Ford BMS Battery Monitoring System: How it Works, How to Properly Charge, How to Power Accessories

[Econoline]

My take from this. .........
The BMS will auto update the state of charge over night without me doing anything.

"After battery replacement, or in some cases after charging the battery with an external charger, the battery management system requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time to relearn the battery state of charge. During this time, your vehicle must remain fully locked with the ignition switched off." (p294 of Owner's Manual)

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[Mark S.]

The service writer told me I already had an AGM. I walked his smart ass attitude over to the hood, opened it and pointed at the words ON the battery that said,
Lead Acid Battery.

Glad you stuck to your guns. We pay a lot of money for the warranty that Ford provides for these vehicles. If you allow someone to talk you out of using it then you are giving away something you paid for.

For the record, both AGM and gel-type batteries are types of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries. These are often referred to as "maintenance free" or "sealed" because unlike conventional flooded cell batteries, they normally do not require the addition of chemical electrolyte over their lifetimes. The reason they are called "valve-regulated" batteries has to do with a safety feature (a valve) that allows venting of gases should pressure in the battery exceed safe levels. This can happen in the event of overcharging, or an internal failure that results in overcharging of one or more of the battery's cells.

This is one of the reasons you should always first connect the positive clamp to the battery's positive terminal, then the ground clamp to the chassis ground when using a battery charger or when jump starting a discharged battery. The last clamp connected might generate a spark, and gases coming from a battery's emergency vent valve are combustible.

 

[Osco]

FWIW my 23 month old battery peaked on a 2amp charge @ 12.65 VDC.
My new off the shelf Motorcraft
Peaked at 13.6 VDC.
By peaked I mean where my Schumacher charger shut down and went into monitor mode.

 

[Mark S.]

FWIW my 23 month old battery peaked on a 2amp charge @ 12.65 VDC.
My new off the shelf Motorcraft
Peaked at 13.6 VDC.
By peaked I mean where my Schumacher charger shut down and went into monitor mode.

I couldn't be sure from your post, Marty, did they replace your battery with the same model?

 

[Golfnut]

"After battery replacement, or in some cases after charging the battery with an external charger, the battery management system requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time to relearn the battery state of charge. During this time, your vehicle must remain fully locked with the ignition switched off." (p294 of Owner's Manual)

Does anyone know if the battery discharge is it the tailgate is left up

 

[Jrl]

Does anyone know if the battery discharge is it the tailgate is left up

I do believe that is on a timed out circuit. Not positive on the length maybe 20 or 30 minutes .

 

[petegee77]

battery management
or
populace management
faint whiff of social engineering present under the hood
"we'll just get them used to the idea of plugging in a vehicle"
ICE gets iced
EV's will unknowingly become part of the consumer psyche

IN GASOLINE WE TRUST

 

[Osco]

I couldn't be sure from your post, Marty, did they replace your battery with the same model?

Yes sir, exact same model.

 

[Major Kong]

chassis grounded battery maintainer and antenna

 

[Meanderthal]

chassis grounded battery maintainer and antenna

What is the brown stuff all over the “frame” pieces?

 

[Major Kong]

What is the brown stuff all over the “frame” pieces?

guessing Ford plant Di-electric coating on the post and weld area
somewhat of a greasy texture but much more waxy
was almost clear in appearance at the start
didn't age well

 

[Major Kong]

What is the brown stuff all over the “frame” pieces?

which now leads to another point of interest
given the coatings properties
would not this material be useful as a rust preventative
cathodic protection focuses electron collection points
dielectric halts electron transfer?
dielectric fluid film or wool wax might be the ticket
or just the dielectric grease alone
just a thought
may try a trial section on the subie

 

[NMhunter]

A battery's voltage will peak after charging and then decline after sitting for a few hours. Usually 12.7 or 12.8 is considered full charge. My AGM battery goes a bit higher.

I store my Superduty in the driveway with a solar panel with charge controller on the dash. I don't drive it unless I need big cargo space or I'm pulling a trailer. The Superduty has 2 batteries, so It needs more than the 1/2 amp solar panels usually used. One of the 1/2 amp panels kept my 1995 F-250 fully charged, and the battery lasted 10 years.

I drive lots of short drives, and in the dark of winter, the alternator can't keep up with the starts and the headlights. I put a Battery Tender on it overnight once a week or so. When your Stop/Start stops working, you know your battery is time for a charge.

 

[rocks]

I think this applies to the BMS on our vehicles.

Great video. Thanks for posting.

 

[SeaJay]

Great video. Thanks for posting.

And, thanks for bringing this thread back to life! This will be very good to know someday for just about anyone who keeps their car for a long time.

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