Battery maintenance question

[mmcbeat]

For a number of reasons I’m driving my Ram very little right now, sometimes it will set for several days. Temporary situation. Anyhow, looking back to my motorcycle days when most riding was on the weekends, I have been putting a trickle charger on my Ram every couple of weeks. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Does the IBS (intelligent battery sensor) react in any way to a trickle charger? My Ram has the standard 5.7 Hemi, without the start/stop feature. Thanks.

 

[cervelo15]

For a number of reasons I’m driving my Ram very little right now, sometimes it will set for several days. Temporary situation. Anyhow, looking back to my motorcycle days when most riding was on the weekends, I have been putting a trickle charger on my Ram every couple of weeks. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Does the IBS (intelligent battery sensor) react in any way to a trickle charger? My Ram has the standard 5.7 Hemi, without the start/stop feature. Thanks.

Do you have an Etorque or no? I was one of the group that has been very skittish of my 12v battery with an ET system, but once it was explained to me, I was ok with it.

I'm like you, I'm working from home permanently, so I am lucky if I even put 50 miles on it per week.

Here's the thread that's been discussing battery charging. There are a couple other threads out there too:

What Voltage Should Etorque Be at?

I have a 2019 etorque i just replaced the battery got stranded twice thats enough.... Im wondering what is the voltage parameters should it be at when driving when everything is on vs normal driving with no lights or ac? im also curious at what voltage during driving is considered to low and...

5thgenrams.com

 

[Willwork4truck]

My 2019 straight hemi needed weekly-or every two weeks overnight charging with a 4 amp unit as it wasn't being driven enough (500 miles a month). The battery lasted almost eaxctly 27 months and failed the day before I traded it off. (It jumped but still). The resting voltage prior to charging was always 12.1 or 12.2 per my multimeter, which to me was too low for a flooded lead acid battery.

I always clipped the negative of the charger to a nearby ground bolt as that's what I had learned would bypass the BMS on my previous F150.

 

[mmcbeat]

Do you have an Etorque or no? I was one of the group that has been very skittish of my 12v battery with an ET system, but once it was explained to me, I was ok with it.

I'm like you, I'm working from home permanently, so I am lucky if I even put 50 miles on it per week.

Here's the thread that's been discussing battery charging. There are a couple other threads out there too:

What Voltage Should Etorque Be at?

I have a 2019 etorque i just replaced the battery got stranded twice thats enough.... Im wondering what is the voltage parameters should it be at when driving when everything is on vs normal driving with no lights or ac? im also curious at what voltage during driving is considered to low and...

5thgenrams.com

No etorque, just the standard 5.7. I should have been a little more specific. I’m using a battery tender, not a trickle charger per se, 1.25 amp. It’s the IBS that I’m not familiar with.

 

[mmcbeat]

My 2019 straight hemi needed weekly-or every two weeks overnight charging with a 4 amp unit as it wasn't being driven enough (500 miles a month). The battery lasted almost eaxctly 27 months and failed the day before I traded it off. (It jumped but still). The resting voltage prior to charging was always 12.1 or 12.2 per my multimeter, which to me was too low for a flooded lead acid battery.

I always clipped the negative of the charger to a nearby ground bolt as that's what I had learned would bypass the BMS on my previous F150.

Thanks, I will try the negative ground bolt instead of the battery terminal.

 

[BilletMotoRam]

Deltron battery tender, Install a battery tender pigtail on your battery, when your not using it keep it plugged in. It will keep your battery charger & ready to go, I have them on everything.

 

[Sascwatch]

I plan on installing a noco onboard trickle charger in the engine bay along with a noco plug port in the bed of my truck so I can easily plug in the block heater and charger in one go without opening the hood. I haven’t had any issues over the summer with the battery, but cold weather typically brings out battery issues.

 

[RAM Patriot]

I chose to go with the Granite Digital Charger, Maintainer, Cleaner & Tester - 50 Watt (6 & 12 Volt).

1. It is 50 Watts so it will charge the battery quickly
2. Uses a pulsing technology to desulfate the battery
3. Low Voltage Monitor with audible Alarm

Charger, Maintainer, Cleaner & Tester - 50 Watt (6 & 12 Volt)​

This 50 Watt device Charges, Maintains, PULSE Cleans & Tests a Vehicle Battery. Works with All Standard Lead Acid battery types and sizes.
www.batterysaver.com

 

[c3k]

I plan on installing a noco onboard trickle charger in the engine bay along with a noco plug port in the bed of my truck so I can easily plug in the block heater and charger in one go without opening the hood. I haven’t had any issues over the summer with the battery, but cold weather typically brings out battery issues.

