Volt+Amp Meter wish

[alfsauve]

Had the BMS go into hibernation or sleep or whatever. Cut off all auxiliary services. So I learned how to reset that (It's in the manual, btw), Face the Blue City, close your eyes and click the heels of your Blue slippers together 5 times. Every thing seems to work well for several weeks now. Just think it got confused.

BUT

Why isn't battery Voltage and charge/draw Amperage available on the upper 4 meters? It is available via diagnostic tools I understand
(2024 F-150 XLT FX4 Off Road - not using auto-start/stop)

HEY FORD. Really would like that especially since the so much of the operation of the truck is dependent on the battery and hence the BMS. Graphics-wise it could be one meter with a "needle" showing voltage and a sliding circular scale showing charge/draw.

Questions:

I've seen some reference to external, maybe app based, Volt meters. What are you using? Has anyone tapped across the BMS shunt and connected their own meter?

This will be the third winter (N. GA) so time for battery replacement. Not Ford. I lean toward Duracell probably from Batteries+. Recommendations?

I've seen some reference to an auxiliary 12V battery in some trucks. ???

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[Buyer2021]

I've seen some reference to external, maybe app based, Volt meters. What are you using?

OBDLink MX+ with the included free app and extensions (Amazon has it)

I've seen some reference to an auxiliary 12V battery in some trucks. ???

Only on the hybrid PowerBoost, all of those but no others.

 

[alfsauve]

Thanks Buyer 2021. I don't want to appear tech-stupid, but when you do a search you get so many results it's hard find the answers you're looking for.

Am working my way through Porposie Hork's academic paper

 

[gagliano7]

I bought a plug in adapter that shows voltage at all times on amazon. It works great and it was only about 15 bucks.

 

[gagliano7]

Here it is.

 

[tsigwing]

How about one of these? You can see what is going on while charging and at any time it is parked. I have one on each of my vehicles.

 

[alfsauve]

Appreciate the references/links.

Not thrilled with plug in VMs.
Not sure how some of these products measure current by just taping across Positive-Negative.
A lot of "hang" on meters out there.

Baring some upgrade by Ford soon, I'll DIY. Volt Meter LED modules in multiple colors are 8 for $10.
Toying with the OBD module/app for Christmas. Useful on other cars as well.

 

[Tired Lizard]

Appreciate the references/links.

Not thrilled with plug in VMs.
Not sure how some of these products measure current by just taping across Positive-Negative.
A lot of "hang" on meters out there..

OBDII adapter and an app to see what the truck shows for voltage and amps.

The battery monitors like Quicklynks BM2 don’t measure amps.
I use the Quicklynks BM2 and Multi-Batt Mon app to watch voltages.

 

[Bluegrass]

Current meters are not very useful unless all you want is to see something to satisfy yourself.
Voltage level is more useful if you know what the level is telling you about system performance.
The voltage you see from the Body Control Module out of a jack on the dash is lower than at the Battery terminals by a few tenths due to the loses through that module.
And it shuts off after engine shut down and the BMC times out.
Good luck.

 

[alfsauve]

Thanks, Bluegrass. I like to monitoring charge/discharge rates. Think that would tell me a lot, too.

I'm ordering the OBDLink and we'll see what I learn from that.

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