Installing a dedicated trickle charging cable setup -- DIY writeup

[BradnChristine]

Late to the party, but I share your frustration in trying to figure out the situation that puts the truck into deep sleep mode. Dealer's standard answer is "drive it more often", but that doesn't seem to make much difference. My only annoyance with the deep sleep is the lack of interior lighting when entering the truck at night. I installed a couple of small tap on/tap off LED lights on the overhead, but I'm still thinking, "Hey, Ford, it's 2023, why do have to hack something as basic as a working interior light?"

Well, it doesn't keep me from loving the truck, but I do make sure the jump box is charged and in the truck. The one I chose has an air compressor in it, so it is a useful dual purpose item. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGHMYGHF/
It has been snowing and some -35 temps here, and I haven't driven it for over a week. No deep sleep notice yet, but the interior lights don't come on with a touch. It lives in the garage, so I haven't even tried to remote start it. This is the Jeep Wrangler time of the year.

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[BradnChristine]

I have been contemplating this, but instead connecting with under the hood connection points and mounting the connector (i.e. DE12653) to the fender badge instead -- that way can connect from outside and no need to pinch cable through door.

Is the negative bolt under the hood threaded (for an eyelet connection)? What's the thread for positive -- there's no nut to secure eyelet?

I just used one of the several nearby ground points to attach a ring terminal, and I did use the 12v terminal under the BLACK panel that says 12V. Not sure how to get into the RED 12V section. Since the charge wire (when towing) has a 5A fuse, and the trickle charger (when just charging) is only 1A, it doesn't matter..

 

[Dad]

Well, it doesn't keep me from loving the truck, but I do make sure the jump box is charged and in the truck. The one I chose has an air compressor in it, so it is a useful dual purpose item. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGHMYGHF/
It has been snowing and some -35 temps here, and I haven't driven it for over a week. No deep sleep notice yet, but the interior lights don't come on with a touch. It lives in the garage, so I haven't even tried to remote start it. This is the Jeep Wrangler time of the year.

It's nice that you keep your Mav garaged. I'm working on that. Funny how the garage has changed from storing a vehicle to just another storage area for our 'stuff'.

To be clear, not having the interior lights come on isn't a deal breaker . . . I love this truck. I can live with the slight inconvenience. I have a couple of trickle type maintenance chargers that I can use once I get the Mav in the garage where it belongs. Weather here is mild, so I'm not panicking.

 

[BradnChristine]

It's nice that you keep your Mav garaged. I'm working on that. Funny how the garage has changed from storing a vehicle to just another storage area for our 'stuff'.

To be clear, not having the interior lights come on isn't a deal breaker . . . I love this truck. I can live with the slight inconvenience. I have a couple of trickle type maintenance chargers that I can use once I get the Mav in the garage where it belongs. Weather here is mild, so I'm not panicking.

Most of my neighbors up here seem to do the same...fill their garages with "stuff", then spend an hour or so trying to get the vehicles started in -30 degrees.

Vehicle theft would be a rare thing here, but after years of protecting vehicles from the HEAT in AZ, now I have to protect from the COLD. Normal for the last few years has been -20 once in winter, but this January is definitely colder. We had a 24x40 garage built for the RV and the stuff, but vehicles are taking over the "stuff" space. My 2024 will likely arrive this week or next at the latest, and the buyer of my C-Max hasn't gotten up here to take it yet.

I opened the Maverick door yesterday, and that act "woke it up" to allow it to go into deep sleep and send FordPass the alert. Just makes no sense to me, but I just put the trickle charger back on. I have used 2 things for the charge wire when towing. A Hopkins Battery Maintainer (basically a little diode with a 5A fuse), and a fancier old Toad-Charge. THe Hopkins allowed me to connect the 1A trickle charger through the 6-pin (only the ground and +12V terminals connected to a 2-pin charger cord), but the Toad-Charge kept cycling on and off. Too little current, I am guessing. So I will put the Hopkins back on.

