Battery and Charging

[scrubaducky]

Thank you for that great insight Airline Tech. I read through that first thread and it looks like someone else is having similar situation to me and it was fixed through running the repair mode on the NOCO genius.

Perhaps another dumb question, do I need to disconnect the battery from the rest of the vehicle before running this mode? Or is it fine to run it as is?

Thanks!

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[TJC]

The battery will like it better if you disconnect, The truck will not, unless you supply the system with an alternative temporary 12v source. With something like this that keeps your car's settings while the battery is isolated when charging.

As has been previously mentioned, after reinstalling the negative battery cable let the truck sit untouched for 6-8 hours, allowing the BMS to test and reset the battery state.

 

[TJC]

One more thought, unless you have changed your State of Charge threshold, as soon as you start your truck. the BMS will allow the battery to discharge to 70% or 75% to make room for the BMS regenerative recharge feature. Once your battery voltage drops below ~12.6v the battery sulfation process will begin again, resulting in increased Internal Resistance of the battery.

 

[got3fords]

One more thought, unless you have changed your State of Charge threshold, as soon as you start your truck. the BMS will allow the battery to discharge to 70% or 75% to make room for the BMS regenerative recharge feature. Once your battery voltage drops below ~12.6v the battery sulfation process will begin again, resulting in increased Internal Resistance of the battery.

Which is why I run an on-board desulfator that automatically operates at charging voltage over approximately 13.5V. My original battery is probably approaching 4 years.

 

[subquark]

Ugh, I'm so confused. I see lots of mentions of regenerative charging when the Ranger is coasting and braking. But isn't that only possible with electric and hybrid vehicles that have electric drive motors?

I don't understand how a gas-powered truck can generate electrify with braking, unless tiny generators were part of the brakes. =(

I admit I'm still in 1970's mode when it comes to how cars work ...

 

[airline tech]

It’s not regenerative braking it’s (charging)
When you come off of the accelerator and coasting it uses the (OAP) clutch in the alternator and the engine braking effect, free energy- to provide a charge boost up to 15.2 volts if needed.
So to be clear it has nothing to do with braking itself -Engine Braking is the correct term.
If you use the plug in volt meter at the Power Point - and the conditions are right you can see this boost voltage in action, once you come to a stop the boost also stops.
So it is in action any time you are off the accelerator and coasting , with or without the brake being applied. Granted if the BMS system deems it necessary. The more momentum you have coasting the longer the boost.
I have a video of it , and try to post it

 

[airline tech]

Probably the best way to grasp it’s operation, is to picture and old lawn mower with the hand crank to wind it up, hit the release lever to start it.
The axle rotation against the engine at idle rotation is like the wind up hand crank.
Make some sense.

 

[TJC]

It’s not regenerative braking it’s (charging)
When you come off of the accelerator and coasting it uses the (OAP) clutch in the alternator and the engine braking effect, free energy- to provide a charge boost up to 15.2 volts if needed.
So to be clear it has nothing to do with braking itself -Engine Braking is the correct term.
If you use the plug in volt meter at the Power Point - and the conditions are right you can see this boost voltage in action, once you come to a stop the boost also stops.
So it is in action any time you are off the accelerator and coasting , with or without the brake being applied. Granted if the BMS system deems it necessary. The more momentum you have coasting the longer the boost.
I have a video of it , and try to post it

You know it really isn't free as the truck no longer coasts as far. When I let off the gas in my 4G Ranger it coasts far longer than the 5G. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think not.

 

[dtech]

You know it really isn't free as the truck no longer coasts as far. When I let off the gas in my 4G Ranger it coasts far longer than the 5G. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think not.

It might be the 4g coasts longer owing to differences in the tranny, not sure about the 4g but in many older trannies the torque converter would unlock when downshifting to 3rd gear whereas the 1080r can stay locked I believe in all but 1st gear. Does the 5g coast longer when tranny is in neutral ?

 

[TJC]

Never tested that. Will see if it freewheels tomorrow.

 

[got3fords]

My 5G coasts pretty far in N.

 

[subquark]

Probably the best way to grasp it’s operation, is to picture and old lawn mower with the hand crank to wind it up, hit the release lever to start it.
The axle rotation against the engine at idle rotation is like the wind up hand crank.
Make some sense.

Ahh, that makes sense to me now, thanks airline tech. In terms I understand, I think of my old Land Cruiser and anytime the engine is spinning, the alternator is able to charge. Downshifting has the drivetrain "pushing" the engine to higher revs, thus more amperage can come from the alternator.

Thanks for explaining it to me, I think I get it now. =)

 

[subquark]

You know it really isn't free as the truck no longer coasts as far. When I let off the gas in my 4G Ranger it coasts far longer than the 5G. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think not.

It's our poorly engineered bed rake, that @$$ end acts like a parachute! =p

I guess the truck sees our removal of gas pedal pressure, while in Drive, as a desire to slow down and starts engine braking?

 

[TJC]

... the 1080r can stay locked I believe in all but 1st gear.

I notice that if I make a hard enough stop that the 10R80 hangs on a bit too long when coming to a complete stop. If I coast to a stop everything is quite smooth.

Anyone else notice this? This is not in Sport or Tow mode. Transmission is in D.

 

[airline tech]

If you are meaning (hanging) as its staying in a higher gear?

For a Hard Braking event it should skip gear downshift to get stopped quicker, using the lower gears to help in the slowing of the truck.

I will say that the Ranger will (STOP) on a dime- self tested when I bedded my brakes and a few near misses (Deer) and a flock of (Birds) who decided to take off flight from the side of the road right before I came upon them. I had about 6 birds in flight within inches of my windshield.

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