Nice! How are you managing the voltage requirements of that battery to get it full? I run a 100ah x2 power battery in my FJ and had to do a fuse mod to get the alternator to voltage that these like to see. I feel like that plus a jumper (similar to the setup I have now, single battery for starting and accessories) would enable me to solve the problem.
Mine is a direct replacement, not an additional battery. As far as the alternator, the LC doesn't have one. The LC uses a DC to DC inverter from the traction battery (hybrid) to charge the 12v battery. There is a constant draw on the on the 12v system somewhere and, in my case, the old battery would go flat if I didn't drive it at least once or twice a month. When I get caught up on my mods, I plan on doing some snooping and figure out which circuits are responsible and if a simple shut off switch could be used, or if a battery disconnect switch is in order.
Yep understood that it's a direct replacement, that would be my plan as well. The float for that battery will need 13.2 to 13.8 volts, the charge will need 13.8 to 15 volts. That is higher than the battery you replaced. The "full" voltage once nothing is on it should be around 13 volts, not 12.6.
Once it comes off the trickle charger (C-Tek) it's around 12.8 -13.1, which I think is normal............ sitting for a week it'll drop to 12.1 another week of sitting down to 11.9 etc.... all the way to "not enough to start it". If I don't plan on driving it for more than a week, I plug the trickle charger in.
Ahh I see, how are you running the trickle charger? Plug in at home or something with the inverter? I could see a trickle charger being used while running and the inverter is on up meet the voltage requirements of the battery, but then again it's pretty much the same thing as just charging an external power station
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Plug in the wall for me. I did purchase a capacitor jump box that's dedicated solely to the LC. On the several occasions the 12v battery went flat the jump box was enough to get the 12v system online and allow the traction battery to start the engine.Ahh I see, how are you running the trickle charger? Plug in at home or something with the inverter? I could see a trickle charger being used while running and the inverter is on up meet the voltage requirements of the battery, but then again it's pretty much the same thing as just charging an external power station
And ya wow, that's a big drop in voltage!
Looking forward to a hack that allows us to leave the inverter on all the time..
So you can use the jump connector in the right fuse box under the hood to trickle charger the battery without jacking up anything. I only drive mine every few weeks at this point. Raising the hood is easier than getting to the battery for me. Its also way closer to the outlet and I dont need an extension chord.
I've had success doing it with my under hood pig tail.
One more and I will leave you be. You pigtailed the red/positive off the jump start terminal I assume. Where did you connect the negative wire from the charger. Just ground it to a metal part of the car?
There are several OEM grounding points all over the engine bay (along the fenders) I used one somewhere around the air box.
Just googled it, now that's interesting... Looks like you can drain these and it still has a reserve or some jumping capability. I'll do some research on these, thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks for the info. Do you have an idea of the largest battery that can fit in the compartment? Any larger than the 60ah?
