12V battery drain mitigation using solar panel setup

[Thor0510]

First up this does NOT fix or deal with the causes of the 12 V battery drain. My truck sit frequently outside and this setup keeps the 12V battery charged up perfectly, without me having to manually plug anything in.

I do live in Florida, lots of sunshine. Your (charging) milage may wary.

My Maverick is a hybrid, with the battery und the backseat and easy to reach.



I got a 30W solar panel from Amazon that stops charging automatically when the battery is full. This particular model has a metal frame and metal bracket with a single point installation hole. I installed the panel on my tonneau cover with some rubber gaskets and drilled a second hole for the wire. I used silicone caulk to seal the wire hole. I routed the wire through the drain hole in the side of the bed. I used some metal airduct tape to tidy up the wire around the bottom and to prevent any chafing.

Then I removed the rubber gasket behind the seat and fished the wire through that opening and re-seated the rubber gasket. I connect the wire to the pos battery pole and the grounding post beside the battery.

I use Car Scanner to monitor the battery status, and this works perfectly for me and my battery is at about 90% after a day in the sun, again Florida...

This the solar panel I got: Amazon.com : SOLPERK 30W Solar Battery Charger Solar Battery Maintainer + Upgrade 10A MPPT Charge Controller + Adjustable Mount Bracket for Car RV Boat Motorcycle，12V Waterproof Solar Panel Kit Trickle Charging : Patio, Lawn & Garden



I did this install in January and everything is holding up really well.

Here are some pictures of the installation.

Hope this helps if anyone wants to go the same route.

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[ARC]

Or, you can use one of these...

https://us.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-Po...efix=10W+solar+battery+charger,aps,239&sr=8-7

Just mount the panel on your windshield and plug into lighter.

 

[JC3]

Or, you can use one of these...

https://us.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-Portable-Backup-Alligator-Adapter/dp/B017K6PH1S/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1WBTACR4IIZY1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xwTuPRjD-z5ky5_xemlUp4aAuei95Xt60KoFGw9VMCf_QUMsusx59TCDF2T6TLS0pglkxfNt5-GvJMs8NiCv9_piFBpymUT0ZKSn54J1EotQ-AuJdmQosQf7PnN6_iYPT-aF7HcIOcVHYnSKR0c5j37DnPciW3JKoezl0YSNu9lEsPUXmxzj5KGyEDxHWfzUGOUXxZ-wdDHCN35ZNAe-U2cLGAcTdEDcmd1FUZAXA_g.9f6K7bNGq2-hB2Mwqhu1l2zzNJMKMPd-AFBtDSBb0iA&dib_tag=se&keywords=12v+solar+battery+charger+10w&qid=1783779865&sprefix=10W+solar+battery+charger,aps,239&sr=8-7

Just mount the panel on your windshield and plug into lighter.

I don’t believe the lighter plug stays live very long after shut off. Use an adapter to computer plug which is always live.

 

[Builder]

I don’t believe the lighter plug stays live very long after shut off. Use an adapter to computer plug which is always live.

I just plugged into the OBD port since it is always live; the lighter port times out after shutdown but, you need to be careful with the solar panels when you do this since the solar panel plug polarity is often reversed. An easy fix with a simple adapter (pic attached) to change the polarity so it works with the OBD port. I only use the solar set up on the dash during the winter.

 

[mauverick]

First up this does NOT fix or deal with the causes of the 12 V battery drain. My truck sit frequently outside and this setup keeps the 12V battery charged up perfectly, without me having to manually plug anything in.

I do live in Florida, lots of sunshine. Your (charging) milage may wary.

My Maverick is a hybrid, with the battery und the backseat and easy to reach.



I got a 30W solar panel from Amazon that stops charging automatically when the battery is full. This particular model has a metal frame and metal bracket with a single point installation hole. I installed the panel on my tonneau cover with some rubber gaskets and drilled a second hole for the wire. I used silicone caulk to seal the wire hole. I routed the wire through the drain hole in the side of the bed. I used some metal airduct tape to tidy up the wire around the bottom and to prevent any chafing.

Then I removed the rubber gasket behind the seat and fished the wire through that opening and re-seated the rubber gasket. I connect the wire to the pos battery pole and the grounding post beside the battery.

I use Car Scanner to monitor the battery status, and this works perfectly for me and my battery is at about 90% after a day in the sun, again Florida...

This the solar panel I got: Amazon.com : SOLPERK 30W Solar Battery Charger Solar Battery Maintainer + Upgrade 10A MPPT Charge Controller + Adjustable Mount Bracket for Car RV Boat Motorcycle，12V Waterproof Solar Panel Kit Trickle Charging : Patio, Lawn & Garden



I did this install in January and everything is holding up really well.

