Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Maintenance charge of Battery

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Maintenance charge of Battery

    I am seeking information or clarification as to charging the main (and/or aux) battery in the Prado.

    I have read in the manual that states:
    ”If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the ground cable.”

    I have read in the CTek manual state “Connect the black clamp to the vehicle chassis remote from the fuel pipe and the battery.”

    My Question is “Why” disconnect the negative from the better or place the negative from the charger to the chassis and not onto the battery directly?

    The negative from the battery goes to the chassis/ground anyway... so why does it recommend disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery.

    Thoughts/Comments/Suggestions

  • #2
    These are my thoughts which could very easily be wrong. I assume that the manual is asking for the battery to be disconnected before charging to prevent the car electronics being subject to voltage from the charger which may be higher than in normal use. Having said that a CTek or similar "intelligent" charger would not raise the voltage too high, I leave one connected to my wife's Audi A3 for 6 months when it is stood up as unlike the Prado having the battery disconnected for long periods makes the car forget that it is a car.
    When disconnecting a battery on anything it is good practise to disconnect the earth terminal first, this is because if your spanner inadvertently hits the bodywork while touching the terminal no harm is done unlike doing the same with the positive terminal.

    Comment


    • #3
      It only references the Negative, not the positive. Leave the + connected (obvious reasons)

      Under the hood, the negative from the battery is connected to a ground point on the vehicle.... all connected to a similar polarity and state, unless the negative terminal from the vehicle is disconnected from the battery

      What does everyone else do as maintenance charging the vehicle?

      Comment


      • #4
        +1 to Johnlynn

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi Folks and connecting somewhere other than the battery’s negative terminal is a safety issue.

          Lets say you have been cranking the crap out of your battery, trying to get a stubborn motor to go, but all you end up with is a flat cranking battery

          All this VERY high current draw on the cranking battery can in many cases, cause the battery to gas.

          If you were to then connect to the positive and the negative of the battery, EVEN IF THE BATTERY CHARGER IS NOT ON, you may cause a spark at the negative terminal.

          This in turn can ignite the gas, causing the battery to explode, and folks this is a regular occurrence.

          You have to connect the positive lead from the charger to the battery’s positive ( + ) terminal because it’s usually the only place you can get access to a decent EXPOSED positive source. So you connect if first, because it has to be connected at the battery.

          Because the negative can be sourced in many places, other than the battery’s negative terminal, it is connected last, and away from the battery.

          By connecting the negative away from the battery, you dramatically reduce the chances of igniting any escaping gases because the gas ( hydrogen ) rises and does not spread out through the engine bay.

          NOTE if a battery does explode, it will not vaporise your vehicle, but if you happen to be leaning over the battery trying to connect to the battery’s negative terminal, you will end up with a face covered in highly corrosive acid.




          And again, this type of accident happens all too often.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by drivesafe View Post
            Hi Folks and connecting somewhere other than the battery’s negative terminal is a safety issue.

            Lets say you have been cranking the crap out of your battery, trying to get a stubborn motor to go, but all you end up with is a flat cranking battery

            All this VERY high current draw on the cranking battery can in many cases, cause the battery to gas.

            If you were to then connect to the positive and the negative of the battery, EVEN IF THE BATTERY CHARGER IS NOT ON, you may cause a spark at the negative terminal.

            This in turn can ignite the gas, causing the battery to explode, and folks this is a regular occurrence.

            You have to connect the positive lead from the charger to the battery’s positive ( + ) terminal because it’s usually the only place you can get access to a decent EXPOSED positive source. So you connect if first, because it has to be connected at the battery.

            Because the negative can be sourced in many places, other than the battery’s negative terminal, it is connected last, and away from the battery.

            By connecting the negative away from the battery, you dramatically reduce the chances of igniting any escaping gases because the gas ( hydrogen ) rises and does not spread out through the engine bay.

            NOTE if a battery does explode, it will not vaporise your vehicle, but if you happen to be leaning over the battery trying to connect to the battery’s negative terminal, you will end up with a face covered in highly corrosive acid.




            And again, this type of accident happens all too often.
            A+

            *Smiley face stamp*
            Silver '04 KZJ120~Manual~GXL~Dobinson/Kings lift~Custom valved Ironmans~Detroit Locker~Endless Air~X9 Superwinch~Madman EMS1~TJM Dual Battery~Rhino Roof Tray~120W solar panel~Foxwing awning~Bushskinz UVP~Long Ranger water tank~Bushman fridge~Steinbauer P-Box~Beaudesert 2 3/4"~Airtec Snorkel~TJM Sliders~Prico Boost Gauge~BFG-KO2s~TPMS~GME TX3420~Front and Rear Cameras~Ultimate Camper hanging off the back!

            Comment


            • #7
              We are talking about maintenance charge of the battery - not placing charge into the battery after serious winching, failed start attempts, or trying to revive a flogged out battery.

