Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Battery Saver
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311694 is a reply to message #311693] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 07:48   |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Just use a manual battery disconnect. The device from Amazon is just an voltage controlled battery disconnect. I have one of the small portable battery packs, similar to the referenced one. It will start a GMC. Actually very useful device. I have powered a portable ham radio transmitter, a string of led Christmas lights and other USB-based devices. Flashlight is a very neat addition to it's capabilities. Prices all seem to hover around $50. Every retailer has them in stock, Wal-Mart, and other big box stores.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311696 is a reply to message #311691] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 08:39 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Seems like a pretty good idea to me, Rob, especially for a vehicle in unattended storage without trickle charge from a Battery Minder.
A manual disconnect device would be a lot cheaper, though.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Rob Mueller
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 22:48
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Battery Saver
G'day,
Opinions on this device please:
Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/zafyfxc
Full URL:
http://www.adventurerv.net/vehicle-dead-battery-brain-saver-type-bronze-p-40
36.html?utm_source=AdventureRV&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Specials_12_29_
2016am
Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311701 is a reply to message #311697] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 09:44 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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To Rob:
Executive summary for Rob.
I have never used one. I have seen such a device in service and repaired it when it failed. The owner loved it and would not be without it.
Now....
This thread is a great example of "Thread Spread" and I hope others caught that. This is not a criticism of any specific individual but more an example of what can happen any place at any time.
Rob started asking about a device that disconnects a battery when it is depleted to preserve enough power to start a main engine.
=>Kelvin responded by showing us a little high drain battery pack that can be used to boost up a system.
=>Don Jeffers suggested the use of a line powered battery maintainer.
=>Tom suggested a manual battery disconnect.
=>Mac said it sounds like a good idea.
=>JohnL came a long with a lot of good observations.
All this can possibly be helpful, but nobody has answered Rob's question.
I will try.
I ran into such a device years ago while doing work on an owner's sloop. He had put it in because between the wife and kiddies, someone was always leaving a light on when they were anchored out (boondocking). They would get back to the boat after dark and have no power and no way to fire the main engine (only one engine and one house/engine battery). He declared that this fixed the issue, but the device had failed. He had been very happy with the installation prior to that. This device had a manual reset and all kinds of cautionary labels.
For this owner I quoted a major system re-work so he had a house battery and system and a main engine start battery and it was difficult to cross the two - kind of like a GMC in factory trim. He wanted the separator to be replaced in the main engine start system, so he should never again have to choose between rowing ashore to borrow a battery and cables or trying the hand crank the little diesel to life. Both were getting very old.
Back to the story at hand. The device had a voltage sampling circuit that would fire a winding on a magnetic latching contactor (relay). That contactor had failed. I spent way too much time locating a replacement part(but he was a good client). I locate one replacement device, but it was not capable at little diesel starting load. With the original repaired and re-installed, he was again a happy client. (The kind I like a lot.)
Rob et al,
I hope this answers the questions. If not please try to tell me what I missed.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311702 is a reply to message #311691] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 09:44 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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That just goes against my BIG as possible battery connections and cables.
I have seen some more robust looking devices that do the same thing, I just still prefer my big cables, battery connections. It sucks, but a person just has to be really diligent with watching battery systems and state of charge/discharge.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311704 is a reply to message #311691] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 14:49 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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Rob,
I own a Motorola Dealership and we use a similar product, and even developed and build our own. But instead of cutting the power to the whole vehicle, it cuts power to devices connected through it. Alot of our customers (Municipal Works Departments, Utilities, construction etc) like to have their truck two-way radios left ON while the truck engine is OFF at a work site. Our "Power-down" unit leaves the radio powered for up to 4 hours after the engine is shut off, or until the battery voltage drops to a preset level. When the weather turns cold, the preset turn-off voltage level is increased. It senses the engine starting, then powers up the radio. When it senses the engine is OFF, the timer starts its count down. Usually during the day the vehicle is started again before the timer times-out. By 9 or 10pm at night the timer powers down the radio.
If I was to develop a product like this, I would install it in line with the main fusible link. That way it would cut the power to whatever is draining, yet not be in the high current starter circuit.
I have a unit on my House battery that cuts the power once the voltage drops to 10.5 volts. That way if a light or some current draw is left on, the power is cut before the battery voltage drops to damaging levels.
I've sold several of our units to GMCers.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/electrical/p28712-12-volt-accessory-power-down-timer.html
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311705 is a reply to message #311704] |
Fri, 30 December 2016 14:58 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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My Minivan had a timer that shut off all lights, it worked great. I wonder if thats a separate module or part of the body computer?
Except that time the kids were playing in it at the park at a family reunion and kept resetting the timer by opening and closing the doors over and over. Killed the battery anyway!
But it was nice to get in the car in the morning and realise a door was open but the lights had still shut off and the car would start.
Oh and only one lights wasn't on that timer, the glove box light... Yes I found that out the hard way too.
