Leave plugged in?

[Robert1380]

Guys, was wondering what the school of thought is regarding your routines for charging. Seems most folks use the 80% rule or some charge to 90 pretty routinely, but I want to know if generally leaving the charger plugged in even after you reach the desired SOC is best for the battery?

Was told today by a Tesla owner that it’s best to leave them plugged in after you reach the desired charge and he gave me some scientific explanation why, but this could be the same argument as some of the oil threads I’ve read over the years.

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[Grumpy2]

There really aren't any advantages to not keep the truck plugged-in, unless your home charger isn't located very well.

With the truck connected to grid power you can cool or heat the cabin using FordPass before you leave the house. You can also boost the power level from the kitchen table if an unexpected trip comes up. The truck Battery Management System (BMS) will use the grid power if needed to heat or cool the battery too, and will also not charge beyond your settings, so no harm there.

You will see the term ABC on this forum (Always Be Charging).

.

 

[Robert1380]

There really aren't any advantages to not keep the truck plugged-in, unless your home charger isn't located very well.

With the truck connected to grid power you can cool or heat the cabin using FordPass before you leave the house. You can also boost the power level from the kitchen table if an unexpected trip comes up. The truck Battery Management System (BMS) will use the grid power if needed to heat or cool the battery too, and will also not charge beyond your settings, so no harm there.

You will see the term ABC on this forum (Always Be Charging).

.

Thanks for the response. Appreciate it

 

[Mal106]

I wonder if the LVB will continue to be topped up if the charge is finished and the truck is still plugged in.

 

[MaintGrl]

I wonder if the LVB will continue to be topped up if the charge is finished and the truck is still plugged in.

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is on, hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[RickLightning]

I wonder if the LVB will continue to be topped up if the charge is finished and the truck is still plugged in.

No.

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is on, hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are not wrong. Once the charging session ends, no current goes to the truck.

 

[K6CCC]

You are not wrong. Once the charging session ends, no current goes to the truck.

That's not quite true. For "charging" that is very likely the case, but if you have a departure time set and the truck is still plugged in, the power for preconditioning will come from the EVSE. I have confirmed that by looking at power consumption on the utility meter.

 

[RickLightning]

That's not quite true. For "charging" that is very likely the case, but if you have a departure time set and the truck is still plugged in, the power for preconditioning will come from the EVSE. I have confirmed that by looking at power consumption on the utility meter.

That's another charging session, initiated by the vehicle.

The question was if the 12v was charged when the charging session ends. The answer is no.

 

[MaintGrl]

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is "on" (Foot on the Brake, Start Butting Pressed), hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, again.
And If I am wrong . . when IS the LVB charged?

 

[Brent@ANParts]

I always kept my truck plugged-in at 80%, every day. Just a good habit that helped avoid ever running low on charge, and also made it easy to bump-up the SOC if I was going on a longer drive.

 

[Timeless Epoch]

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is "on" (Foot on the Brake, Start Butting Pressed), hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, again.
And If I am wrong . . when IS the LVB charged?

That is the experience many here share. Interestingly, this is what the manual states:

 

[RickLightning]

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is "on" (Foot on the Brake, Start Butting Pressed), hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, again.
And If I am wrong . . when IS the LVB charged?

You are wrong.

The LVB is charged the entire time the truck is charging. So, if you charge at 48amps, it gets less charge time than if you charge at 32 amps.

It's also supposed to get charged by the HVB if it drops below a certain threshold. In the Mach-E, this has been a continual issue, and resulted in dead 12v batteries. In the Lightning, it appears to be less of an issue.

 

[Firn]

I was under the impression that the LVB is only charged when the truck is "on" (Foot on the Brake, Start Butting Pressed), hence the the problem of low battery voltage during OTA updates.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, again.
And If I am wrong . . when IS the LVB charged?

I believe that the LVB is charged anytime the HVB contactors are engaged. Said another way, anytime the HV system is engaged i belive the DC-DC converter is active and the 12v should charge.

This would be when the truck is running, charging, preconditioning, and I expect when Pro Power is engaged.

 

[FloridaBreen]

That is the experience many here share. Interestingly, this is what the manual states:

You are wrong.

The LVB is charged the entire time the truck is charging. So, if you charge at 48amps, it gets less charge time than if you charge at 32 amps.

It's also supposed to get charged by the HVB if it drops below a certain threshold. In the Mach-E, this has been a continual issue, and resulted in dead 12v batteries. In the Lightning, it appears to be less of an issue.

My 12v discharged completely leaving me with a dead Lightning. It was parked, not plugged in, hv battery at 61%for at least 25 days. I suspect the timeline was 12v battery was charged at the beginning, truck went to deep sleep on wéek 2, some software update started but could not finish before 12v battery went below some cutoff voltage leaving the truck in some on mode and running the 12v even more discharged....

 

[Maquis]

My 12v discharged completely leaving me with a dead Lightning. It was parked, not plugged in, hv battery at 61%for at least 25 days. I suspect the timeline was 12v battery was charged at the beginning, truck went to deep sleep on wéek 2, some software update started but could not finish before 12v battery went below some cutoff voltage leaving the truck in some on mode and running the 12v even more discharged....

A properly functioning truck should never completely drain the 12V battery unless you have something extra drawing power from it.

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