Here are some pictures of the installation.

Hope this helps if anyone wants to go the same route.

Is there a 12 volt connection in your truck bed? I seem to have one on each side and some kind of adaptor thingy on my glove box for it. Don't know if it was an option on my 26 XLT

 

[MaverickDragon]

Is there a 12 volt connection in your truck bed? I seem to have one on each side and some kind of adaptor thingy on my glove box for it. Don't know if it was an option on my 26 XLT

There are two 12 volt power points at the rear of the bed and the adaptor you noted is designed to allow you to hook up and disconnect whatever low wattage device you have.

The manual specifically states to NOT use these for an input to any external power source for recharging the vehicle battery.

 

[Thor0510]

Yes I have those 12V connection, but I don't think that they stay live for long, not sure though.

And yes you can use the OBD port, I just don't want to have to mess with placing a solar panel on the dash, a vertical installation on rear window is not ideal for panel efficiency and blocks the view when driving.
I just want to get out of the truck without any extra fuss and this works for me

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Yes I have those 12V connection, but I don't think that they stay live for long, not sure though.

And yes you can use the OBD port, I just don't want to have to mess with placing a solar panel on the dash, a vertical installation on rear window is not ideal for panel efficiency and blocks the view when driving.
I just want to get out of the truck without any extra fuss and this works for me

The jump pins are always active!!!
ETA: Connect to pos jump pin and use any body ground!

 

[Eklipse]

I applaud your ingenuity, but it's really BS on Ford's part that we hybrid owners have to deal with this.

 

[Joaquin F]

First up this does NOT fix or deal with the causes of the 12 V battery drain. My truck sit frequently outside and this setup keeps the 12V battery charged up perfectly, without me having to manually plug anything in.

I do live in Florida, lots of sunshine. Your (charging) milage may wary.

My Maverick is a hybrid, with the battery und the backseat and easy to reach.



I got a 30W solar panel from Amazon that stops charging automatically when the battery is full. This particular model has a metal frame and metal bracket with a single point installation hole. I installed the panel on my tonneau cover with some rubber gaskets and drilled a second hole for the wire. I used silicone caulk to seal the wire hole. I routed the wire through the drain hole in the side of the bed. I used some metal airduct tape to tidy up the wire around the bottom and to prevent any chafing.

Then I removed the rubber gasket behind the seat and fished the wire through that opening and re-seated the rubber gasket. I connect the wire to the pos battery pole and the grounding post beside the battery.

I use Car Scanner to monitor the battery status, and this works perfectly for me and my battery is at about 90% after a day in the sun, again Florida...

This the solar panel I got: Amazon.com : SOLPERK 30W Solar Battery Charger Solar Battery Maintainer + Upgrade 10A MPPT Charge Controller + Adjustable Mount Bracket for Car RV Boat Motorcycle，12V Waterproof Solar Panel Kit Trickle Charging : Patio, Lawn & Garden



I did this install in January and everything is holding up really well.

Here are some pictures of the installation.

Hope this helps if anyone wants to go the same route.

Nice work! I was thinking of this but worried about its ability to full solve the issue. I went the other route and got a bigger battery https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/maverick-12v-batteries-stock→agm→sodium.80255/

 

[MaverickDragon]

Yes I have those 12V connection, but I don't think that they stay live for long, not sure though.

There is a timer on the rear bed 12 volt accessory plugs, but there also seems to be some inconsistency in how they work. Some trucks disable the power immediately unless there is an active load at shutdown, while others power the outlets regardless of load on a timer.

Perhaps worth restating:
For the purposes of hooking up a solar battery charger, the bed ports should NOT be used
for battery charging, contrary to the discussion in using them.

The advisory will vary by page number, but on the 25 OM, page 134, it's stated:

• Do not plug in any device that supplies power to the vehicle through the power outlets. This could result in damage to vehicle systems.​

Needless to say, any damage caused will not be covered by warranty.

 

[TedTX]

Sunday is recharge day, for me and my hybrid truck, have a small 600W Eco flow river 3 plus, and a charger that I use. hopefully keep new 12v battery alive to over half its rated life. The small 45W solar panel that came with the solar battery pack does a good job, can use the wattage in the phone app to track progess.

 

[Dad]

Very helpful post. I'm wondering if your solar panel is easily removable or did you plan for a more permanent install?

 

[Thor0510]

Very helpful post. I'm wondering if your solar panel is easily removable or did you plan for a more permanent install?

 

[Thor0510]

My install is permanent, you would have to make modifications to make it removable.

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