Better Battery research for Badlands...hmm

[kshaw]

I am trying to help an RV owner diagnose problems with his solar system and he elected to use lithium batteries. Most of the automobile battery testers do not work for lithium--it has to specifically state that they work with lithium. It is also doubtful whether regular battery chargers/ maintainers (Battery Tender, Battery Minder) will work with lithium either. For solar, the battery controller has to have a lithium option because charging algorithms are different. Look at all aspects when transitioning to lithium.

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[coopny]

My EFB is draining rapidly. Given other reports of battery failure I think it's probably the battery itself, as no parasitic draw is obvious and the voltage while the alternator is running looks normal. Could be an unidentified parasitic draw though.

I expect the battery to die within the bumper to bumper, I'll take whatever battery Ford provides if that occurs.

Outside of warranty - Walmart has an Everstart platinum AGM battery for $169.99, four year free replacement, or NAPA has an AGM battery with three years free replacement for $205 after coupon. Apparently if your Walmart doesn't have an auto department, they generally don't make you test the battery and just replace it if you say it's bad (not encouraging abuse here, don't ruin a good thing of a hassle free experience. Costco had the same policy and people abused it claiming the battery died in month 35 to get a brand new interstate battery. They've now made the warranty absolute crap 36 months all prorated). If you're on the road you're probably not too far from a Walmart if you need to exchange.

For Optoma, I heard their quality dropped off a cliff when they moved manufacturing to Mexico and they've been riding off their reputation ever since. A looooot of the AGMs are just manufacturers slapping their logo on whatever Clarios (f/k/a/ Johnson Controls) makes for them.

 

[rocks]

My EFB is draining rapidly. Given other reports of battery failure I think it's probably the battery itself, as no parasitic draw is obvious and the voltage while the alternator is running looks normal. Could be an unidentified parasitic draw though.

I expect the battery to die within the bumper to bumper, I'll take whatever battery Ford provides if that occurs.

Outside of warranty - Walmart has an Everstart platinum AGM battery for $169.99, four year free replacement, or NAPA has an AGM battery with three years free replacement for $205 after coupon. Apparently if your Walmart doesn't have an auto department, they generally don't make you test the battery and just replace it if you say it's bad (not encouraging abuse here, don't ruin a good thing of a hassle free experience. Costco had the same policy and people abused it claiming the battery died in month 35 to get a brand new interstate battery. They've now made the warranty absolute crap 36 months all prorated). If you're on the road you're probably not too far from a Walmart if you need to exchange.

For Optoma, I heard their quality dropped off a cliff when they moved manufacturing to Mexico and they've been riding off their reputation ever since. A looooot of the AGMs are just manufacturers slapping their logo on whatever Clarios (f/k/a/ Johnson Controls) makes for them.

The battery will be replaced. Big deal but what concerns me is getting stuck on the road like others have. A couple here at stop lights.

 

[coopny]

The battery will be replaced. Big deal but what concerns me is getting stuck on the road like others have. A couple here at stop lights.

For me, I'm less concerned about that as I have an auto start/stop eliminator. I carry a lithium ion jumpstarter in the spare tire compartment (charged monthly, although Lithium ion chargers self discharge much slower than SLA battery jumpstarters) and I have a Konnwei bluetooth battery tester. I test the battery once a month.

The moment that battery tester says "replace battery", my BS BL is going to the dealership.

Separate topic, I checked the batteries plus page for the X2 battery mentioned earlier in the thread and it states the warranty is four year free replacement... at which point, you can get a 4 year free replacement Everstart AGM battery at Walmart for half the price, and Walmart has more locations to warranty exchange the battery if need be.

 

[Dude]

My EFB is draining rapidly. … as no parasitic draw is obvious … Could be an unidentified parasitic draw though.

Have you measured the nominal parasitic current draw?

Nominal meaning after all the timeouts, headlamp cooling fans, etc.? Or have you seen anyone post their measurement for this?

I have a guess and know the 120 minute Reserve Capacity of the factory battery.

 

[rocks]

For me, I'm less concerned about that as I have an auto start/stop eliminator. I carry a lithium ion jumpstarter in the spare tire compartment (charged monthly, although Lithium ion chargers self discharge much slower than SLA battery jumpstarters) and I have a Konnwei bluetooth battery tester. I test the battery once a month.

The moment that battery tester says "replace battery", my BS BL is going to the dealership.

Separate topic, I checked the batteries plus page for the X2 battery mentioned earlier in the thread and it states the warranty is four year free replacement... at which point, you can get a 4 year free replacement Everstart AGM battery at Walmart for half the price, and Walmart has more locations to warranty exchange the battery if need be.

I keep my BS on a battery maintainer all the time at home and carry a lithium charger. Still you just never know. AGM batteries fail here too. Though, I'd go for one if this one fails. AGM's were in the BS initially. I think it's the charging system.

 

[coopny]

Have you measured the nominal parasitic current draw?

Nominal meaning after all the timeouts, headlamp cooling fans, etc.? Or have you seen anyone post their measurement for this?

I have a guess and know the 120 minute Reserve Capacity of the factory battery.

I haven't measured the nominal parasitic draw but the number of electronics including the headlight fans makes it hard. I'd probably have to garage it and then close the driver door latch manually to trick the car into thinking the door was actually closed.

I keep my BS on a battery maintainer all the time at home and carry a lithium charger. Still you just never know. AGM batteries fail here too. Though, I'd go for one if this one fails. AGM's were in the BS initially. I think it's the charging system.

I heard a report of an alternator failure at 51k miles on reddit, so maybe it is the charging system. Certainly the BS seems to struggle with electrical demand and charging with multiple shorter trips.

I haven't heard of accounts of AGM batteries failing. I'm not saying it's never happened, just saying I personally haven't seen posts on Facebook/reddit/here about that yet.

A battery tender feels like a band-aid. For those with indoor garaging and the ability to support it, I'm not arguing against it, but in my parking scenario (outdoors), a battery tender is not practical.

 

[Dude]

I haven't heard of accounts of AGM batteries failing

Have seen a handful of reports on AGM battery failing in their BS, probably was on Fb

to measure parasitic draw might have to do the hookup running wires out to allow hood to be closed (not sure) and then wait for all the timeouts

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