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Trickle charger

13419 Views 33 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  non sequitur
Can anyone help me find the 12V to use a trickle charger while out of town? Someone said to connect POS to the terminal in the fuse box and the NEG on the neighboring bolt since they could not access the battery. is that ok? Any help is appreciated
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Can anyone help me find the 12V to use a trickle charger while out of town? Someone said to connect POS to the terminal in the fuse box and the NEG on the neighboring bolt since they could not access the battery. is that ok? Any help is appreciated
Before Fisker's recent near-bankruptcy problems, the lead engineer there told me that the latest software upgrade (I forget what number it was called) had changed so that the 12v battery remains charged from the drive battery when the drive battery is plugged in. My Chevy Volt operates this way too. I have left both for over a month with just the regular drive plug-in (110 or 220v) and not had a problem.
Before Fisker's recent near-bankruptcy problems, the lead engineer there told me that the latest software upgrade (I forget what number it was called) had changed so that the 12v battery remains charged from the drive battery when the drive battery is plugged in. My Chevy Volt operates this way too. I have left both for over a month with just the regular drive plug-in (110 or 220v) and not had a problem.
Never heard that matter of fact I've heard to opposite I still install trickle chargers on customers cars while they to out of town . Cheap and it pervents problems
Can anyone help me find the 12V to use a trickle charger while out of town? Someone said to connect POS to the terminal in the fuse box and the NEG on the neighboring bolt since they could not access the battery. is that ok? Any help is appreciated
I don't have the brand handy I install at work since I'm off today . You want to pick a trickle charger that's capable of shutting off and turning on when needed . Also one that's capable of charging a AGM battery . I still install trickle chargers for customers who leave there car stored for any length of time . The only time I don't install a charger is when the car is kept outside no reason for a trickle charger.
Before Fisker's recent near-bankruptcy problems, the lead engineer there told me that the latest software upgrade (I forget what number it was called) had changed so that the 12v battery remains charged from the drive battery when the drive battery is plugged in. My Chevy Volt operates this way too. I have left both for over a month with just the regular drive plug-in (110 or 220v) and not had a problem.
I'm sorry but the engineer you spoke to is wrong...at least partially.

If the charger is plugged in and the car is actively charging the HV battery,(SOC less than 100%); the APM will also actively charge the 12 volt battery (if needed).

However, once the HV battery stops charging (SOC = 100%), all contactors close and the APM will no longer charge the 12 volt battery.

I could be wrong but I dont think there is any EV or PHEV on the market today that charges the 12 volt battery if the HV battery is fully charged.
I'm sorry but the engineer you spoke to is wrong...at least partially.

If the charger is plugged in and the car is actively charging the HV battery,(SOC less than 100%); the APM will also actively charge the 12 volt battery (if needed).

However, once the HV battery stops charging (SOC = 100%), all contactors close and the APM will no longer charge the 12 volt battery.

I could be wrong but I dont think there is any EV or PHEV on the market today that charges the 12 volt battery if the HV battery is fully charged.

There are some EV's that use "shore power" to minimize vampire load (i.e climate control etc) even if the HV battery is fully charged.
I'm sorry but the engineer you spoke to is wrong...at least partially.

If the charger is plugged in and the car is actively charging the HV battery,(SOC less than 100%); the APM will also actively charge the 12 volt battery (if needed).

However, once the HV battery stops charging (SOC = 100%), all contactors close and the APM will no longer charge the 12 volt battery.

I could be wrong but I dont think there is any EV or PHEV on the market today that charges the 12 volt battery if the HV battery is fully charged.
The guy at FA who told me this is Bill Tally. His title was "Director of Vehicle Integration". I assume he is no longer there. I was at FA in Anaheim for some meetings with FA executives. While there, I mentioned that my car had a low tire pressure light problem. They offered to take the car in the back and fix it. Turned out it was a sensor issue. While there, I met Bill Tally and he was the main guy diagnosing problems and issues so I asked him a bunch of questions.

For example, he told me that it was now OK to open and close your doors while the car was being charged. This was something you could not do previously without causing software issues. But he was very clear that you should never plug in the charger until the PRNDL lights go off. That, he said, still causes issues. I also asked him about trickle charging. He was very clear that you don't have to do that anymore either that the HV battery will keep the 12v battery charged as long as its plugged in.He said they had changed the software on that.

There were other questions I asked him and everything he told me has been spot on. I have had zero problems with my Karma since that visit and following his instructions and understanding what the car would do and what features I should not try to use because they just aren't good and they hadn't fixed it yet. I don't use the easy entry/exit for example because he said it still had issues.

