Charging Battery
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 74
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From: Pennslvania
Charging Battery
If you need to charge the battery in your vehicle do you take the battery leads off the battery before charging it or do you leave the cables attached to the battery - if you take them off - why? thanks
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,795
Likes: 47
You can leave them on, but my preference is to completely disconnect it just to be sure nothing happens - power surge or something. Better safe than sorry.
if you’re talking about a trickle charger, definitely leave the cables on.
if you’re talking about a trickle charger, definitely leave the cables on.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
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you leave the cables on the battery... some newer trucks have a battery monitor system so to get around it you need to put the minus charger clamp on an aluminum or steel motor bracket, etc so the charge will go thru the system and not just the battery.. If you are just trickle charging to maintain, that is not necessary.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,200
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From: Timbuk3, MI
Also (since no vehicle information was provided) ... If the F-150 is 2011+
Don't forget to follow the instructions in the owner's manual regarding changing and/or the battery and the need to rest the BMS (Battery Management System).
.
Maintence » CHANGING THE VEHICLE BATTERY » Battery Management System ...After battery replacement, or in some cases after charging the battery with the external charger, the BMS requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time (key off with doors closed) to relearn the new battery state of charge. Prior to relearning the state of charge, the BMS may disable electrical features (to protect the battery) earlier than normal.*NOTE: FoMoCo dealership service can reset the BMS using their IDS (Intergrated Diagnostic System) negating the eight hours of vehicle sleep time requirement.
(owner's manual) Don't have one -OR- would like a digital, searchable desktop document?
Owner's Manuals ««« -click-
» Select Your Year [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Make [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Model [ Choose One ]
»
.
HINT/TIP: Put your -complete- vehicle information (year, model, cab, trim, engine, wheelbase, _x4 drive, mileage, modifications, etc., etc.) in your signature -OR- provide it in your posting(s).
.
Don't forget to follow the instructions in the owner's manual regarding changing and/or the battery and the need to rest the BMS (Battery Management System).
.
Maintence » CHANGING THE VEHICLE BATTERY » Battery Management System ...After battery replacement, or in some cases after charging the battery with the external charger, the BMS requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time (key off with doors closed) to relearn the new battery state of charge. Prior to relearning the state of charge, the BMS may disable electrical features (to protect the battery) earlier than normal.*NOTE: FoMoCo dealership service can reset the BMS using their IDS (Intergrated Diagnostic System) negating the eight hours of vehicle sleep time requirement.
(owner's manual) Don't have one -OR- would like a digital, searchable desktop document?
Owner's Manuals ««« -click-
» Select Your Year [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Make [ Choose One ]
» Select Your Model [ Choose One ]
»
HINT/TIP: Put your -complete- vehicle information (year, model, cab, trim, engine, wheelbase, _x4 drive, mileage, modifications, etc., etc.) in your signature -OR- provide it in your posting(s)..
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,458
Likes: 722
From: Calgary Canada
I see people worrying about the BMS when this topic comes up, but I think MOST trucks see that uninterrupted 8 hours of sleep time at a few nights a week, so the truck will relearn soon enough.
If OP is talking about afully discharged, frozen or damaged battery, I'd take it inside, let it warm up for several hours before charging it. But for low-amperage maintenance charging, leave it in the truck and don't stress about it.
If OP is talking about afully discharged, frozen or damaged battery, I'd take it inside, let it warm up for several hours before charging it. But for low-amperage maintenance charging, leave it in the truck and don't stress about it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
I would agree... If I need a trickle charge from truck setting a few weeks, I just put it directly on the battery.. I changed out the battery on my 2013 4 times last month ( testing other vehicles) and never thought twice about it.
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Cross-Country
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From: Pennslvania
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