12v battery maintenance, issues, etc.

[Chas G]

Has anyone bought one of these Battery monitors?

I was thinking of getting one to plug into the socket at the front of the central console of my 2022 Toyota Yaris Cross. I thought it would sit quite nicely in the tray.  Seems quite an easy non invasive way for me to keep an eye on the charge of my 12 volt auxiliary Battery rather than having to connect direct to the Battery itself.

I would be grateful for your thoughts.

Thanks Chas

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/battery-accessories/ctek-comfort-indicator-cigarette-plug-549784.html?recType=OCWOTBRec

[Mojo1010]

Really not necessary since you have outlined so many back up charge things. I don't have a single thing that you have in your list, that's having had the gen3 for 5 years, now gen4. 

[Chas G]

8 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

Really not necessary since you have outlined so many back up charge things. I don't have a single thing that you have in your list, that's having had the gen3 for 5 years, now gen4. 

I just thought it would be useful, it fits in a space that I wouldn't use for anything else ant not expensive.

Get in the car, put it in ready mode and glance at the lights, job done. I realise that it's only an indication but good enough to placate my paranoia. 

[Roy124]

Chas, I had one and returned for a full refund.

1.  Drove car. LED Green.

2. Switched off.  LED Yellow. 

3. F*****d.  LED Red.

If it was going to tell me to put the car on charge not long after I switched off I could see no point.

Better get something that actually tells you something useful.

[Mojo1010]

No need to be paranoia, you have a jump start and a charger that's more than enough. I only have a multi meter just for info on Battery voltage drop, + first year free breakdown cover, will be getting cover each year after. 

If my car Battery fail in the first 3 years I would insist on Toyota replacement free of charge as it wouldn't be lack of driving on my part, I make sure it gets driven at least 2-3 times a week. 3 years onward, then replace with a 45Ah Battery if it fail.

[Chas G]

36 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Chas, I had one and returned for a full refund.

1.  Drove car. LED Green.

2. Switched off.  LED Yellow. 

3. F*****d.  LED Red.

If it was going to tell me to put the car on charge not long after I switched off I could see no point.

Better get something that actually tells you something useful.

And @Mojo1010 .

Thanks, something that tells me the voltage with the ignition switched off would be more use. I could get toyota to fit this or similar when I get the car serviced in the new year with the indicator cable routed under the carpets into a suitable place in the front of the car.

One last question do you know if I should get m6 or m8 eyelets?

Thanks for your help

https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/accessories/car-accessories/indicator-eyelet-m8

 

[Jasper.]

From memory mine were M6.

 

[Chas G]

28 minutes ago, Jasper. said:

From memory mine were M6.

 

Thank you. 👍

[Roy124]

The positive and negative terminals are different.   You can however attach M6 near the Battery if not actually on the post.

[CPN]

1 hour ago, Chas G said:

And @Mojo1010 .

Thanks, something that tells me the voltage with the ignition switched off would be more use.

Indeed it would and this is exactly what I make use of Hybrid Assistant for on my phone...

(that image is with the car switched off but HA connected to the OBDII port via BT.)

[Roy124]

Chas, there are lots of options for belt and braces (made easier).

Your jumper pack will be connected to the positive blade in the fuse box.  If your jumper pack has a light then you can find everything in the dark.

For charging, rather than putting it in Ready mode I would use the CTEK charger.  It actually delivers a higher voltage. To make that easier I got my garage to fit a charging tail to the Battery and accessible in the back.  I then just attach the charger cable as required. 

For the Uber paranoid you could get the garage to wire in a BM6 Battery monitor.   It sends the Battery voltage, state of charge and voltage to its App through Blue Tooth.

[Chas G]

22 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

Chas, there are lots of options for belt and braces (made easier).

Your jumper pack will be connected to the positive blade in the fuse box.  If your jumper pack has a light then you can find everything in the dark.

For charging, rather than putting it in Ready mode I would use the CTEK charger.  It actually delivers a higher voltage. To make that easier I got my garage to fit a charging tail to the battery and accessible in the back.  I then just attach the charger cable as required. 

For the Uber paranoid you could get the garage to wire in a BM6 battery monitor.   It sends the battery voltage, state of charge and voltage to its App through Blue Tooth.

Thank you Roy. I will charge the Battery once a week and when it gets serviced I will follow your advice of tails off the Battery.

[Chas G]

@Roy124 having watched this excellent video I will get a bm2 Battery monitor and let it tell me when to charge my Battery. Perfect 👍

 

[Derek.w]

I use a similar BM monitor.

12.2 volts Battery will start car but best to top it up when you have time.

12.5 volts or more is fully charged 

14 to 14.5 or 14.6 is charging voltages.

