12V battery
- Thread starter electriceddy
- Start date
- Replies 506
- Views 131K
Keep your eye on the residual voltage if you have a meter ~ 12.6 V. Its not a really large capacity particularly jumping an ICE could put undue stress.
After applying a second "VCULDC" software update during my first annual service (yesterday), I will report some very interesting and positive observations.
I do not run a 12V monitor, so no graphs to supply, however those that do run 3rd party software can report more accurate findings.
The updated software# (Canada) is this: C00D111 - VCULDC Control Logic Improvement.
#1
The vehicle charges the 12V battery ~10 minutes after shutdown- for a 15 minute period .
I first noticed the Hyundai emblem glow yellow on 3 sequential short drives after shutdown ranging from 1km to 10km.
#2
The frequency of the 3.5- 4 hour documented ~ 15 minute recharge periods are now reduced in half ~ 1.75 to 2 hours, again observed using the yellow light. I observed this 3 times now (only been 1 day since update).
I will take voltage measurements with my Fluke when time permits, but what I have seen so far is impressive (and a long time coming if I might add).
Any other reports with this new software would be appreciated for those who have had it installed, but from what I have seen so far, I give it a huge thumbs up
I do not run a 12V monitor, so no graphs to supply, however those that do run 3rd party software can report more accurate findings.
The updated software# (Canada) is this: C00D111 - VCULDC Control Logic Improvement.
#1
The vehicle charges the 12V battery ~10 minutes after shutdown- for a 15 minute period .
I first noticed the Hyundai emblem glow yellow on 3 sequential short drives after shutdown ranging from 1km to 10km.
#2
The frequency of the 3.5- 4 hour documented ~ 15 minute recharge periods are now reduced in half ~ 1.75 to 2 hours, again observed using the yellow light. I observed this 3 times now (only been 1 day since update).
I will take voltage measurements with my Fluke when time permits, but what I have seen so far is impressive (and a long time coming if I might add).
Any other reports with this new software would be appreciated for those who have had it installed, but from what I have seen so far, I give it a huge thumbs up
Last edited:
We often go away for months at a time outback touring in a diesel guzzling Mazda BT50 towing a camper. During those time the Kona will sit in the garage unattended.
Should I rely on the periodic charging of the 12v battery to occur (I have had no problems since purchase of the car 6 months ago and regularly see the orange light in the hood badge) or would it be better to disconnect the 12v battery negative?
Should I rely on the periodic charging of the 12v battery to occur (I have had no problems since purchase of the car 6 months ago and regularly see the orange light in the hood badge) or would it be better to disconnect the 12v battery negative?
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
My older Kona would be fine because it doesn't have any telematics function. The long-term daily 20 min (12V) charge kicks in after about 60 hours parked.
I don't think there are any issues resulting from disconnecting the 12V battery but if you have a chance to test it connected and parked for about 10 days you'll find out if it can maintain voltage. A bluetooth battery monitor (which can be bought from SuperCheap Auto) is the handiest tool to determine this. It will log and graph the voltage without disturbing the car.
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/matson-matson-bluetooth-wireless-battery-monitor/594361.html
I don't think there are any issues resulting from disconnecting the 12V battery but if you have a chance to test it connected and parked for about 10 days you'll find out if it can maintain voltage. A bluetooth battery monitor (which can be bought from SuperCheap Auto) is the handiest tool to determine this. It will log and graph the voltage without disturbing the car.
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/matson-matson-bluetooth-wireless-battery-monitor/594361.html
I don't have the telematics either (dropped in Aussie 2021 models) so, based on that, I presume I will not have a problem. Will check out the Matson device.
Is there anything to choose between the BM2 you've used earlier in this topic and the Matson device you linked to?
TIA
Is there anything to choose between the BM2 you've used earlier in this topic and the Matson device you linked to?
TIA
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
I think the Matson is just a custom packaged version of the same electronics sold worldwide under several names including BM-2. Ironically, the one product to avoid is that branded "Hyundai". It looks identical but only measures voltage, no logging.
But it's really an impressive product for the money and the current app (seemingly maintained by the same person or company for all of them) allows up to four units to co-exist within Bluetooth range and can display over 1, 7 or 15 days. I use one on both EV and ICE and check them daily.
Now that my Kona (parked for the last week) is on the longer charge schedule I can see that the 12V is slowly losing a little bit of charge but it may be fine once it reaches a new equilibrium voltage.
But it's really an impressive product for the money and the current app (seemingly maintained by the same person or company for all of them) allows up to four units to co-exist within Bluetooth range and can display over 1, 7 or 15 days. I use one on both EV and ICE and check them daily.
