Re. Auxiliary Batteries going bad.......Fount this online...

[DrPlastic]

RE. Dead Auxilliary Batteries

I found this article online. It was an interesting read. It had the following information which may be an indicator as to why so may Aux batteries are being replaced. It could be the Smart Alternator system they installed in our vehicles.

"Why are these technologies a problem for auxiliary battery charging?
Whilst these new technologies are great news for the environment they cause problems when it comes to charging a second battery in an after-market application for the following reasons:
?
An auxiliary battery will not be charging for significant parts of a journey
During the periods when the smart alternator output is below the charging voltage threshold there will be no charging taking place. These periods can be significant when combined over the full length of a journey meaning that any connected auxiliary battery will not receive as much charge as it would if connected to a system with a traditional alternator."


Smart Alternators and Aux Batteries

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[ShadowsPapa]

RE. Dead Auxilliary Batteries

I found this article online. It was an interesting read. It had the following information which may be an indicator as to why so may Aux batteries are being replaced. It could be the Smart Alternator system they installed in our vehicles.

"Why are these technologies a problem for auxiliary battery charging?
Whilst these new technologies are great news for the environment they cause problems when it comes to charging a second battery in an after-market application for the following reasons:
?
An auxiliary battery will not be charging for significant parts of a journey
During the periods when the smart alternator output is below the charging voltage threshold there will be no charging taking place. These periods can be significant when combined over the full length of a journey meaning that any connected auxiliary battery will not receive as much charge as it would if connected to a system with a traditional alternator."


Smart Alternators and Aux Batteries

These will and do charge at the higher rates if the IBS sees the crank battery SoC and temperature call for it.
And the JEEP's aux battery that handles the truck's electronics receives the EXACT SAME VOLTAGE as the crank battery.
They are in parallel - same voltage at all times.

But wait - that article isn't about what you think it is!

What that article is REALLY talking about is a consumer added "aux battery" like one you stick in the back of the truck for your fridge. Read it closely.
They are not talking OUR aux batteries, as installed in our Jeeps from the factory - they are talking about you adding a battery for other purposes.
IF you add another battery for accessories like your camping fridge or whatever, get a REDARC unit made to control that extra battery.

In short - that article has nothing to do with our trucks. It doesn't apply to any of us if we aren't adding a third battery for camping gear, etc.

 

[Hootbro]

These will and do charge at the higher rates if the IBS sees the crank battery SoC and temperature call for it.
And the JEEP's aux battery that handles the truck's electronics receives the EXACT SAME VOLTAGE as the crank battery.
They are in parallel - same voltage at all times.

But wait - that article isn't about what you think it is!

What that article is REALLY talking about is a consumer added "aux battery" like one you stick in the back of the truck for your fridge. Read it closely.
They are not talking OUR aux batteries, as installed in our Jeeps from the factory - they are talking about you adding a battery for other purposes.
IF you add another battery for accessories like your camping fridge or whatever, get a REDARC unit made to control that extra battery.

In short - that article has nothing to do with our trucks. It doesn't apply to any of us if we aren't adding a third battery for camping gear, etc.

I think you would have made a good trial lawyer. You pick up the details most people miss. .

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think you would have made a good trial lawyer. You pick up the details most people miss. .

Funny thing you would say that............ I was doing battle with my employer, the state, over some things.
As a final effort, I went through another state agency where administrative law judges looked things over.
I got a call from a judge to come talk to him.
He said it was close, but because of some way the state legislature had written a law and how the Iowa supreme court had once interpreted it, he figured I was on the losing end on technicalities, and time wasn't on my side.
He called me over as he wanted to congratulate me on my papers and writing.
I didn't feel quite as bad for losing after hearing him talk about the papers I submitted.
He said if the attorneys that appeared before him in his courtroom did as good a job as I did presenting the case, his life would be so much easier - and I'd make a good attorney.

 

[Kevin_D]

As ShadowsPapa said, this article doesn’t apply to our small Aux. battery.
However, it does a decent job of explaining the need for a Battery-to-Battery (DC-DC) charger.

Kevin

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As ShadowsPapa said, this article doesn’t apply to our small Aux. battery.
However, it does a decent job of explaining the need for a Battery-to-Battery (DC-DC) charger.

Kevin

Yes, it's referring to the need for things like this -
https://redarcelectronics.com/collections/in-vehicle-dual-battery-chargers

And if you are serious, they have multi-input devices that handle solar charging, and other sources as well, to keep your added auxiliary battery charged, for managing camper batteries and more.

Anyone adding a battery, like some here have added a 3rd battery back up under the side of the bed (where there's plenty of space) needs a management system, a way to charge as the truck's system just isn't made to handle the additional batteries like that.
Your PCM controls the truck's alternator based on information it knows about the engine, the truck's own batteries including state of charge/voltage, battery temperature (some of this collected by the IBS) and so on.
It was never made for nor intended to handle a battery you add for accessories.
You need a system that can manage your added battery and let the PCM manage your truck's batteries.

 

[bd100]

Seems to handle the hitch receiver trailer battery charge line fairly well, fortunately.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Seems to handle the hitch receiver trailer battery charge line fairly well, fortunately.

If your trailer battery is a conventional battery, it should handle those fine as conventional L/A batteries charge at voltages between 13.8 - 14.2 (typical, may vary a bit) as that's what alternator output voltage was regulated at for most vehicles prior to the "smart" systems.
That's where they operate quite a bit of the time.

Ironically they say AGM batteries charge faster - but I'm not so sure about that as unless the legacy type batteries were really run down, the regulated voltage (13.8-14.2) brought them back up to snuff really well. That's assuming they were used only for starting and the drain on them was low otherwise. It doesn't take much driving to get my little car's battery back up and it's got a 94 Jeep engine, PCM and other electronics in it, with an Alpine AM/FM/CD/BT radio in it which is a draw, and an electric clock that is actually a motorized Borg-Warner factory clock so as long as the clock is running, it's a tiny electric motor drawing current.

AGM batteries take higher voltages to charge so if your truck batteries are up and the PCM believes there's nothing much they need, it's going to keep the voltage down below that 13.8 level - maybe not enough to keep a camper AGM battery up.

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