 

[JBEN110]

With so many power draining features on my new acquired 2023 Lariat lux...and reading a lot of posts on maintaining the 12v battery...I decided to install a permanent cable that I could plug into so that I can charge and maintain this new hybrid, since I don't put that many miles on the truck.
I've had it for a month now, and only just past the 200 mile tick...
So having CDO (it's like OCD, but all the letters are in alphabetical order, just as they should be!) I didn't want to always raise the back seat and remove the battery cover just to trickle charge. I went online and ordered a bunch of stuff for this project from TEMU.
If you like Amazon, you will like TEMU. Usually much better prices, but the free shipping is a little (maybe a lot) slower.
WARNING, it can be a little addictive!
Anyway, here is the build:
10 gauge SAE connector with inline 15a blade fuse for connecting to the battery. BJ12432 $6.47
10 gauge SAE connector with inline 15a blade fuse with a dust cap, for connecting to the above cable and to the battery charger. DE12653 $5.84
12-14 gauge SAE cable to splice into the battery charger. LE12539 $3.98
4 mode Smart charger - 12V 4Ah-100Ah Smart Battery Trickle Charger Automotive Battery Maintainer Desulfator With Temperature Compensation. VA00922 ~$16 now, I paid $12.50...
12-14 gauge Alligator clips with matching SAE connector. GP08199 $5.48

So after fighting with the trucks battery connectors...(trying to get the nuts completely off the peened/splayed shafts) I attached the cable to the battery, routed it under the trim towards the back of the truck, then into the storage compartment under the passenger side rear seat.
I then drilled a hole for the end connection in the small storage channel just inside the door. It all works great, and I'm happy with the setup.
The pictures I attached show all the components, and the routing.

I've added a lot more accessories to this truck that I will post in the proper threads later.
Really loving this Maverick!

just a little warning about temu, the products are dollar store quality, less than that even

 

[PJGIdaho]

just a little warning about temu, the products are dollar store quality, less than that even

I would agree that SOME of Temu's products are dollar store quality...
I have received some really cheap products from them, and also some very good buys.
Luckily their return/refund policy is fantastic.
But all of the products I listed in my build are pretty top notch for the price.
Most of the wiring is 10 gauge.
And the charger has worked flawlessly.
Yes, buyer beware... And everyone is encouraged to shop around for their own stuff.
My goal was show a clean, economical, and efficient onboard trickle charging system that works for me and my Maverick.
Thanks for reading.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Since I have a tri fold hard cover I’m thinking a cheapish solar trickle charger may work out. But have not pulled the trigger.
The wires will be a breeze to install.

 

[Dad]

Most of my neighbors up here seem to do the same...fill their garages with "stuff", then spend an hour or so trying to get the vehicles started in -30 degrees.

Vehicle theft would be a rare thing here, but after years of protecting vehicles from the HEAT in AZ, now I have to protect from the COLD. Normal for the last few years has been -20 once in winter, but this January is definitely colder. We had a 24x40 garage built for the RV and the stuff, but vehicles are taking over the "stuff" space. My 2024 will likely arrive this week or next at the latest, and the buyer of my C-Max hasn't gotten up here to take it yet.

I opened the Maverick door yesterday, and that act "woke it up" to allow it to go into deep sleep and send FordPass the alert. Just makes no sense to me, but I just put the trickle charger back on. I have used 2 things for the charge wire when towing. A Hopkins Battery Maintainer (basically a little diode with a 5A fuse), and a fancier old Toad-Charge. THe Hopkins allowed me to connect the 1A trickle charger through the 6-pin (only the ground and +12V terminals connected to a 2-pin charger cord), but the Toad-Charge kept cycling on and off. Too little current, I am guessing. So I will put the Hopkins back on.

Just seems like a lot of extra work trying to deal with an issue that Ford should have addressed during design and engineering phases. Not like Ford is a newbie to hybrids. Dealers tell you that the deep sleep is designed to protect the vehicle from too much accessory power drain. If that's true, wouldn't it be smarter to eliminate the problem from the get-go instead of the deep sleep patch job. Mind boggling.

