On my 2020 f350 6.7 with dual batteries, is it ok to put it on a matience charger? At home My truck sits for extended periods off and on. I have gotten the message on my app once in awhile when I’m gone for extended periods saying it’s in sleep mode. the truck is used for some short runs while I camp host and it is not at home on the charger. That’s when I got the message. I think I’m going to start charging it also when sitting at the camp host spot.

 

Sure, you can use a battery maintainer, no issue at all, many owners do that.
But, sleep mode is not something telling you there is a problem, truck goes into sleep mode after a certain amount of time any time you shut it down.
My truck, unfortunately lately, sits for 2-3 weeks between being used, no issues at all so far and I don't use a battery maintainer.

 

thanks much for the response. I’ve had a battery maintainer on it for a year now and I was hoping that I didn’t cause some problem with it.
I think this truck sat for a very long time before I bought it and the batteries got very low because when I brought it home and I put it on the charger it took more than 24 hours to get a full charge so the batteries might’ve taken a hit sitting so long. Also I’ve wired in the wiring the way you’re supposed to for a maintenance charger and I didn’t want the dealer to see that and blame me for something.

 

I put my on the charger all the time. I'm gone for work for a month+ at a time. I still get the sleep mode notifications even when it's been on the charger for days.

 

My '17 still has the original Motorcraft battery. On day 7 without driving it, on the charger it goes. Usually takes 3-4 hours on a Schumaker smart charger to reach full charge.

 

Get a good battery maintainer, not the cheap Hobo Freight model. I've heard good reviews on the NOCO brand and the Schumacher brand.

 

Mine is plugged in whenever not in use. Too bad we can’t override the sleep mode when you have it plugged in.

 

I would go for NOCO or something that has ability to do Lithium and AGM. Why? Because that way you can use it for anything and everything. I gave away all my other ones when I went to NOCO. That way, the attachments fit and I can switch it around for my UTV and Trike and watercraft batteries as needed instead of fumbling around trying to find the right one.

 

I had a 2 bank on my 2021. I'm contemplating buying a 1 bank and connect it to 1 of my batteries. I've been told you should connect to both batteries. What the consensus here?

 

I use a 15w solar pannel.

for over voltage protection I have a pair of 15 amp 15v zeener diodes in series across one of the battery terminals.

 

Could you PM me some photos of your setup? How was it wired to your batteries and location of solar panel.

 

I got my solar panel at auto zone...but here is one on amazon

key features are the cig lighter plug and the suction cups




I put the suction cups so they act like legs...and the panel which is about 12" by 12" just sits on my dash in front of my steering wheel. it has never moved . the cord runs down the center of the dash and plugs into the cig light port inside of my center console box located in the corner nearest the passenger. the port is always hot..this I tested with a volt meter and confirmed.


you will need some type of voltage regulation to prevent over charging the battery ....you will need 2 of these

Painless Performance 40030 Painless Performance Electrical System Surge Protectors | Summit Racing





I wired the 2 diodes in series ...they have a red and a black side...you have to wire them either black to black or red to red...doesnt matter which you choose. I terminal crimpted the joint that connects the two diodes and changed the lug terminal on the ends so that they fit the batter terminal tie down bolt. installed across the pos and neg battery terminal. trim the diode wires to give enough slack to connect. I put the finished product inside 2 layers of tube heat shrink. note the pic of the 2 diodes in the below pic. do not wire red/black to red/black or black/red to black/ red..that will drain your battery...must be wired red/black to black/red or black / red to red/black ....this means the diodes has to either point torwards each other or away from each other...not point in the same direction. I cant provide a pic since mine is heat shrink wrapped with heat shrink tube.





if none of the above makes any sense...ask someone with basic electronic knowledge to help .

im sure there are dozens of ways of doing this so all comments (praise or attack) are probally ok too.

this works for me.

good luck.

 

Thanks much. Really appreciate the info.

 

This setup is great for those who park outside, not so much for those of us fortunate enough to park in a garage....

 

In a garage, it might be easier to hook up to the AC outlet or if you want to, hook up to a solar panel on the roof with wires into the truck if you have no AC in the garage or are insistent on doing your bit for the environment.