Battery Maintainer

[Rob Binsky]

I have a 2023 WildTrak Sasquatch, 2.7L EcoBoost V6, 10-speed automatic. I have these 2 battery maintainers. I may have to leave my Bronco in a heated garage for a couple of months this winter. Which one of these maintainers would you prefer to use?

1. Ford Genuine OEM 5.0 Smart Battery Charger and Maintainer by Ford Performance | AGM and EFB Battery Charging Capability | M10300FP

2. EDITED TO SAY I HAVE 5 AMP Battery Tender. (Not the one in the picture below; I have 1.5 AMP to use on my riding lawnmower) Battery Tender 5 AMP 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer - Automotive Smart Automatic Battery Charger for Cars SUVs and Trucks -Lead Acid, AGM, Gel, & Lithium - 022-0186G-DL-WH

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[Lifeliberty]

I use battery Tender jr, and it is fine. Deltran has been making these for years.

I'd guess Ford's was just a repackaged version of someone else's charger. Whose? I don't know.

 

[Haelous]

The FP is made by CTek and has an AGM mode, so that's what you should use.

 

[ssls6]

I have used Battery Tender for years and years on AGM batteries (motorcycles, tractors, cars, trucks). I would recommend the 3.0A version so it doesn't' take so long. From what I've seen on modern Fords, they don't keep the battery at a nearly full state to save fuel. Don't connect to the negative terminal, connect to the body ground or the top of the BMS module.

 

[CalvinT]

I'd buy the BatteryTender. Deltron makes several that will charge AGM and LiPO4 batteries. The Bronco has an AGM battery and LiPO4 capability might come in handy.

https://www.batterytender.com/produ...-outdoor-vehicles?_pos=5&_fid=874264431&_ss=c

 

[Rob Binsky]

I have used Battery Tender for years and years on AGM batteries (motorcycles, tractors, cars, trucks). I would recommend the 3.0A version so it doesn't' take so long. From what I've seen on modern Fords, they don't keep the battery at a nearly full state to save fuel. Don't connect to the negative terminal, connect to the body ground or the top of the BMS module.

Yeah, I saw the video on another thread, and took a picture at 13:42 in to remind myself where to connect the negative. I also was mistaken - I have the 5 amp to put on the Bronco (I use the 1.25 amp for my riding lawnmower) - and have edited the original post. Thanks.

 

[Lifeliberty]

I would say any of those would work. No need to buy another charger unless you want to. If you did buy the FP one, I'd just buy a ctek branded one and save some money.

 

[Squirrel13]

Another good one NOCO Genius. I have had theNOCO 10 on my F350 with dual Odyssey Extremes for four years. Not a single glitch. Even though the truck charges everynight from midnight to 5 am the truck will still go into battery saver after 10-14 days of no use. Same with the Bronco.

 

[Oilbrnr]

Victron IP65 series.

 

[box986]

Don't connect to the negative terminal, connect to the body ground or the top of the BMS module.

Why can't the negative be attached directly to the terminal?

 

[ssls6]

Why can't the negative be attached directly to the terminal?

The BMS module monitors current that runs into and out of the battery (black box on negative terminal). If you bypass this when charging, the system won't know the battery is charged (the battery will, the ECM won't). I've read that if the doors are locked and the key off then over night the BMS system will do a reconciliation to get things back in Sync. To keep your system in Sync, it's best to let the BMS see that you are charging. It's a simple choice to make for battery tenders and/or pigtails.

For jump starting however, I would go straight to the terminal for a good connection.

 

[Wirenut20]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ULT-150-41176

 

[TPadden72]

Why can't the negative be attached directly to the terminal?

Good question, I've always hooked tenders up to the terminals and never had a problem.

Tom

 

[Brian_B]

Good question, I've always hooked tenders up to the terminals and never had a problem.

Tom

The BMS has two different methods of determining what State of Charge is

The most accurate way is, as @ssls states, is when the battery is resting (I’ve seen anywhere from 4-8 hours, not sure the exact number, not certain about door locks but maybe) - when there is very very low battery draw and it’s all nice and stable, the BMS will use the voltage and temperature to establish the baseline state of charge

From that point, the BMS counts amps in versus amps out to determine how far away from that baseline you are.

If your charger is bypassing the BMS it can’t count the amps in to update that - you have to wait until the next baseline calculation for your state of charge to update.

If the computer has an incorrect SOC it will still start and run, but there are some things that depend on it - the Deep Sleep message, power point on-time, and OTA updates come to mind

If you are on a charger for days at a time that may not matter too much. But if you just pop it on overnight and drive to work the next morning — just because you didn’t go out at 1am and open the door doesn’t mean the Telematics didn’t fire up to check for OTA updates or the key fob in your kitchen didn’t ping the vehicle and prevent that SOC baseline calculation from occurring

So best to hook a maintainer negative terminal either out on the wing of the terminal or to the chassis someplace

 

[TPadden72]

I appreciate the reply, but it doesnt answer the question; why is the counting of whatever different when the ground is terminal or frame point? Ground is ground. I will have to accept it's a chicken or egg situation.

Probably a case of my wife's usual answer; "don't ask because you wouldn't understand the answer."

Tom

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