M6 eylets you have to cut and open up slightly better option is M8 eylets.

[Roy124]

14 hours ago, Chas G said:

@Roy124 having watched this excellent video I will get a bm2 battery monitor and let it tell me when to charge my battery. Perfect 👍

 

I have the BM6, same difference though the data is slightly different. 

My BM6 is about 12 feet from my phone and on the far side if the car and a house wall.

Apart from the instant display over 5 minutes you can select one day,  3 days or 5 days.  Better, you can also download load the data, in 2 minute intervals,  for the month. 

Comparing the instant,  instabilised output from the OBD reader I found the BM6 stabilised display was very slightly lower.

[Chas G]

@Roy124 and @Derek.w

I have ordered the BM2 which will be delivered tomorrow.

Hopefully it will give me the information I need to charge my Battery when needed.

Thanks for your help

Chas

[Chas G]

I fully charged the Battery on Monday (ctek 5). I didn't use the car on Tuesday. This afternoon (Wednesday) I went to do my weekly shop which is about 10 miles each way. Just used a multimeter to check the Battery voltage and it is 12.3 volts so I have put it back on charge. I really need to get the charger connector extension  tails fitted sooner than later so that I don't have to open the bonnet. I will get the 3m ones so I can fix the charger to the wall in my garage and plug in.

[Roy124]

28 minutes ago, Chas G said:

I will get the 3m ones so I can fix the charger to the wall in my garage and plug in.

Exactly what I did.

[Countryside]

My Chr has gone nearly 3 years no issues includes 3 weeks stay in hospital is it the same Battery as the Yaris and Corolla ? 

[Dala]

After three years, the "Desulfating" mode is already started for 30-60 minutes during charging .

[Chas G]

On 12/13/2023 at 8:00 PM, Roy124 said:

Exactly what I did.

I will get the 3m ones so I can fix the charger to the wall in my garage and plug in.

Toyota yaris cross:-

Being able to charge the 12 volt Battery in my garage has brought to mind another question.

If for some reason the car won't go into "ready" mode, how on earth would I or anyone else be able to get it out of the garage for recovery.

I understand that it is possible to lift a small hatch on the side of the gear lever surround to move it into neutral but would this also release the hand brake and steering lock so the car can be rolled out of my garage?

Apologies if this is a stupid question.

Thanks Chas

[Max_Headroom]

I have used these in the past to move vehicles when the electric handbrake has stick on.

 

[Roy124]

Chas, good question. It would depend on how tight a fit your car is on your garage.  I assume you can open your car door to get in and out.  If it is you can pop the bonnet lock.  Your next problem would be accessing the fuse box on the near side of the engine.  If you can they you can connect the Battery pack jump leads.

However your question prompts another solution. Attach the jumper pack to the charger tail off the Battery.  However if you have  a charger that you can connect to the fuse box terminal or the Battery tail you should not need to use the jumper pack

Only away from home might it be necessary to use the jumper pack.  I think you might be able to use a 12v socket (dash or boot) with a suitable lead.

[Chas G]

2 hours ago, Roy124 said:

Chas, good question. It would depend on how tight a fit your car is on your garage.  I assume you can open your car door to get in and out.  If it is you can pop the bonnet lock.  Your next problem would be accessing the fuse box on the near side of the engine.  If you can they you can connect the battery pack jump leads.

However your question prompts another solution. Attach the jumper pack to the charger tail off the battery.  However if you have  a charger that you can connect to the fuse box terminal or the battery tail you should not need to use the jumper pack

Only away from home might it be necessary to use the jumper pack.  I think you might be able to use a 12v socket (dash or boot) with a suitable lead.

@Roy124 thanks I am using the terminal under the bonnet to charge the Battery. Enough room to get round the car.

I have got the ctek 5 leads plus the BM2 monitor which I may fit myself.

@Max_Headroom thanks, I had thought of using skates (£65/pair) but i did wonder if anyone had an easier solution. Maybe the AA/Rac carry skates in their vans.

https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-equipment/garage-essentials/halfords-pair-wheel-dollies---500kg-541782.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=pmmaxplat&istBid=t&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17363835999|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:10563135687276706580|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9046084&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1fqrBhA1EiwAMU5m_0euOnuFyilmxQequuVp7w8SEejgCveutrmcR9SQU549la3uylkXZxoCiKwQAvD_BwE

[jthspace]

5 hours ago, Chas G said:

If for some reason the car won't go into "ready" mode, how on earth would I or anyone else be able to get it out of the garage for recovery.

Reverse car into garage? Easy to access fuse box / boost connector.

I fitted a 12v socket in the Battery cover under rear seat that can be used for charging or for connecting a boost pack.