Start/Stop battery is STUPID!

[ShadowsPapa]

It does seem like the whole poorly executed setup went something like this:
-Let's add A.S.S. to claim we're saving the environment!

NHTSA CAFE numbers - don't meat the goal, get fined for every 1/10th mpg below that goal......
Blame the government.

-Oh crap, now we're stressing the shit out of the battery, we need more capacity, but a bigger battery won't fit!

Sorry, that's not the reason at all, not even close. It's not a matter of capacity, and there's no added stress.

-I know, let's just add a second smaller battery wedged into an awkward location and without any of the circuitry of a normal dual battery system!

that's because it's not supposed to be that way - it was never ever about battery capacity, was never about needing more batteries for capacity. It was for protection of the electronics, prevent the normal stress of cutting power to them when already alive by the starter kicking in.

It's nothing to do with capacity. That's been shown by people simply disconnecting the aux battery.

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[jmr]

I saw a YT video where someone replaced the aux battery on a diesel JL. For the diesel the aux battery is below the main battery and the main battery is located where the fuse box is. The airbox is also located on the drivers side and the fuse box is where the airbox was located.

 

[Blade1668]

Can you define "local parts store"?

H7 size is one of the most common out there and have a hard time believing any chain type retailer not having one in stock or getting one the next day. Any Walmart should also have a H7/94R AGM in stock most times.

They definitely didn't when mine failed. I was surprised on that, leading to a nice walk then back carrying it from O'Reilly auto parts thankfully not needing to walk to Napa nothing against Napa but the distance.

I got back reading here this morning and did a screenshot from the Renogy controller after checking the current voltage of batteries. I'll drop it here.

It was raining here yesterday so not a full charge for solar systems.
I started it up and moved it Sunday to unload food for cats then parked back. So not been driven much in general for the last month about 307 miles total. So the 85 watt solar system has been main upkeep on starter and ESS batteries for the month. The Renogy charges the house battery as priority. On my start up to leave VA medical clinic the ESS system light up after a false start and restart. I wouldn't be surprised on a bad cable issue with mine to or from the ESS battery. The drive there is about a hour.

There was carnage. Not for the timid.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Caspien]

Drove for about an hour tonight (was actually at a stop light when I responded to the last message from Hootbro), and while it started at 14.2-14.3, it eventually came down and sat at 14.0, and even 13.9.

That said, by the time we got home, after shutting off the system, it was still only reading 12.4.

Honestly wondering if my dash cam, with it's 'always on', power, isn't shutting itself off when it's supposed to. (12.5) So, pulled that power tonight, to see if it drops further by tomorrow morning.

... down to 11.8v this morning, after sitting 2 days.


Yeah.. not good. Time to do the aux delete and see if my drain stops long enough for me to get a replacement battery. *sigh*

 

[ShadowsPapa]

... down to 11.8v this morning, after sitting 2 days.


Yeah.. not good. Time to do the aux delete and see if my drain stops long enough for me to get a replacement battery. *sigh*

Do you have a battery charger?
Time to charge that main if you do the disconnect - don't rely on the alternator.
Could be aux, could be main - either one can do this.
You'll find out, though, if you do the disconnect of the auxiliary battery..........

 

[Caspien]

Do you have a battery charger?
Time to charge that main if you do the disconnect - don't rely on the alternator.
Could be aux, could be main - either one can do this.
You'll find out, though, if you do the disconnect of the auxiliary battery..........

Yep.. had the Noco10 on it, this weekend.. and it was reporting charged.

So, the plan is to delete the aux today, and hook up the Noco. Hopefully, it'll at least show me the main is low, and needs topping off, now.

In a perfect world, it'll just mean the aux has died, and is pulling charge from the main.


