Help with battery tender trickle charger

[The Real Maverick]

I believe that as long as you use the jump points under the hood to connect the charger (as I do mine), you are "downstream" of the BMS sensors that sit on the battery. Thus the BMS is able to track what is happening. Attaching directly to the Battery Terminals is "Upstream" of the BMS, so the truck cannot know the correct battery level at all times. No need to reset if you use the jump points.

I use a Victron SmartShunt (similar to the Ford module) in my Transit RV. The sensor tracks all the current that passes through it, both input and output to/from the battery. So as long as ALL activity goes through it, it is kept up to date. It is my belief that the Ford behaves similarly.

I agree with you except your definitions of "upstream" and "downstream" are reversed.

Throw a rubber duck into a creek "downstream" of your wife and she'll never see it pass by.

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[The Real Maverick]

Yellow = sensor

Pink = upstream of sensor

Blue = downstream of sensor

Basically if you want the sensor in the loop, tap upstream. If you don't, tap downstream.

 

[Abeldanger]

I made a 6-pin plug to just stick into the 6-pin towing socket. Consists of a +12V wire and a ground. It is the easiest connection, when you have the truck set up to tow. I used one of the closer ground positions on the front "frame" near the 12V jump point.

I have a 25W small solar panel with a trickle charger/manager and some rubberized magnetic roof mounts I got for free - been thinking about rigging this up to my EcoBoost's battery just to extend the life of the AGM batt. Only about 1.5-2A on the sunniest of days, but it's energy that it'll soak up just sitting there. Running a cable from the roof/bed area to underneath the hood would be kind of a pain, though. There's that empty/exposed area underneath the driver's side rear quarter panel and those two 12V power connectors in the back of the bed, neither of which I'm using at the moment. If I hook incoming power up to one of those 12V power rails and ground the negative lead from the solar panel out into the frame, would it charge the engine battery?

 

[BradnChristine]

I have a 25W small solar panel with a trickle charger/manager and some rubberized magnetic roof mounts I got for free - been thinking about rigging this up to my EcoBoost's battery just to extend the life of the AGM batt. Only about 1.5-2A on the sunniest of days, but it's energy that it'll soak up just sitting there. Running a cable from the roof/bed area to underneath the hood would be kind of a pain, though. There's that empty/exposed area underneath the driver's side rear quarter panel and those two 12V power connectors in the back of the bed, neither of which I'm using at the moment. If I hook incoming power up to one of those 12V power rails and ground the negative lead from the solar panel out into the frame, would it charge the engine battery?

Nope...because those outlet plugs are not live unless the truck is turned on (or recently turned off).

 

[Whlsdn]

I have a 25W small solar panel with a trickle charger/manager and some rubberized magnetic roof mounts I got for free - been thinking about rigging this up to my EcoBoost's battery just to extend the life of the AGM batt. Only about 1.5-2A on the sunniest of days, but it's energy that it'll soak up just sitting there. Running a cable from the roof/bed area to underneath the hood would be kind of a pain, though. There's that empty/exposed area underneath the driver's side rear quarter panel and those two 12V power connectors in the back of the bed, neither of which I'm using at the moment. If I hook incoming power up to one of those 12V power rails and ground the negative lead from the solar panel out into the frame, would it charge the engine battery?

Brad says no to that, but how about going via your trailer connector? That's not a recommendation, though; just a question to consider.

 

[Whlsdn]

I made a 6-pin plug to just stick into the 6-pin towing socket. Consists of a +12V wire and a ground. It is the easiest connection, when you have the truck set up to tow. I used one of the closer ground positions on the front "frame" near the 12V jump point.

I've been wondering what would be the best way to add a homebound smart charger to my Mav Hybrid when it sits for a few days in the garage (which is getting more rare). Well, seeing your comment, I realize I have a ready-made "port" already... but at the front of my Mav XLT instead of the rear. Or will as soon as I have the "Neutral Tow" hardware off our 2024 RWD Mav installed on our new 2025 AWD.

Flat-towing our Mav Hybrid behind our 2023 Ford Transit (finished as a Thor Gemini 23TE), we're already set up with a battery charging port in the form of one of those 6-way plugs! Thanks for that idea! (Even though it should have been obvious!)

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