12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[DamoGR]

Wow… this thread was a hell of a read!

I have bought an gooloo jump start kit that I keep in car should the low Battery happen, but wondered are these any good?

Or just a waste of time and not accurate enough? 
 

Thanks 

[Chas G]

3 hours ago, DamoGR said:

Wow… this thread was a hell of a read!

I have bought an gooloo jump start kit that I keep in car should the low battery happen, but wondered are these any good?

Or just a waste of time and not accurate enough? 
 

Thanks 

I use one in my Yaris Cross and it's excellent.

I start up in accessory mode and it immediately shows the Battery voltage 12.3-12.6 volts

When I change to ready mode to move off it then shows the charging voltage 14.4 volts.

As I drive along the voltage switches between 14.4 volts and 13 volts depending upon the state of charge.

When I get home, park and shut the car down it switches off. 

Does the job perfectly and well worth the money.

 

[DamoGR]

17 minutes ago, Chas G said:

I use one in my Yaris Cross and it's excellent.

I start up in accessory mode and it immediately shows the battery voltage 12.3-12.6 volts

When I change to ready mode to move off it then shows the charging voltage 14.4 volts.

As I drive along the voltage switches between 14.4 volts and 13 volts depending upon the state of charge.

When I get home, park and shut the car down it switches off. 

Does the job perfectly and well worth the money.

 

Thank you 🙂

Hopefully it will give me an indication of whether I’m heading towards low Battery issues then 

[Chas G]

1 minute ago, DamoGR said:

Thank you 🙂

Hopefully it will give me an indication of whether I’m heading towards low battery issues then 

Bare in mind that it shows the voltage but not the capacity of the Battery but at least it's a starting point.

Someone posting on here  used the excellent analogy of 2  glasses which appear full of water but one is half filled with sand ie they are both full but but one is actually 50%usable capacity. 

[DamoGR]

58 minutes ago, Chas G said:

Bare in mind that it shows the voltage but not the capacity of the battery but at least it's a starting point.

Someone posting on here  used the excellent analogy of 2  glasses which appear full of water but one is half filled with sand ie they are both full but but one is actually 50%usable capacity. 

Ahhh right, got you

Do you know if the bluetooth ones show the capacity or just the voltage same as these? 
 

For £7 tho, I’ll get one of these anyway 

[DamoGR]

Bought that for £7 and also a CTEK charger

Question for anyone who has one, do you charge it with the bonnet up, or you prefer the boot Battery?

And if so, do you make use of the permanent attachment with the convenience plug?

Just wondering what I’m best off doing that’s all 

Thanks 

[Chas G]

1 hour ago, DamoGR said:

Bought that for £7 and also a CTEK charger

Question for anyone who has one, do you charge it with the bonnet up, or you prefer the boot battery?

And if so, do you make use of the permanent attachment with the convenience plug?

Just wondering what I’m best off doing that’s all 

Thanks 

The bluetooth one only shows the voltage.

I would use the  convenience leads and  leave permanently attached to the Battery rather than keep lifting the bonnet. You could get the ctek extension leads and run into rear  passenger footwell so you can plug in and shut the door. The seals are very thick on my yaris cross so don't pinch the cable. Check that yours are the same.

[DamoGR]

1 hour ago, Chas G said:

The Bluetooth one only shows the voltage.

I would use the  convenience leads and  leave permanently attached to the battery rather than keep lifting the bonnet. You could get the ctek extension leads and run into rear  passenger footwell so you can plug in and shut the door. The seals are very thick on my yaris cross so don't pinch the cable. Check that yours are the same.

That’s awesome thank you 🙌

I did think how am I going to close the car up as my cable would have to go through the boot (as the Battery is in the back)

I only wish I’d got a garage like you, as I have to think how I can do it when it’s parked on the road 😩

[Derek.w]

4 hours ago, Chas G said:

The Bluetooth one only shows the voltage.

I would use the  convenience leads and  leave permanently attached to the battery rather than keep lifting the bonnet. You could get the ctek extension leads and run into rear  passenger footwell so you can plug in and shut the door. The seals are very thick on my yaris cross so don't pinch the cable. Check that yours are the same.

Use to charge on a private road via the door seal but always felt open to someone triping over wire so moved to solar charging.

[Chas G]

23 hours ago, DamoGR said:

That’s awesome thank you 🙌

I did think how am I going to close the car up as my cable would have to go through the boot (as the battery is in the back)

I only wish I’d got a garage like you, as I have to think how I can do it when it’s parked on the road 😩

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EDION-Protect-Protector-Charging-Diameter-Black-Yellow/dp/B0BL1RQLZV/ref=asc_df_B0BL1RQLZV/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9774662666376287121&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046084&hvtargid=pla-2281435177098&psc=1&mcid=0f4c7014144f38b194c050e6e42a6f87&hvocijid=9774662666376287121-B0BL1RQLZV-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=17

[DamoGR]

1 hour ago, Chas G said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EDION-Protect-Protector-Charging-Diameter-Black-Yellow/dp/B0BL1RQLZV/ref=asc_df_B0BL1RQLZV/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9774662666376287121&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046084&hvtargid=pla-2281435177098&psc=1&mcid=0f4c7014144f38b194c050e6e42a6f87&hvocijid=9774662666376287121-B0BL1RQLZV-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=17

Looks good, but pricey tho

Not as concerned about the cable to car, but more about how I can leave the car unattended but charging 

I don’t know if there is a way of leaving it locked but cable inside 

[Chas G]

1 hour ago, DamoGR said:

Looks good, but pricey tho

Not as concerned about the cable to car, but more about how I can leave the car unattended but charging 

I don’t know if there is a way of leaving it locked but cable inside 

@DamoGR If you bring the cable out between the bottom of the door and the cill you can shut and lock the car........or am I missing something.

