Potential parasitic draw/electrical wonkyness after offroading

[Tharberats]

What kind of battery did you upgrade to? The yellow top ones that I have heard are the "best"?

Taking it to the dealership tomorrow since the battery is still under warranty. I'll update afterwards, hopefully it's a simple battery.

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[Brian_B]

What kind of battery did you upgrade to? The yellow top ones that I have heard are the "best"?

Taking it to the dealership tomorrow since the battery is still under warranty. I'll update afterwards, hopefully it's a simple battery.

I threw down the gauntlet and jumped on an Antigravity LiFePo. One of the members here is a vendor and helped me spec it out (@Ape Factory)

Not enough time to tell if it’s worth the premium but so far it’s been solid. And it weighs like nothing. Not quite enough weight savings to make up for the bumper winch, but did help close that gap.

For most folks, I would say get another Motorcraft - not sure any of the aftermarket AGMs are really doing much better right now, and price on Motorcraft is competitive. A lot of folks like Deka, but it’s sold under so many different brand names, and even that isn’t a guarantee you will get a battery that lasts more than a couple of years.

 

[Tharberats]

I'll keep that battery type in mind for once the "freemium" warranty batteries go away.

I did a micro amount of research, the LiFePo batteries are similar performance to the AGMs, just multitudes more cycle lifespan, is that roughly accurate?

 

[Ape Factory]

I'll keep that battery type in mind for once the "freemium" warranty batteries go away.

I did a micro amount of research, the LiFePo batteries are similar performance to the AGMs, just multitudes more cycle lifespan, is that roughly accurate?

Pretty much. They also have more cold cranking amps per amp hour and charge significantly faster. That and the weight. If you weigh say an 80-100Ah lead acid, AGM or standard, they're typically about 40 pounds heavier than the Antigravity lithiums. The first time went to pick up an Antigravity off the ground I grabbed the handle with both hands and almost hit myself in the forehead. It was that light. The 80Ah has a good bit of reserves too and seems to play nice with the Bronco and other exotics that we use them in.

The other tangible benefit, and what got me hooked on them, is the built-in jump starting. They ship with two key fobs which have a button to "wake the battery". If the battery's voltage drops below a certain point, the internal BMS disconnects the battery and keeps it from draining any further. Click the button on the key fob and the battery reconnects with enough juice to start your car. My wife is in the medical field and we had an incident where I had to run out at 3am in February to jump start her car as it was dead in the parking lot and there was no one else around. I ended up purchasing a battery for her car as well as mine, long before I was a dealer. Was pretty much sold thereafter and added it to my product portfolio. Happy to pass along the Bronco discount if anyone is interested. Just PM me.

 

[Ape Factory]

What kind of battery did you upgrade to? The yellow top ones that I have heard are the "best"?

Taking it to the dealership tomorrow since the battery is still under warranty. I'll update afterwards, hopefully it's a simple battery.

Optima is a waste of money, highly overrated for a lead acid battery. If you need something "now" just go with Motorcraft or whatever else is readily available and save yourself a few bucks.

 

[Tharberats]

Optima is a waste of money, highly overrated for a lead acid battery. If you need something "now" just go with Motorcraft or whatever else is readily available and save yourself a few bucks.

Fair enough, just had seen that one slung around a bunch as the "best."

Interesting feature on the Antigravity, that auto conservation bit. Do those batteries do decent in very hot (Southern AZ) and cold? I know normal Lead Acids are weakened in such extremes, but admittedly I know little about the LiFePo version.

 

[Bschurr]

I threw down the gauntlet and jumped on an Antigravity LiFePo. One of the members here is a vendor and helped me spec it out (@Ape Factory)

Not enough time to tell if it’s worth the premium but so far it’s been solid. And it weighs like nothing. Not quite enough weight savings to make up for the bumper winch, but did help close that gap.

For most folks, I would say get another Motorcraft - not sure any of the aftermarket AGMs are really doing much better right now, and price on Motorcraft is competitive. A lot of folks like Deka, but it’s sold under so many different brand names, and even that isn’t a guarantee you will get a battery that lasts more than a couple of years.

It’s my understanding that a LiFePo battery is not rated for a 400+amp sustained draw that a winch can draw.

 

[B22-2023]

So a high amp draw immediately after reconnecting the battery is not abnormal - all the computers are booting up and re-initializing and a lot of things wake up.

Exactly, I missed this. It’s like doing engineering mode - post battery re-connect the thing has to sit with no key near it for a while, then do the tests.

 

[Brian_B]

It’s my understanding that a LiFePo battery is not rated for a 400+amp sustained draw that a winch can draw.

Now there could be issues with internal construction on specific models - so I won’t discount that. And I will be honest and say I don’t know what Antigravity’s official stance is on this (although I have not had any issues - that doesn’t mean much and I acknowledge that)

But just speaking generally at a high level on battery types and tech - right now the only thing that can beat Lithium for high amp draw is a capacitor. And you are not going to get a capacitor based system to run a winch in a Bronco for more than about 10 seconds.

 

[Ape Factory]

Fair enough, just had seen that one slung around a bunch as the "best."

Interesting feature on the Antigravity, that auto conservation bit. Do those batteries do decent in very hot (Southern AZ) and cold? I know normal Lead Acids are weakened in such extremes, but admittedly I know little about the LiFePo version.

I'm in South Central Texas which sees very similar weather. I have clients in the North, up in Canada and no problems with the cold and I have clients in Phoenix and other hot areas and no reported issues there either. We see 100+ temps here regularly during the summer and it can get cold, below freezing, for extended periods of time but it isn't Wisconsin. Generally it's mild in the winter but I've not had any complaints. I've warrantied two batteries ever and both of those had issues right off the bat and AG replaced them, no problem. Warranty is 5 years.

 

[Ape Factory]

It’s my understanding that a LiFePo battery is not rated for a 400+amp sustained draw that a winch can draw.

I do not know to be honest but I can certainly ask about that and report back. I do know they're not deep cycle. They do have a specific deep cycle that I sell to a lot of sail boat guys but it doesn't have the cranking amps for an automotive engine. I asked about that as soon as they were released as it'd obviously be a great setup for camping/ancilary devices.

 

[Tharberats]

For those of you curious, turns out a brand spanking new battery did absolutely nothing. Got it home Friday evening at 830pm-ish and next time trying to do anything it was 730pm tonight (Sunday), when it had just enough battery to unlock via the fob, and attempt to turn the starter and cause surging in the brake pedal and the instrument panel. Now it's too dead to roll up after closing the door. Back to the dealership, I'm sure they will fix it this time

 

[Tharberats]

Just got the old Bronco back, the next few days will tell if it actually got fixed this time.

Apparently the passenger door door lock/unlock button failed internally and was sending enough signal to the BCM to keep the BCM awake, but not enough to lock/unlock the door. Switch got replaced under warranty, even though they tried half-heartedly to pin it on my lights.

Good news, that means the draw that I saw through the BCM fuses was accurate! Success!

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