              One recommendation states to remove the ground cable (assuming from the battery) and the other states to simply connect the negative (from the charger) to a ground point/vehicle chassis away from the battery. Same Same but different - all ground points will provide the same potential - even more so when the terminals are returned back after a charge.

              I understand the seriousness of igniting the vapours from a charging battery - hence placing the negative lead from the charger away from the positive of the battery, but getting a socket set out each time to remove the negative or ground in order to apply a maintenance charge to the battery seems an overkill. We are only talking about 14.4V (Max) being applied to the battery thru an eyelet connection.

              Are these recommendations to do more with the electronics in the vehicle or something else ....

              What do you do when applying a maintenance charge to the battery?

              Comment


              • #8
                Hi orange peel, I have never come across the need to disconnect the negative lead from a cranking battery in any make of vehicle, so just do as covered above and leave the negative cable alone.

                Comment


                • #9
                  BTW, high voltage charging will damage a battery way before it will harm any of your vehicle's electronics.

                  A constant voltage of 15v or higher, will stuff most battery, but since the introduction of alternators, nearly 80 years ago, all vehicle electronics are designed to tolerate 18+v.

                  The reason for the high tolerance is that if a regulator fails, and you get what is known as a runaway alternator, the voltage can go up to 18v and stay at that level till the alternator/regulator is fixed.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Can be no other reason than taking a sparking connection (iginition source) further away from the battery, as drivesafe has suggested. I connect directly to both battery terminals because often there is no other convenient ground point.
                    2008 D4D GXL

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Appreciate the input.
                      as mentioned, it would only be for maintenance charging if the vehicle feels a little sluggish or when it’s cold to keep,the primary battery in condition.

                      There is an earth point right next to the negative on the battery in the 150 so I might connect to that - still right next to the battery.

                      I was thinking of using the supplied eyelet connector to connect the CTek charger to the battery. This will remove the chance of sparks going astray.

                      I am hoping to drive in to garage, leave it for a few days, charge overnight and back out and use the vehicle the next day. Simple and effective way to maintain the cracking battery and no need to spanners to reconnect leads to the battery/vehicle

                      Just want to make sure that it’s not going to do any harm to the vehicle and electrics by charging in situ (leaving the negative connected etc).


                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by orangepeel View Post

                        I am hoping to drive in to garage, leave it for a few days, charge overnight and back out and use the vehicle the next day. Simple and effective way to maintain the cracking battery and no need to spanners to reconnect leads to the battery/vehicle
                        Just curious why you need a maintenance charge when you leave the vehicle for just a few days?

                        I go overseas for 3 to 5 weeks at a time and the Prado starts when I return with no maintenance so maybe there is some other problem that you need attending to.

                        My vehicle is 8 years old and I have done just on 100,000 km on the original battery.

                        Last week on the way up to Sydney the alternator died and discharged the battery to about 7 volts before it all died. I now have a new alternator and it seemed prudent to also replace the battery as well.

                        I suspect that a maintenance charge would not have changed that outcome.

                        S.

                        155 SX with dual battery and Polyairs in the rear springs..

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I was just using it as an example. I was more interested in the thoughts regarding the correct maintenance charging procedure as to not harm the vehicle and electrics.

                          Heck, there are plenty of people out there who drive these things for short distances around town and the constant start/stop/start/stop of the engine will eventually eat at the capacity of the battery - potentially the alternator not running long enough to return the battery to full charge.

                          Just a simple question regarding the general maintenance for the vehicle

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Mate if its any help I've had my 150 2013 V6 battery on maintenance charge using a Ctek 5 amp charger and the supplied harness whilst parked in the shed at home for the last 5 years with no ill effects that I'm aware of. The only mod I have made was to put a fuse in the harness right at the battery. I'm always careful to ensure the charger is turned off before I plug or unplug it from the battery.

                            Ive got full use of a company car so the Prado can sit for weeks or longer between trips away. So far the battery cranks like new, time will tell.

                            I have also used a similar set up on motorbikes over the years with no ill effects, hope this helps.

                            Regards...Mick

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I've been thinking about permanently installing two 240V chargers into my Prado. One charging two cranking batteries in the front and the other charging an auxiliary battery in the rear. (The rear battery would have a BCDC connected). Seems to be the go with emergency vehicles, caravans & large boats(?) Apart from the 240V cabling considerations, onboard, permanently connected, battery charging should be OK?

                              Comment

                              canli bahis siteleri bahis siteleri ecebet.net
                              mencisport.com
                              antalya escort
                              tsyd.org deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              gaziantep escort
                              gaziantep escort
                              asyabahis maltcasino olabahis olabahis
                              erotik film izle Rus escort gaziantep rus escort
                              atasehir escort tuzla escort
                              sikis sex hatti
                              en iyi casino siteleri
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              casibom
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              betticket istanbulbahis
                              Working...
                              X