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Best way to charge a GMT900 truck's battery

Discussion in 'Technical' started by 07blackz71, Nov 23, 2011.

  1. 07blackz71

    07blackz71 Change is always Good!!!

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    My battery is low on my Tahoe and would like to use a battery charger to get back to it's full charge. I never had to charge a NNBS trucks battery yet and am wondering if I have to be careful so I don't mess up any of the electronics. On other trucks I never unhooked the battery from the truck and I just hooked the charger to the battery cables on the post. Would this be ok to do on my Tahoe also?

    I know it is probably a stupid question but I don't want to mess anything up before turkey day. I have alot of running around to do tomorrow.
     
  2. Zembonez

    Zembonez живи свободно или умри

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    Re: best way to charge a GMT900 trucks battery

    Hook the positive to the post and the negative to a ground. Make sure the charger is off when connecting. It'll be fine.
     
  3. drperry

    drperry Fox 1! Fox 2! Fox 3!

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    Re: best way to charge a GMT900 trucks battery

    Is your alternator not charging properly, or did you just leave the key on or in accessory running things for awhile?
     
  4. Texas Jim

    Texas Jim Texas..It's a Whole 'nuther Country

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    Re: best way to charge a GMT900 trucks battery

    I have had to use the charger a few times on my Cadillac...
    I hook up the cables from the charger and then turn it on low for a little while...
    If that isn't enough, after two or three hours, I turn it up to high.

    SO FAR it has never hurt anything...
     
  5. drperry

    drperry Fox 1! Fox 2! Fox 3!

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    If all you do is a lot of short trips, it's a good idea to throw a trickle charger on it overnight now and then.
     
  6. 07blackz71

    07blackz71 Change is always Good!!!

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    Thanks guys


    I was messing with my radio and a wireless back up camera with the Tahoe off so it drained the battery to the point that it had a "service charging system". It had enough charge to just barely start it up. So I drove it around for a while to get some charge back. But I only drive 10 min. to work so it is not fully charging. I checked it and it only shows 10.6 volts after sitting overnight. I also load tested it and it showed it was ok.
     
  7. drperry

    drperry Fox 1! Fox 2! Fox 3!

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    That wouldn't wreck your battery, you're safe there... But a little charging is always nice :)

    Like JIM said... Positive to positive, negative to a good ground... Engine block works.
     
  8. Zembonez

    Zembonez живи свободно или умри

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    I've had to charge mine several times over the last two years due to it sitting in the garage for months at a time. Last Winter, I put a new battery in.
     
  9. 07blackz71

    07blackz71 Change is always Good!!!

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    Well I just hooked it up and I am just doing a 15amp charge to get it to a full charge and then maybe this weekend do a trickle charge to get it a more deep charge. If I have more issues I guess I will have to upgrade to an interstate battery.
     
  10. drperry

    drperry Fox 1! Fox 2! Fox 3!

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    I hope you're not leaving that 15 amp charge on there too long :D

    I prefer lower charge levels so I can go do other things and not have to worry about it.

    Unless your charger has an auto-cut off :thumbs:
     

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