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Bruce Hislop
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 2:50:00 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver
Rob,
I own a Motorola Dealership and we use a similar product, and even developed and build our own. But instead of cutting the power to the whole vehicle,
it cuts power to devices connected through it. Alot of our customers (Municipal Works Departments, Utilities, construction etc) like to have their
truck two-way radios left ON while the truck engine is OFF at a work site. Our "Power-down" unit leaves the radio powered for up to 4 hours after the
engine is shut off, or until the battery voltage drops to a preset level. When the weather turns cold, the preset turn-off voltage level is increased.
It senses the engine starting, then powers up the radio. When it senses the engine is OFF, the timer starts its count down. Usually during the day
the vehicle is started again before the timer times-out. By 9 or 10pm at night the timer powers down the radio.
If I was to develop a product like this, I would install it in line with the main fusible link. That way it would cut the power to whatever is
draining, yet not be in the high current starter circuit.
I have a unit on my House battery that cuts the power once the voltage drops to 10.5 volts. That way if a light or some current draw is left on, the
power is cut before the battery voltage drops to damaging levels.
I've sold several of our units to GMCers.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/electrical/p28712-12-volt-accessory-power-down-timer.html
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311742 is a reply to message #311705] |
Sat, 31 December 2016 15:37 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Just an additional note:
My towd, 2010 Honda Fit, battery died, would only charge 16%. OEM, I suspect. Used the small charge pack to start the Fit and get it to replacement shop. Honda Fit has small battery form factor, 151r, and is expensive. Costs more than any other lead acid battery for the GMC. Thank goodness for year end coupon from Advance Auto.
Fit runs better as an end result. Starts also, lol.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311745 is a reply to message #311742] |
Sat, 31 December 2016 19:17 |
powwerjon
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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Tom and All,
We too towed a Honda FIT 2009 thru 2012 when we replaced it with a 2011 Honda CRV. Both great toweds with the FIT at 2500# and the CRV at slightly over 3100#. The FIT was a little rice rocket with a paddle shifter auto trans or in full auto.
You are correct that the FIT’s battery was a joke. I have seen motorcycle batteries that were bigger. We had a braking system that used power from the FIT battery and the battery would run down over a days tow. We bought a unit that solved this problem for the FIT and moved it to the CRV too.
http://www.lslproducts.net/ToadChargePage.html
I bought just the unit and built the wiring harness myself. I would not tow with out it!
Just what we did, your item or solution may vary.
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
Newsletter Editor/Publisher
Tech Editor
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
On location in Tucson
> On Dec 31, 2016, at 2:37 PM, Thomas Phipps wrote:
>
> Just an additional note:
> My towd, 2010 Honda Fit, battery died, would only charge 16%. OEM, I suspect. Used the small charge pack to start the Fit and get it to replacement
> shop. Honda Fit has small battery form factor, 151r, and is expensive. Costs more than any other lead acid battery for the GMC. Thank goodness for
> year end coupon from Advance Auto.
> Fit runs better as an end result. Starts also, lol.
> Tom, MS II
> --
> 1975 GMC Avion
> KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311746 is a reply to message #311742] |
Sat, 31 December 2016 22:45 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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A lot of people are installing the 51R's in Honda Fits. It will just fit in there (with a shoe horn) up against the air cleaner in 1st and 2nd gen Fits. In my daughter's current 3 gen (2016 Fit EX), they enlarged the battery box so a 51R fits normally even though they still come OEM with a 151R. I have never installed a 51R myself in a Fit because Heather keeps totaling them before the batteries go bad. She had an 09 sport, an 11 sport, and now a 16 EX.
I just put a 51R in my John Deere a few weeks ago. The also are not cheap.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311755 is a reply to message #311745] |
Sun, 01 January 2017 15:30 |
kelvin
Messages: 608
Registered: February 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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My US Gear Tow brakes are wired so the coach charges the towd battery.
If I were to use something like the ToadCharge I'd find a way to wire it
into the towd umbilical rather than have another thing to plug in.
Just my 2¢
Kelvin
'73 23' in Eugene, OR
On 12/31/2016 5:17 PM, John Wright wrote:
> Tom and All,
>
> We too towed a Honda FIT 2009 thru 2012 when we replaced it with a 2011 Honda CRV. Both great toweds with the FIT at 2500# and the CRV at slightly over 3100#. The FIT was a little rice rocket with a paddle shifter auto trans or in full auto.
>
> You are correct that the FIT’s battery was a joke. I have seen motorcycle batteries that were bigger. We had a braking system that used power from the FIT battery and the battery would run down over a days tow. We bought a unit that solved this problem for the FIT and moved it to the CRV too.
>
> http://www.lslproducts.net/ToadChargePage.html
>
> I bought just the unit and built the wiring harness myself. I would not tow with out it!
>
> Just what we did, your item or solution may vary.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> Newsletter Editor/Publisher
> Tech Editor
> 78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
> 75 Avion Under Reconstruction
> Michigan
> On location in Tucson
>
>
>> On Dec 31, 2016, at 2:37 PM, Thomas Phipps wrote:
>>
>> Just an additional note:
>> My towd, 2010 Honda Fit, battery died, would only charge 16%. OEM, I suspect. Used the small charge pack to start the Fit and get it to replacement
>> shop. Honda Fit has small battery form factor, 151r, and is expensive. Costs more than any other lead acid battery for the GMC. Thank goodness for
>> year end coupon from Advance Auto.