 

[Dad]

Since I have a tri fold hard cover I’m thinking a cheapish solar trickle charger may work out. But have not pulled the trigger.
The wires will be a breeze to install.

Interesting idea. I don't see why it wouldn't work. Those portable solar panels are available most anywhere, even Harbor Freight, but I wonder if there is a product that stays on the tonneau cover and can fold up with it. I don't know how practical that might be, but just a regular panel to fit on top should be an easy mod. I like the idea of not having to plug in a charger especially if you store the truck outside. As you mentioned, I believe it would be fairly simple to run the wires into the cabin where the battery sits.
I'd love to hear other members weigh in on this. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[BradnChristine]

Just seems like a lot of extra work trying to deal with an issue that Ford should have addressed during design and engineering phases. Not like Ford is a newbie to hybrids. Dealers tell you that the deep sleep is designed to protect the vehicle from too much accessory power drain. If that's true, wouldn't it be smarter to eliminate the problem from the get-go instead of the deep sleep patch job. Mind boggling.

My 2017 C-Max doesn't have "deep sleep" and it has never given me any issue. The 2020 Transit goes into Deep Sleep every 14 days, even with a trickle charger always on. It is time and voltage based. The Transit at least makes sense. I just fully charged the Maverick battery, and I still get the "Drive it" deep sleep message. So it is neither voltage-based nor time-based. Pretty much when it damned-well feels like it. Ford owes us a deep sleep manual!

 

[The Real Maverick]

Interesting idea. I don't see why it wouldn't work. Those portable solar panels are available most anywhere, even Harbor Freight, but I wonder if there is a product that stays on the tonneau cover and can fold up with it. I don't know how practical that might be, but just a regular panel to fit on top should be an easy mod. I like the idea of not having to plug in a charger especially if you store the truck outside. As you mentioned, I believe it would be fairly simple to run the wires into the cabin where the battery sits.
I'd love to hear other members weigh in on this. Thanks for the inspiration.

I pulled the trigger just now on a 30 watt panel with about same width as one panel of my tri-fold.

With any luck I can mount with exterior grade double sided tape and still fold up the cover the few times a year I’d need to. The panel nearest the cab is used least often.

30 watts may be more than needed but considering clouds, partial shade and imperfect sun angle 15-20 watts is probably a realistic expectation out of a 30 watt panel.

I’ll keep you posted after install.

 

[aa_chow]

I found the answer to my own question courtesy of this forum and new thread yesterday:

Specific post:
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ord-maverick-diode-dynamics.41984/post-746266

It looks like there's a nut beside the red cover for positive to attach eyelet.

I have been contemplating this, but instead connecting with under the hood connection points and mounting the connector (i.e. DE12653) to the fender badge instead -- that way can connect from outside and no need to pinch cable through door.

Is the negative bolt under the hood threaded (for an eyelet connection)? What's the thread for positive -- there's no nut to secure eyelet?

 

[SLJ]

Tell me you didn't connect the negative wire to the batteries negative terminal post...

Never connect anything, accessories, battery charger clips, etc. to the batteries negative terminal. The Mav has a Battery Management System (BMS) that keeps an eye on the battery and the current going in and out of it so it knows it's charge status. There's a little box by the negative terminal (shunt) that sends the information to the BMS. If you clip anything on the negative terminal the BMS doesn't know anything is going on and it could screw up what the Mav thinks the battery state of charge status is.
Always find another negative ground point to connect to when charging or connecting anything else to the battery/12 volts. It's okay to attach to the positive battery post.

 

[PlantMan]

And as we all know, the BMS is a perfect component. That said, my trickle charger is connected to the ground stud over by the fender. My BM2 battery monitor however is directly connected to both battery terminals. I have BM2 battery monitors on all my vehicles. They only draw 1-1.5 mA.

 

[CurtisB]

A new truck should not be having these type of issues. We should not be told to "drive more often" or have to buy a "better battery" than what came with the truck. We should not have to be carrying around jump starter kits. We should not have to install trickle chargers to keep our batteries from draining. Own it Ford.

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