I kept the guy's card because he said I could call him if I had future questions.

Anyway, as I said, I have a Volt and I have left it for 90 days with only an HV plug in so I know that works. And, I've left my Karma for a full month with just the HV plug-in and had no issues.
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@charged in OC: did you leave plugged in to the portable charger that comes with the car or a 220 such as a Blink?
BTW- thanks to Lormax for calling me to actually answer the original question about where to connect especially which to use as a ground!
@charged in OC: did you leave plugged in to the portable charger that comes with the car or a 220 such as a Blink?
I've actually done both. But when I left it for a month it was with my 220v charger which is an Eaton one. I've had my karma for 17 months now.
BTW- thanks to Lormax for calling me to actually answer the original question about where to connect especially which to use as a ground!
So, what was Lormax's answer then?
The guy at FA who told me this is Bill Tally. His title was "Director of Vehicle Integration". I assume he is no longer there. I was at FA in Anaheim for some meetings with FA executives. While there, I mentioned that my car had a low tire pressure light problem. They offered to take the car in the back and fix it. Turned out it was a sensor issue. While there, I met Bill Tally and he was the main guy diagnosing problems and issues so I asked him a bunch of questions.

For example, he told me that it was now OK to open and close your doors while the car was being charged. This was something you could not do previously without causing software issues. But he was very clear that you should never plug in the charger until the PRNDL lights go off. That, he said, still causes issues. I also asked him about trickle charging. He was very clear that you don't have to do that anymore either that the HV battery will keep the 12v battery charged as long as its plugged in.He said they had changed the software on that.

There were other questions I asked him and everything he told me has been spot on. I have had zero problems with my Karma since that visit and following his instructions and understanding what the car would do and what features I should not try to use because they just aren't good and they hadn't fixed it yet. I don't use the easy entry/exit for example because he said it still had issues.

I kept the guy's card because he said I could call him if I had future questions.

Anyway, as I said, I have a Volt and I have left it for 90 days with only an HV plug in so I know that works. And, I've left my Karma for a full month with just the HV plug-in and had no issues.
I'm sorry to inform you but Billy Tally was everything that was wrong with Fisker Automotive.

Anyways, if the 12 volt battery is fully charged it should last 2-3 weeks easy.

Another reason not to store the car plugged in for an extended amount of time is the HV battery should be stored with a SOC of 40-60% if it will be an extended amount of time (30+ days).
Lormax stated that you should NOT leave the car plugged in. It can drain the 12V as every time the cars wakes up to check for an HV connection it will use the 12V and the HV will not charge the 12V. ALso, to connect the trickle charger- connect POS to the terminal in the fuse box and NEG to the bolt just in front of fire wall by the "red box on server side (APM I think he said). Can also use manifold for ground but other nearby bolts not good ground
I'm sorry to inform you but Billy Tally was everything that was wrong with Fisker Automotive.
I heard that Tally "left" Fisker recently. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, I was surprised he was kept on after the mass layoffs.
I worked under Billy Tally. I won't sling any mud about my experiences with him, but I can say that he wasn't the one doing any actual diagnosing of issues.
Lormax stated that you should NOT leave the car plugged in. It can drain the 12V as every time the cars wakes up to check for an HV connection it will use the 12V and the HV will not charge the 12V. ALso, to connect the trickle charger- connect POS to the terminal in the fuse box and NEG to the bolt just in front of fire wall by the "red box on server side (APM I think he said). Can also use manifold for ground but other nearby bolts not good ground
A picture would be worth a million words. Anybody?

Also, which charging device are people using? Something from CTEK, I presume - but which one?

thanks!
In less than 1000 words- red box in front of driver side close to windshield- pop tabs on each side- the cover slides toward you (if on driver side)- that is the POS the ground is the next bolt closer to windshield- any "12V maintenance charger will do"
I will post pictures I would hate to see someone hook it up wrong . The positive should go to the post in the fuse box that has the 10 mm nut on it the ground I use is the bolt on the APM that is the unit closes to the firewall with the red cover on it . I've installed a bunch of them using the stud sticking up in the fuse box is the easiest to use also you don't even have to remove the nut just install another nut on top of the factory one with the trickle charger positive lead sandwiched in between them .
In less than 1000 words- red box in front of driver side close to windshield- pop tabs on each side- the cover slides toward you (if on driver side)- that is the POS the ground is the next bolt closer to windshield- any "12V maintenance charger will do"
No.

It needs to have an AGM battery setting.
My 4th thread mentions using a,charger that has a AGM setting
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