>> Fit runs better as an end result. Starts also, lol.
>> Tom, MS II
>> --
>> 1975 GMC Avion
>> KA4CSG
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311767 is a reply to message #311755] |
Mon, 02 January 2017 15:16 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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You might go to a 7 pin coondter and use the extra for the power you need.
We have done that for several towed units so they do not need to rely on
power from it.
Always retighten the individual wires as the set screws need to be
tightened as time passes.
On Sun, Jan 1, 2017 at 1:30 PM, Kelvin Dietz wrote:
> My US Gear Tow brakes are wired so the coach charges the towd battery. If
> I were to use something like the ToadCharge I'd find a way to wire it into
> the towd umbilical rather than have another thing to plug in.
>
> Just my 2¢
> Kelvin
>
> '73 23' in Eugene, OR
>
>
> On 12/31/2016 5:17 PM, John Wright wrote:
>
>> Tom and All,
>>
>> We too towed a Honda FIT 2009 thru 2012 when we replaced it with a 2011
>> Honda CRV. Both great toweds with the FIT at 2500# and the CRV at slightly
>> over 3100#. The FIT was a little rice rocket with a paddle shifter auto
>> trans or in full auto.
>>
>> You are correct that the FIT’s battery was a joke. I have seen
>> motorcycle batteries that were bigger. We had a braking system that used
>> power from the FIT battery and the battery would run down over a days tow.
>> We bought a unit that solved this problem for the FIT and moved it to the
>> CRV too.
>>
>> http://www.lslproducts.net/ToadChargePage.html
>>
>> I bought just the unit and built the wiring harness myself. I would not
>> tow with out it!
>>
>> Just what we did, your item or solution may vary.
>>
>> J.R. Wright
>> GMC GreatLaker
>> Newsletter Editor/Publisher
>> Tech Editor
>> 78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
>> 75 Avion Under Reconstruction
>> Michigan
>> On location in Tucson
>>
>>
>> On Dec 31, 2016, at 2:37 PM, Thomas Phipps wrote:
>>>
>>> Just an additional note:
>>> My towd, 2010 Honda Fit, battery died, would only charge 16%. OEM, I
>>> suspect. Used the small charge pack to start the Fit and get it to
>>> replacement
>>> shop. Honda Fit has small battery form factor, 151r, and is expensive.
>>> Costs more than any other lead acid battery for the GMC. Thank goodness for
>>> year end coupon from Advance Auto.
>>> Fit runs better as an end result. Starts also, lol.
>>> Tom, MS II
>>> --
>>> 1975 GMC Avion
>>> KA4CSG
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver [message #311802 is a reply to message #311701] |
Tue, 03 January 2017 16:58 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Matt et al,
All the responses were helpful. Thread Spread is the norm and I expected it.
Bottom line using all the information presented it might be handy on the
house circuit, but not the start battery. I read one blurb that noted its
current limit was 270 CCA.
Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Matt
Colie
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2016 2:44 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Battery Saver
To Rob:
Executive summary for Rob.
I have never used one. I have seen such a device in service and repaired it
when it failed. The owner loved it and would not be without it.
Now....
This thread is a great example of "Thread Spread" and I hope others caught
that. This is not a criticism of any specific individual but more an
example of what can happen any place at any time.
Rob started asking about a device that disconnects a battery when it is
depleted to preserve enough power to start a main engine.
=>Kelvin responded by showing us a little high drain battery pack that can
be used to boost up a system.
=>Don Jeffers suggested the use of a line powered battery maintainer.
=>Tom suggested a manual battery disconnect.
=>Mac said it sounds like a good idea.
=>JohnL came a long with a lot of good observations.
All this can possibly be helpful, but nobody has answered Rob's question.
I will try.
I ran into such a device years ago while doing work on an owner's sloop. He
had put it in because between the wife and kiddies, someone was always
leaving a light on when they were anchored out (boondocking). They would
get back to the boat after dark and have no power and no way to fire the
main engine (only one engine and one house/engine battery). He declared
that this fixed the issue, but the device had failed. He had been very
happy
with the installation prior to that. This device had a manual reset and all
kinds of cautionary labels.
For this owner I quoted a major system re-work so he had a house battery and
system and a main engine start battery and it was difficult to cross the
two - kind of like a GMC in factory trim. He wanted the separator to be
replaced in the main engine start system, so he should never again have to
choose between rowing ashore to borrow a battery and cables or trying the
hand crank the little diesel to life. Both were getting very old.
Back to the story at hand. The device had a voltage sampling circuit that
would fire a winding on a magnetic latching contactor (relay). That
contactor had failed. I spent way too much time locating a replacement
part(but he was a good client). I locate one replacement device, but it was
not capable at little diesel starting load. With the original repaired and
re-installed, he was again a happy client. (The kind I like a lot.)
Rob et al,
I hope this answers the questions. If not please try to tell me what I
missed.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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