Charging Battery While Still Hooked Up?

you normally leave the battery connected to the battery cables of both vehicles, and you normally leave the vehicle you are using as the source vehicle running... at least I do.

If you connect the cables correctly you should have no problems.

----------- Elbert snipped-for-privacy@me.com

you normally leave the battery connected to the battery cables of both

Good answer to a question that wasn't asked...

Pete, I've never heard of anyone brave enough to try it but I would stick with your current habit of disconnecting. I never charged a battery while it's installed and would never recommend it. Electricity takes the path of least resistance, I don't care how smart the charger is. If someone tells you otherwise please post it, I'd like to hear about it.

Not a very good answer for Vehicle that have the CHIP in the ignition key.. I also heard that you wud Have to REprogram the ANTI THEFT for the RADIO ! The garages I know of Make a Tool that Has a 9 volt battery , which they plug into the Ciggerette Lighter socket to Keep power to those circuits When Changing the BATTERY

I guess my answer was more towards jump starting the car.....

I don't follow why you would need to disconnect the battery to charge it either.

What are you doing where you have to charge the battery on a regular basis? I could see having to do that if maybe the truck sat for months at a time without being started but other than that you should not have to charge the battery unless you have problems like (a bad battery, a faulty alternator, or a parasitic drain)..

----------- Elbert snipped-for-privacy@me.com

Per Elbert:

Not exactly "regular", but my 1998 'burb has light switches that lend themselves to draining the battery. For instance: open up the rear hatch and fail to latch it down completely during a day at the beach. Turns on at least one light in the cabin that is not visible in daylight, but drains the battery over the course of a day. There are others, but don't recall them at the moment. Mostly mitigated by the proper setting of the "Interior Light" option on the dashboard....but it still happens.

You've discovered the Avalanche diodes in GM's alterantors. They don't like transients (sparks). Get a good alternator rated for Arc-welding or stop giving people jumps.

Cheers

Per Martin Riddle:

I did an end run: started carrying a spare in the other battery well. If somebody needs a jump, I give it from the spare or not at all.

Turned out to be a good thing also because I periodically manage to run down the main batt doing something dumb like leaving the rear hatch window unlatched at the beach all day... It's saved me at least a half-dozen times already.

My 98 Burb also did this. Troubleshooting is a pain because the computer that helps to regulate the lights. I removed the switch from the barn door and cleaned it and reinstalled it. Ultimately I had to remove the switch from the passenger front door.Haven't had an issue since.

I'd recommend checking those cheap plastic switches for the front doors. Some folks say its because the plastic dash moves over time widening the gap for the plastic switches. Anyway, have loads of patience, this took me a couple of weeks to track down.

Jeff

I've been trying to find a box that fits that extra battery bay so I can use it to carry stuff. Has anyone done this?

Jeff

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:09:24 -0500, jeff in Atl sent into the ether:

Jeff, Uh, have you tried a battery box? LOL

I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it! (That is what my X-wife told me) snipped-for-privacy@charter.net Remove the x for e-mail reply

I have looked at many battery boxes, and they are all too large. I guess its because they are designed for free form installation (on an off-road vehicle (dune buggy) or under a boat seat). The space for the second battery in my Suburban is just a bit larger than the battery would be itself. If someone knows of a battery box that would fit, I would like to hear about it.

Thanks for the response!

Jeff

Per jeff in Atl:

How about performing a little surgery on an old battery? You'd have to dispose of the lead plates and the sulfuric acid, but the resulting empty case would definitely be the right size...

Thanks, Pete. That's a pretty good idea. I wonder if battery recycling places would have empty cases ready to go?

Jeff

Per jeff in Atl:

That's what I was thinking after I hit the "Send" key.

Personally, I'd pay a few bucks just to not have to deal with the acid and lead... Also, I'm guessing there are various sizes/thickness of cases and you'd be in a position to chose what looks to work best...

Thank you for the follow up.