Battery charging

[J persons]

My SHO doesn't get driven all that much, and consequently the battery probably never gets a full charge. Yesterday, I started it to pull out of the garage and when I shut it off the radio immediately went off and I got a dialog about the battery being low on charge. The battery tested at 12.7 volts on my DVM and after starting it showed 14.4 Volts. My question is, How long should I drive with minimal electrical accessories on to fully charge the battery? The battery is less than a year old. I want it at a full charge before I load my GH tune.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

My SHO doesn't get driven all that much, and consequently the battery probably never gets a full charge. Yesterday, I started it to pull out of the garage and when I shut it off the radio immediately went off and I got a dialog about the battery being low on charge. The battery tested at 12.7 volts on my DVM and after starting it showed 14.4 Volts. My question is, How long should I drive with minimal electrical accessories on to fully charge the battery? The battery is less than a year old. I want it at a full charge before I load my GH tune.

Go to Harbor Frieght, spend $29.99 and get you a trickle charger that you keep plugged in when not driving. Problem solved.

 

[kryptto]

Go to Harbor Frieght, spend $29.99 and get you a trickle charger that you keep plugged in when not driving. Problem solved.

Disconnect the negative battery terminal before trickle charging.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Disconnect the negative battery terminal before trickle charging.

Nah, leave everything connected

 

[Majestic]

Nah, leave everything connected

I'd leave the negative ground on the charger connected somewhere besides the negative terminal on the battery to avoid the BMS going loco.

 

[kryptto]

I'd leave the negative ground on the charger connected somewhere besides the negative terminal on the battery to avoid the BMS going loco.

I agree

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

I'd leave the negative ground on the charger connected somewhere besides the negative terminal on the battery to avoid the BMS going loco.

No, no need to do that. My vehicle has lived on a trickle charger since installing the lithium battery almost 5 years ago, sometimes for months at a time. Not a single issue. I have a permanent quick connect hard wired onto the battery terminals with the pigtail barely exposed near the hood shroud, making for easy connection when pulling it out of the garage. My trickle charger is one designed to charge lithium batteries. I've run also run the same setup on the lithium battery on my Harley (granted...no BMS). It's had the same battery in it since 2014...starts like a champ every day.

 

[yaycandy]

Go to Harbor Frieght, spend $29.99 and get you a trickle charger that you keep plugged in when not driving. Problem solved.

They even got solar powered ones that work great when the car is sitting outside. I put one on yard tractor #3 (awd astro) and when i go out to the field where its stored 3 months later to shake the squirrels out, its like i just put a new battery in it. There awesome.

 

[kryptto]

I yield to the elders of the forums

 

[Majestic]

No, no need to do that. My vehicle has lived on a trickle charger since installing the lithium battery almost 5 years ago, sometimes for months at a time. Not a single issue. I have a permanent quick connect hard wired onto the battery terminals with the pigtail barely exposed near the hood shroud, making for easy connection when pulling it out of the garage. My trickle charger is one designed to charge lithium batteries. I've run also run the same setup on the lithium battery on my Harley (granted...no BMS). It's had the same battery in it since 2014...starts like a champ every day.

I don't care enough to argue about it. But Ford's own trickle charger connects to the shock tower for the negative feed. I have mine installed like you do and have had some issues with the BMS not allowing the battery to charge correctly.

 

[SHOdded]

if you want to retrain the bms, leave the negative lead off any connection to the battery, i.e., find a bare metal component you can hook it to. this is from the ford service manual.
2014 Taurus, Police Interceptor - Sedan Workshop Manual
Charger Connected to Negative Battery Terminal


NOTE: When charging the vehicle battery by connecting the charger to the negative battery terminal is necessary, such as when using a combination battery charger and battery tester/analyzer, like the GR 1 190 V3.0 Intelligent Diagnostic Charger, the BCM will not immediately update the battery state of charge. In this instance, after charging, you must CARRY OUT the BMS Reset using the scan tool.

1. Connect the positive (red) charger clamp to the positive battery post.

1. Connect the negative (black) charger clamp to the negative battery post.

1. Charge the battery according to the battery charger owner's literature.

1. After charging is complete, carry out the BMS Reset using the scan tool.

Charger Connected to Engine or Chassis Ground

1. Connect the positive (red) charger clamp to the positive battery post.

1. NOTE: The negative charger clamp must be connected to an unpainted chassis surface or a solid engine component such as a generator mount or engine lifting eye.
   Connect the negative (black) charger clamp to an engine or chassis ground.

1. Charge the battery according to the battery charger owner's literature.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

if you want to retrain the bms, leave the negative lead off any connection to the battery, i.e., find a bare metal component you can hook it to. this is from the ford service manual.
2014 Taurus, Police Interceptor - Sedan Workshop Manual
Charger Connected to Negative Battery Terminal


NOTE: When charging the vehicle battery by connecting the charger to the negative battery terminal is necessary, such as when using a combination battery charger and battery tester/analyzer, like the GR 1 190 V3.0 Intelligent Diagnostic Charger, the BCM will not immediately update the battery state of charge. In this instance, after charging, you must CARRY OUT the BMS Reset using the scan tool.

1. Connect the positive (red) charger clamp to the positive battery post.

1. Connect the negative (black) charger clamp to the negative battery post.

1. Charge the battery according to the battery charger owner's literature.

1. After charging is complete, carry out the BMS Reset using the scan tool.

Charger Connected to Engine or Chassis Ground

1. Connect the positive (red) charger clamp to the positive battery post.

1. NOTE: The negative charger clamp must be connected to an unpainted chassis surface or a solid engine component such as a generator mount or engine lifting eye.
   Connect the negative (black) charger clamp to an engine or chassis ground.

1. Charge the battery according to the battery charger owner's literature.

Yeah, not really needed and I'm not changing my setup. You guys are thinking too hard about this. It causes no issues, but do what you want. I really don't care.

 

[J persons]

So how important is the BMS? Does it affect the charge of the battery if it is not reset??

 

[Majestic]

So how important is the BMS? Does it affect the charge of the battery if it is not reset??

Yes, it needs to be reset.