12 volt Battery charging

[MrSpongeHead]

Hi all,

I like to keep the 12 volt battery in any vehicle I have maintained. There doesn’t seem to be a really accessible grounding point in the boot of the Hybrid+ (apart from the negative of the battery, which is generally considered safer to avoid), does anyone know if the battery can be charged using the “positive pole crossover point” under the bonnet as the positive terminal and then obviously a suitable ground point for the negative in the same area?

Cheers,

Steven.

 

[Noel]

During my voyage of discovery, the car warned that the 12V battery was getting low.
I have a smart charger and connected it to the positive and negative post on the battery (in the boot) and it charged overnight and them went in ‘care’ mode.
I mentioned this to the dealership and they said that’s exactly what we do with cars in the show room, I looked under one and yes, they even had the same charger as mine.

 

[MrSpongeHead]

I have a CTEK MXS5 charger and have connected it on previous previous cars to positive and negative without any issue. Are you referring to the Hybrid+ you did this on?

 

[Noel]

I have a CTEK MXS5 charger and have connected it on previous previous cars to positive and negative without any issue. Are you referring to the Hybrid+ you did this on?

Yes.
there is mention of not doing this, in what passes as the manual, due to it resulting in wrong info on the display, but as the Neg terminal is connected to the floor by a thick ribbon cable this is obviously rubbish.
I’ve also got a CTEC charger.

 

[MrSpongeHead]

I noticed the same cable , I might give this a try tomorrow. Is it an AGM battery do you know?

 

[Noel]

I noticed the same cable , I might give this a try tomorrow. Is it an AGM battery do you know?

I would have though so, it’s dark and cold outside, but in the morning I’ll have a look…

 

[MrSpongeHead]

Found this in the MG3 Hybrid+ section, it looks like the point I was referring to under the bonnet can also be used for charging:-

Discharged 12 volt battery

 

[Coulomb]

there is mention of not doing this, in what passes as the manual, due to it resulting in wrong info on the display, but as the Neg terminal is connected to the floor by a thick ribbon cable this is obviously rubbish.

There is often a current sensor in the negative cable, hence the general suggestion not to do this.

I'm not convinced that it makes much difference, but there could be an issue that shows itself over time.

 

[Noel]

There is often a current sensor in the negative cable, hence the general suggestion not to do this.

I'm not convinced that it makes much difference, but there could be an issue that shows itself over time.

I accept that you are attempting to help, and I appreciate that. I also accept there is a general suggestion.

Pages 135/6 of the ZS Hybrid+ manual deal with the battery. However, confusion results due to it including other ‘versions’ of the car, the inevitable result is contradiction.

The negative cable is a sizeable lump of ribbon cable, about 15mm long, its resistance is as near to zero as makes no difference. Therefore connecting the charger to either end makes no discernible difference. There is a sensing cable connected to the negative terminal, but I suspect that is to measure the battery voltage, which is then reported in the iSMART App, when that works, which it normally doesn’t.

In addition I already stated “I mentioned this to the dealership and they said that’s exactly what we do with cars in the show room, I looked under one and yes, they even had the same charger as mine.”

 

[MrSpongeHead]

On the topic of battery type, the battery has “Flooded” written on it, so I’m assuming this isn’t an AGM battery.

 

[David38]

Do you think Flooded you have read is what Google tells me?

EFB – Enhanced Flooded Batteries​

Designed for the needs of stop-start engines, enhanced flooded batteries are lead acid batteries that are built for modern vehicles.

With improved performance and durability compares to tradition flooded batteries, EVBs use thinker, more robust lead plates that can withstand more energy and longer use.

EFB batteries often incorporate special additives in the electrolyte and use advanced separators to maintain uniform acid distribution and reduce sulfation.

This results in a longer lifespan for the battery – but when it comes to replacing them, it will be slightly more expensive.

The reason they are commonly found in stop-start engines is due to the ability to save fuel and reduce emissions in that type of engine.

 

[Noel]

Thanks David, I’ve been busy this morning, the director of operations (wife) has indicated that the Christmas lights require getting down from the loft and putting up.
Well that’s my excuse, and as you’ve answered the question, all is wellish except of course concerning the manual and iSMART App.

 

[MrSpongeHead]

Successfully charged via the “positive pole crossover point” and a similar bolt to the one pictured here.