame like on our old cars. Directly to the negative battery bypasses the harness.
I'm attaching a picture. Notice my charger cable at the bottom of the picture and it's grounded on the shock tower where others have already suggested.

 

[72&18]

So as we know you cannot use the negative terminal .
On the shock tower there is a ground connection , can that be used or does the fact that the wiring harness is directly connected to it put in the same category as the negative terminal?

I have my CTEK installed this way as well.

 

[Frank.Herbst]

I have my CTEK installed this way as well.

Once you ground at the shock tower the current gets into the harness that tracks charge going into the battery. Then when the engine runs the system won't over charge the battery.

 

[galaxy]

@Frank.Herbst would the style of charger matter? I have a smart charger from Odesy and a Battery Tender Jr that I swap between based on where it’s parked in the garage (still on stock/original battery).

Like a couple others have mentioned, I’ve been hooked up straight to the negative terminal for years now with no lights or issues; but self admittedly don’t spend any time watching the volt gauge when driving. I’d still rather learn and do it right. Plus swapping the location would give me something to tinker with today;) !

 

[Bitten in '69]

Galaxy,
The point is, the GT350 is what is different.
I've used Deltran Battery Tenders for 30 years. They were a step up from a trickle charger. However, they do not charge a battery that is dead. That is where the newer Ctek comes in, and I now have a couple of those. They, for the most part, were all hooked to battery terminals directly, no issues. The 03 Cobra is hooked to terminal & frame.
But, with the GT350 I heeded the warnings, and my Ctek is connected to terminal and frame.

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