12v battery is the weakest link to many

[MoonRiver]

https://insideevs.com/news/752720/ev-12-volt-battery-problems/

Sponsored

 

[Mach1E]

https://insideevs.com/news/752720/ev-12-volt-battery-problems/

Kinda?

But telling people they’re worrying about the wrong battery is only partially true.

Sure, your 12v is way more likely to fail than the HVB. But if it does, it’s a super cheap and easy fix in comparison.


It’s like saying you’re way more likely to be bitten by an ant than a shark (true), but which one will you worry more about at the beach?

I’ve survived many an ant bite.

 

[DennisD]

Kinda?

But telling people they’re worrying about the wrong battery is only partially true.

Sure, your 12v is way more likely to fail than the HVB. But if it does, it’s a super cheap and easy fix in comparison.


It’s like saying you’re way more likely to be bitten by an ant than a shark (true), but which one will you worry more about at the beach?

I’ve survived many an ant bite.

I don't know of an ant bite that can leave you stranded far from home though?

I get the analogy but I would maybe step the ant bite to a dog bite. A dog bite can still hurt for a few days where as a shark bite can leave you laid up for an extended period of time.

I would compare an ant bite to a bug that hits your windshield. It is annoying but it won't leave your stranded.

A dead 12 volt battery can be equally annoying if you can't drive your car similar to the HV battery.

 

[Mach1E]

I don't know of an ant bite that can leave you stranded far from home though?

I get the analogy but I would maybe step the ant bite to a dog bite. A dog bite can still hurt for a few days where as a shark bite can leave you laid up for an extended period of time.

I would compare an ant bite to a bug that hits your windshield. It is annoying but it won't leave your stranded.

A dead 12 volt battery can be equally annoying if you can't drive your car similar to the HV battery.

A 12v failure can leave you stranded in any car.

Either way, it’s a cheap fix.

HVB failure? That’s crazy expensive.

A flat tire, bad alternator, bad starter etc also are cheap fixes that can strand a car.

The HVB can cost more than your car is worth. Either way, it’s worth worrying about even if it’s uncommon because of how expensive it could be.

 

[MoonRiver]

A 12v failure can leave you stranded in any car.

Either way, it’s a cheap fix.

HVB failure? That’s crazy expensive.

A flat tire, bad alternator, bad starter etc also are cheap fixes that can strand a car.

The HVB can cost more than your car is worth. Either way, it’s worth worrying about even if it’s uncommon because of how expensive it could be.

I agree with you on HVB being expensive, but the point of the article tried to make was that HVB is much more reliable than LVB.

 

[DennisD]

A 12v failure can leave you stranded in any car.

Either way, it’s a cheap fix.

HVB failure? That’s crazy expensive.

A flat tire, bad alternator, bad starter etc also are cheap fixes that can strand a car.

The HVB can cost more than your car is worth. Either way, it’s worth worrying about even if it’s uncommon because of how expensive it could be.

The HVB battery is insured/warranty and the chance of paying for that is very low similar to your Shark bite analogy.

On the other hand, a dog bite is "real" and can happen.

In all my years, if I were to add up the batteries that I purchased it pales in comparison to transmission/engine/HVB purchases.

I have been driving over 40 years and replaced 1 transmission and zero engines/HVB but have purchased countless batteries that would total in the thousands.

That is exactly what the article was pointing out.

Don't worry about a Shark bite but a dog bite............................... well that can and does happen.

 

[CTZ]

It's ridiculous how much trouble the LVB is causing, especially since there is a huge battery in the car with 14V leads that could be used as a LVB in an emergency.

 

[MoonRiver]

Imagine one is dying of dehydration by a big clear lake but he can’t even lick a single drop of water.

 

[MoonRiver]

Ford can put a capacitor there to open an unlocked door why can’t they use a bigger capacitor that holds more charge so it unlocks the door too?

 

[Mach1E]

Ford can put a capacitor there to open an unlocked door why can’t they use a bigger capacitor that holds more charge so it unlocks the door too?

My guess is because to unlock the door, it takes more logic.

You’d need enough charge to know the key or PAAK are near or else anyone could unlock the door on a car with a dead battery (safety/security issue).

 

[MoonRiver]

My guess is because to unlock the door, it takes more logic.

You’d need enough charge to know the key or PAAK are near or else anyone could unlock the door on a car with a dead battery (safety/security issue).

They can just leave the number pad activated but phone or fob, assuming you know the door code.

 

[Maquis]

They can just leave the number pad activated but phone or fob, assuming you know the door code.

Door locks are controlled by the BCM. It can’t run off a capacitor.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm personally convinced that with just a modicum of vigilance, the odds of experiencing what folks are so worried about, isn't worth worrying about.

Concern, would be a better term. Concerned enough to not take that lvb for granted. $25 for a 24/7/365 voltage logger. Anything out of the ordinary would be easy to spot.

 

[Bayviews88]

I'm personally convinced that with just a modicum of vigilance, the odds of experiencing what folks are so worried about, isn't worth worrying about.

Concern, would be a better term. Concerned enough to not take that lvb for granted. $25 for a 24/7/365 voltage logger. Anything out of the ordinary would be easy to spot.

If you purchase an OBD-II scanner, will it give you 12V system / LVB data that could be used with a diagnostic app to determine LVB health and early replacement before failure?

 

[Snakebitten]

If you purchase an OBD-II scanner, will it give you 12V system / LVB data that could be used with a diagnostic app to determine LVB health and early replacement before failure?

The problem with monitoring the lvb with ODB tools, is that you are really seeing the voltage of the DC/DC converter, rather than the battery itself.
It's much more valuable to monitor the voltage of the 12V AGM battery when it is resting. When the vehicle is not in use or being supplied with external voltage/current.

The $25 Bluetooth Voltometer is directly attached to the 12V battery and is logging voltage readings. You use a smartphone app to connect and get both a real-time voltage reading, as well as a quick download/sync of the logs.

My Mach-E has sat parked since Thursday evening. (using the truck for a family beach weekend)

This is 5 minutes ago. (I can get a reading by stepping close to a window with the vehicle parked outside easy enough)

It's a weenie of a battery, admittedly, being an H3. Not exactly a lot of headroom for a vehicle with 40-50 modules onboard and a few of them eager to stay awake for multiple reasons. ?

Sponsored