Honestly, the more I've thought about it, I feel like in an 'off' state, I don't understand why the two batteries are connected. I could see them being bridged via a solenoid or something, when powered on, and running... but right now, all it means, is if one is going bad, it'll pull the other down. *shrug*



Regardless, time to get moving.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Honestly, the more I've thought about it, I feel like in an 'off' state, I don't understand why the two batteries are connected. I could see them being bridged via a solenoid or something, when powered on, and running... but right now, all it means, is if one is going bad, it'll pull the other down. *shrug*

There are multiple technical reasons it is as it is - but no one wants those, so suffice it to say - it's necessary.

As far as one pulling another down - it may or may not happen that way.
It's as likely to have one bad and not bother the other one as it is to have one draw down the other.
I've worked on series/parallel setups before (24 volt systems) where out of the 4 batteries went dead, and the others were fine. Replace the bad battery and start it up.
My wife's JLU 4xe was getting aux switches not available, battery charging, and similar messages last winter - I hadn't put the thing on a BatteryMinder and it sat for almost 2 weeks in the cold garage - it's a single battery system. one battery about the size of the main battery in the JTs, the smaller of the two they have used. Too bad it didn't have the capacity of the multiple batteries to handle that parasitic draw over those cold weeks.

Again, you'll find out - is it the auxiliary battery or the main battery, once you do the disconnect.

 

[Caspien]

There are multiple technical reasons it is as it is - but no one wants those, so suffice it to say - it's necessary.

...

Again, you'll find out - is it the auxiliary battery or the main battery, once you do the disconnect.

Bypassed the Aux, and the vehicle starts up. Got it on the charger, now.

Taking the aux from the system made very little difference in the full voltage. If anything, it actually went UP a bit. (11.8 to 12.0). But I also know the meter is only so accurate, too, so we'll see what happens after leaving the charger on for a couple of hours, again, and see what happens.

(and for those following along, yes.. I have a tazer installed.. of which I was just casually reminded, when the Jeep decided to scream at me, for locking the doors, while the hood was up.. whoops.. lol)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bypassed the Aux, and the vehicle starts up. Got it on the charger, now.

Taking the aux from the system made very little difference in the full voltage. If anything, it actually went UP a bit. (11.8 to 12.0). But I also know the meter is only so accurate, too, so we'll see what happens after leaving the charger on for a couple of hours, again, and see what happens.

(and for those following along, yes.. I have a tazer installed.. of which I was just casually reminded, when the Jeep decided to scream at me, for locking the doors, while the hood was up.. whoops.. lol)

Little to do now but wait and see how things turn out. MAYBE you'll be lucky and the main will be fine and charges up just fine and holds that charge.
If not, well - it sure seems like you are prepared for either way this story ends.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bypassed the Aux, and the vehicle starts up. Got it on the charger, now.

Taking the aux from the system made very little difference in the full voltage. If anything, it actually went UP a bit. (11.8 to 12.0). But I also know the meter is only so accurate, too, so we'll see what happens after leaving the charger on for a couple of hours, again, and see what happens.

(and for those following along, yes.. I have a tazer installed.. of which I was just casually reminded, when the Jeep decided to scream at me, for locking the doors, while the hood was up.. whoops.. lol)

 

[Jaxmax]

Caspien don’t do a Genesis dual battery setup, not really what you need. I have one that runs my fridge and other things in the bed with a solar panel charging it works awesome for that. Why do you have a tazer and do you have ESS switch position remembered?…..Jack

 

[Caspien]

Caspien don’t do a Genesis dual battery setup, not really what you need. I have one that runs my fridge and other things in the bed with a solar panel charging it works awesome for that. Why do you have a tazer and do you have ESS switch position remembered?…..Jack

Tazer for the ESS switch, primarily, yeah. That said, also like the rear license plate blackout, and the cargo/front camera, as well as the turn camera, AND the auto-RPM setting for when winching comes in handy. (Literally, used it 2 days ago)

As for the dual battery, I also tend to take a small fridge with us when we go camping, and have been toying around with the idea of a solar system. (Which is why the wife apparently mentioned the Omega.. it'd keep me from having to get a DCDC controller, as well)

Right now, the fridge was being ran off a jackery system, but recently upgraded it to a Predator with double solar panels, which can be easily collapsed. Sure, it's not something crazy nice, like a Bluetti, but its what was available when we had the storms roll through here, earlier this year, and the jackery was dead.