I have a noco (and a two-to-one noco external plug) to do just what you're thinking. But, I'm going to mount the exterior plug down on the air-dam on the front passenger side. That way, when I back out, the cord will drop off should I forget to unplug it. (Like I did that one time 25 years ago. Ouch.)

 

[Orion10182011]

Always a good idea to use a battery tender if any vehicle is going to be sitting for a while.

 

[Expat]

I work overseas and my truck sometimes sits for several months at a time and i've had zero problems so far.......

 

[theblet]

I have a solar panel trickle charger that you can plug into the cig plug and lay on the dash. Works pretty good.

 

[HemiDude]

I have a solar panel trickle charger that you can plug into the cig plug and lay on the dash. Works pretty good.

Now that I am interested in. Can you share the brand info?

 

[theblet]

It’s not this one but similar. Don’t remember the name fact brand. I got mine at advance auto. I also used it for my generator when the battery tender went out.

https://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-Portable-Backup-Alligator-Adapter/dp/B017K6PH1S

 

[HemiDude]

It’s not this one but similar. Don’t remember the name fact brand. I got mine at advance auto. I also used it for my generator when the battery tender went out.

https://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-Portable-Backup-Alligator-Adapter/dp/B017K6PH1S

Thanks!

 

[theblet]

np!

 

[HAL9001]

My 2019 straight hemi needed weekly-or every two weeks overnight charging with a 4 amp unit as it wasn't being driven enough (500 miles a month). The battery lasted almost eaxctly 27 months and failed the day before I traded it off. (It jumped but still). The resting voltage prior to charging was always 12.1 or 12.2 per my multimeter, which to me was too low for a flooded lead acid battery.

I always clipped the negative of the charger to a nearby ground bolt as that's what I had learned would bypass the BMS on my previous F150.

For a number of reasons I’m driving my Ram very little right now, sometimes it will set for several days. Temporary situation. Anyhow, looking back to my motorcycle days when most riding was on the weekends, I have been putting a trickle charger on my Ram every couple of weeks. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Does the IBS (intelligent battery sensor) react in any way to a trickle charger? My Ram has the standard 5.7 Hemi, without the start/stop feature. Thanks.

First of all, you do not ever want to bypass the IBS when charging. RAM has a TSB out on this. That is called "Blind Charging". The IBS carefully monitors all electrical current going into and out of the battery to properly report the battery's condition. When you charge the battery, the IBS should record the charge going into the battery. If it doesn't, it may report an incorrect battery condition.

The battery's negative (-) post is connected directly to the IBS. From the IBS the connection then goes to chassis ground. So, anything connected to chassis ground goes through the IBS. When you connect a battery charger, connect the charger's Red + lead to the battery's positive (+) terminal and the Black (-) lead to chassis ground or to the IBS's top terminal. This is the proper connection for charging. Do not connect the battery charger's Black (-) lead directly to the battery's Negative (-) post. This will bypass the IBS and can result in an improper battery condition report from the IBS.

 

[GKIII]

First of all, you do not ever want to bypass the IBS when charging. RAM has a TSB out on this. That is called "Blind Charging". The IBS carefully monitors all electrical current going into and out of the battery to properly report the battery's condition. When you charge the battery, the IBS should record the charge going into the battery. If it doesn't, it may report an incorrect battery condition.

The battery's negative (-) post is connected directly to the IBS. From the IBS the connection then goes to chassis ground. So, anything connected to chassis ground goes through the IBS. When you connect a battery charger, connect the charger's Red + lead to the battery's positive (+) terminal and the Black (-) lead to chassis ground or to the IBS's top terminal. This is the proper connection for charging. Do not connect the battery charger's Black (-) lead directly to the battery's Negative (-) post. This will bypass the IBS and can result in an improper battery condition report from the IBS.

Extremely timely post since I'm about to install a quick connect for trickle charging...

 

[t76turbo]

I have a solar panel trickle charger that you can plug into the cig plug and lay on the dash. Works pretty good.

I know this thread is a couple months old. But hopefully you will see this.

I was under the impression the power ports on these trucks were all keyed. I know the one on the dash of my truck in that little tray area turns off after I shut the truck off because thats where I plug in my dash cam.

Is there another in the truck that is direct to the battery??? (My old 2006 Jeep Wrangler had one of each. They were labeled which made it great.) I have a solar panel with cig lighter plug on it I got from a volkswagen dealer years ago. They put them in some vehicles that are shipped to the US. A buddy was a salesman at a VW dealer and he got me one for cheap. It is branded as a VW part. I thought of using it but like I said, thought they were all keyed and not direct to battery.

 

[Sascwatch]

i could be wrong, but I think you can just move the fuse for the 12v plug over one space to change it from ignition power to constant.