I can certainly close and lock my Yaris Cross with the Battery charging.

Photo 1. Charger on toolbox and cable going across floor to the back of the car.

 

Photo 2. Cable going into the car between the bottom of the back door and the cill. My Battery is under the seat. I understand your Battery is in the hatch so get the longer ctek cables and route the cable under the back seat.

The door seals on my YC are so big and soft the cable doesn't get pinched when I close the door. The car is locked.

[Derek.w]

You can bring cable out via passengers rear door thats not a problem close door and lock the car for mains or even a solar panel thats is attached to your garage.

I use to push the plug and mains socket under the car in case it rains that mains charging on a road and across a footpath not to mention going down steps at side of footpath.

All my solar panels are inside the car so a lot safer and I deploy them in car parks.

[DamoGR]

1 hour ago, Chas G said:

@DamoGR If you bring the cable out between the bottom of the door and the cill you can shut and lock the car........or am I missing something.

I can certainly close and lock my Yaris Cross with the battery charging.

Photo 1. Charger on toolbox and cable going across floor to the back of the car.

 

Photo 2. Cable going into the car between the bottom of the back door and the cill. My battery is under the seat. I understand your battery is in the hatch so get the longer ctek cables and route the cable under the back seat.

The door seals on my YC are so big and soft the cable doesn't get pinched when I close the door. The car is locked.

@Chas G @Derek.w Thank you so much for the replies, really appreciate it

I will try the cable through the rear door sill, and hope that it doesn’t create a pinch point 

 

[Corolly Poly]

On 9/6/2024 at 3:32 PM, DamoGR said:

Bought that for £7 and also a CTEK charger

Question for anyone who has one, do you charge it with the bonnet up, or you prefer the boot battery?

And if so, do you make use of the permanent attachment with the convenience plug?

Just wondering what I’m best off doing that’s all 

Thanks 

I leave the bonnet up and connect to the terminals in the fuse box on nice days when we are at home. Its easy for me to do to drive up to my garage door. I might put the extension leads on the Battery but as you say, you are still left with the issue of having to trap them in the boot or a rear door.

[DamoGR]

47 minutes ago, Corolly Poly said:

I leave the bonnet up and connect to the terminals in the fuse box on nice days when we are at home. Its easy for me to do to drive up to my garage door. I might put the extension leads on the battery but as you say, you are still left with the issue of having to trap them in the boot or a rear door.

I wish I had a garage to do that ☹️

I have now hardwired to the Battery and the cables seem fine coming out the boot

I just put some mats over the extension cable leads to prevent trip hazard

[Corolly Poly]

Whilst we are on the subject which earth point are people using on the TS when connecting to the fuse box under the bonnet? The CTEK cables are quite short and the obvious bolts nearby aren't very stable for the clips. There is a bracket but that's not at a great angle either.

[Chas G]

42 minutes ago, Corolly Poly said:

Whilst we are on the subject which earth point are people using on the TS when connecting to the fuse box under the bonnet? The CTEK cables are quite short and the obvious bolts nearby aren't very stable for the clips. There is a bracket but that's not at a great angle either.

Buy a couple of jump leads from Halfords and use one of them to extend the ctek lead to a decent earth point. When you have finished charging store the leads under the driver or passenger seat and out the Ctek in a door pocket or glove box so all within easy reach from drivers seat. 

[fred88]

Yunno the Elephant in the Room that were all missing is how ridiculous it is that this sort of discussion is necessary for a new car!

[Corolly Poly]

1 hour ago, Chas G said:

Buy a couple of jump leads from Halfords and use one of them to extend the ctek lead to a decent earth point. When you have finished charging store the leads under the driver or passenger seat and out the Ctek in a door pocket or glove box so all within easy reach from drivers seat. 

Just pulled the CTEK leads apart some more and can now get to a good earth on the engine block.

[Derek.w]

My solar panels setup is now strugling goint to mains charging with solar or maybe just mains charging until the end of Febuary.

[Chas G]

5 hours ago, fred88 said:

Yunno the Elephant in the Room that were all missing is how ridiculous it is that this sort of discussion is necessary for a new car!

All hybrids suffer the same problem if you use the car infrequently and for short journeys only. Some non hybrids do too. The 12 volt Battery just doesn't have long enough to charge from the main Battery. 

There are a number of options from using the car more often ie longer journeys, leaving in ready mode for at least 1+ hour per week, using a solar charger if appropriate, mains intelligent charger etc or sell the car and buy something else.

The Toyota magazine forum has 100's of complaints. 

[ThomasL]

"The 12 volt Battery just doesn't have long enough to charge from the main Battery."

But they used to. My Auris Hybrid 12V Battery lasted 12 years with short journeys. Even during pandemic lockdowns. So what changed?

1. Everyone is looking for more short term profit.

2. Connected Services waste energy especially when there are bugs.

 

[fred88]

Just Googled Leisure Battery vs Car Battery! Given that the Corolla 12v Battery doesn't actually power the starter motor does it act more like a Leisure Battery? Has anyone tried one or would it upset the Hybrid charging system? Umm, maybe not a great idea 🤔 

[TonyHSD]

On 10/7/2024 at 4:25 PM, ThomasL said:

"The 12 volt battery just doesn't have long enough to charge from the main battery."

But they used to. My Auris Hybrid 12V battery lasted 12 years with short journeys. Even during pandemic lockdowns. So what changed?

1. Everyone is looking for more short term profit.

2. Connected Services waste energy especially when there are bugs.

 

AGM type and this is the answer to the following post. AGM are usually the leisure batteries that last longer than standard flooded batteries. They are more expensive and perhaps that’s the reason why Toyota has stopped using them.