Is the Genesis optimal for me? Enngh... been contemplating it for awhile, but with 2 working batteries, it seemed more of a waste of money.

That whole always 'be prepared' thing DOES tend to me overbuilding stuff. *chuckling* But, on the other hand, I also tend to be a 'fish', in a way... I grow to meet the tools I have available to me.. and don't tend to buy, just for the sake of buying... kinda a weird catch-22, honestly.


As of right now, the system is charging, and seems to be holding it steady. (Currently, hah!! no pun, at 12.7-12.8. Will give it another look in a bit, but it SEEMS like the Aux was the bad battery. Now, the question is if the H7 OEM doesn't kick it, now that it's pulling the full load, as it were. *shrug*)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Tazer for the ESS switch, primarily, yeah. That said, also like the rear license plate blackout, and the cargo/front camera, as well as the turn camera, AND the auto-RPM setting for when winching comes in handy. (Literally, used it 2 days ago)

As for the dual battery, I also tend to take a small fridge with us when we go camping, and have been toying around with the idea of a solar system. (Which is why the wife apparently mentioned the Omega.. it'd keep me from having to get a DCDC controller, as well)

Right now, the fridge was being ran off a jackery system, but recently upgraded it to a Predator with double solar panels, which can be easily collapsed. Sure, it's not something crazy nice, like a Bluetti, but its what was available when we had the storms roll through here, earlier this year, and the jackery was dead.

Is the Genesis optimal for me? Enngh... been contemplating it for awhile, but with 2 working batteries, it seemed more of a waste of money.

That whole always 'be prepared' thing DOES tend to me overbuilding stuff. *chuckling* But, on the other hand, I also tend to be a 'fish', in a way... I grow to meet the tools I have available to me.. and don't tend to buy, just for the sake of buying... kinda a weird catch-22, honestly.


As of right now, the system is charging, and seems to be holding it steady. (Currently, hah!! no pun, at 12.7-12.8. Will give it another look in a bit, but it SEEMS like the Aux was the bad battery. Now, the question is if the H7 OEM doesn't kick it, now that it's pulling the full load, as it were. *shrug*)

If I recall, Jack brewed his own setup, as several here have done - those who want to run things like a fridge and so on. A lot more aimed at the purpose, cheaper, and so on. Redarc and others make the electronics just for that sort of thing. Been a while since I read about his system, but I know others have done similar and since they do it - they know the thing inside and out and it's built for purpose.
I'd trust his lead.

 

[Caspien]

If I recall, Jack brewed his own setup, as several here have done - those who want to run things like a fridge and so on. A lot more aimed at the purpose, cheaper, and so on. Redarc and others make the electronics just for that sort of thing. Been a while since I read about his system, but I know others have done similar and since they do it - they know the thing inside and out and it's built for purpose.
I'd trust his lead.

Wasn't discounting his statement at all, just stating how my brain tends to work.

Honestly? Not that unhappy with the setup I have, now, other than the location of the aux battery being a nuisance. With the portable batteries, at least, I have many other ways of charging them, than having to have the JT right there. (Can bring them inside, charge them in the workshop, hook up the solar panels.. etc... )

A 'Perfect' setup, would be a way to connect them into the JT while driving, and charge them that way... hmm.. maybe I'll just look at an onboard inverter... *Shrug*

This is my biggest issue.. over-analyze EVERYTHING.. and then suffer from buyers remorse, no matter what I do.. if I buy something.. I get sick because I bought it.. if I don't buy something.. I get sick because I didn't.. lol..


Been like this nearly 50 years, don't expect it to change anytime soon, unfortunately

 

[Lost1wing]

I did end up watching several of his shows. A few, I sort of remembered.

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