Now that my Kona (parked for the last week) is on the longer charge schedule I can see that the 12V is slowly losing a little bit of charge but it may be fine once it reaches a new equilibrium voltage.
Thanks. Just found that.
This is from my 2021 Aussie Highlander, beginning when I installed the Matson monitor. This trace is different to others I have seen here. Mrs OzKona took the car shopping at 1430, returning at 1700. It's been parked, unlocked and off the charger since. The spike at 2230 may have been me switching the car on to check something, but other than that I am surprised by the frequent charging events. After 2330 it seems to have settled down to the 4-hourly top-up as reported elsewhere in this topic:
Similar to what I discovered with the new VCULDC update (post 384 above), Charges car soon after drives (short or long) and the frequency of the events are twice what they were before. Looks like it settles down after a period ~8 hours, then resorts back to the 4 hour cycle.
Service rep told me Hyundai was growing weary of all the dead battery complaints, so they finally did something to improve the logic. Should help those who mostly drive short runs.
No matter to me, as I am telematicless also, and not experienced any failures to keep a respectable charge
Thanks for the updated (new and improved) data logging post.
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
Has the 12V battery ever suffered a "dead battery" situation?
Mostly it looks completely normal.
No, no dead battery event. When I said I was surprised, I should have qualified that a bit. I expect it to charge while the car is in use, just like an alternator. What I thought was different to what I had seen here was the initially more frequent charging after the car was shut down.
Speaking of dead battery events, I am going to leave the tailgate improperly closed for a while (apparent cause of dead batteries reported on a few forums) and see what it does.
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
More elastic voltage excursions can be a sign of a damaged 12V battery but there's nothing untoward here, just thought I'd check.
A couple of us have done that boot experiment, myself at #349 in this thread. There are also posts somewhere from me regarding the apparent lack of charging while driving.
In short, it used to charge for the first 30 min of driving (for the day) as it still does for the first 30 min of (traction battery) charging. Since the Campaign 196 update that was carried out on all examples during 2019, it doesn't charge while driving anymore -- but it doesn't drain the battery either. It just "dithers" around, see graph below, noting that "charging" requires around 14.6 V. And, instead of a daily 20 min charge we get six a day for the first 60 hours parked then back to daily.
I think EE is correct in pointing out that a charge during driving is not reliable, the time schedule is better. I have noticed that even that can be modified if the system thinks the 12V battery has been depleted more than normal. The small device on the battery negative terminal, a 24/7 voltage and coulomb data logger, provides that info.
A couple of us have done that boot experiment, myself at #349 in this thread. There are also posts somewhere from me regarding the apparent lack of charging while driving.
In short, it used to charge for the first 30 min of driving (for the day) as it still does for the first 30 min of (traction battery) charging. Since the Campaign 196 update that was carried out on all examples during 2019, it doesn't charge while driving anymore -- but it doesn't drain the battery either. It just "dithers" around, see graph below, noting that "charging" requires around 14.6 V. And, instead of a daily 20 min charge we get six a day for the first 60 hours parked then back to daily.
I think EE is correct in pointing out that a charge during driving is not reliable, the time schedule is better. I have noticed that even that can be modified if the system thinks the 12V battery has been depleted more than normal. The small device on the battery negative terminal, a 24/7 voltage and coulomb data logger, provides that info.
I think I'll go back and read the thread again. Now that you've pointed this out I don't see much point in going over old ground - except perhaps to see if the 2021 Aus model is different. But OTOH I'm not keen to do an exhaustive test that will flatten the 12v battery - they are never the same after even one such event.
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
This is typically what I see regarding short drives, noting I'm on "196" software. I think in this case it's a normal situation - there are no extra 12V charges to make up for start-up losses.
I'll speculate that the BMS (meaning for the 12V battery) doesn't download the 12V battery data off the IBS sensor until it wakes up and restarts the daily schedule on the 23rd at 0700. At that time it could throw in an extra 20-min charge (or 2) but instead moves to the 4-hourly schedule 2 hours later. Perhaps it's our gentle climate but the original battery is still happy after 3 years.
I'll speculate that the BMS (meaning for the 12V battery) doesn't download the 12V battery data off the IBS sensor until it wakes up and restarts the daily schedule on the 23rd at 0700. At that time it could throw in an extra 20-min charge (or 2) but instead moves to the 4-hourly schedule 2 hours later. Perhaps it's our gentle climate but the original battery is still happy after 3 years.