Does the traction battery charge the 12v? is it safe to leave car on the charger for a month?

[Bombastinator2]

From the owner's manual of my 2011 SV (YMMV), red emphasis is mine:

Page EV-4
CHARGING THE 12-VOLT BATTERY
While vehicle is driven
The Li-ion battery charges the 12-volt battery as necessary when the power switch is in the READY to drive position.

While the vehicle is not in use
When the EV (Electric Vehicle) system is off, the 12-volt battery charges automatically for 5 minutes every 5 days.

The charge timing resets to 5 days without charging the 12-volt battery if:
* The vehicle is placed in the READY to drive position for more than 5 minutes.
* The Li-ion battery is charged for more than 5 minutes.

I didn’t know you could make a battery out of lizards..or is it just lizard shaped?

 

[bobray99]

Just a note. On my 2021 Leaf, there is a long term storage fuse you can pull. It doesn't come out, you just slide it toward you until it stops. I've been told that it stops all power drain from the batteries. I assume it also disconnects the 12V battery. A friend has repeatedly left his ICE car stored for up to 7 months with the 12V battery disconnected over the winter. In the spring, it always starts right up.

The fuse is inside the compartment at the left end of the dashboard. There's a not-very-good picture of it in my owners manual. It you have trouble finding it, take the car to a dealer and ask them to show you where it is.

[Update] I was wrong. Pulling the extended storage fuse does *not* disconnect the 12v battery. For long-term storage, I'd just pull the fuse and disconnect the 12V battery. It's very easy to do. Just disconnect the negative terminal and let it hang down in front of the battery. I mentioned a friend storing his ICE car for 7 months with no problem. I should have mentioned that the car was in an unheated garage over a very cold Minnesota winter. Started right up.

 

[Bombastinator2]

Just a note. On my 2021 Leaf, there is a long term storage fuse you can pull. It doesn't come out, you just slide it toward you until it stops. I've been told that it stops all power drain from the batteries. I assume it also disconnects the 12V battery. A friend has repeatedly left his ICE car stored for up to 7 months with the 12V battery disconnected over the winter. In the spring, it always starts right up.

The fuse is inside the compartment at the left end of the dashboard. There's a not-very-good picture of it in my owners manual. It you have trouble finding it, take the car to a dealer and ask them to show you where it is.

Might. Might not. The 12v system and the traction system are supposed to be totally separate and if they’re not there is often a problem. This wouldn’t necessarily mean the traction battery never charges the 12v, but a single fuse that does both seems unlikely to me. Im just a hairy eared user though (they’re ACTUALLY HAIRY TOO. There was one on the top edge of my ear that was so long it was interfering with pony tails. I plucked it.) so it doesn’t mean much. If you pull a fuse on the traction battery it’s not going to charge the 12v though. Its circuit is no longer complete.

 

[Jarichus]

Thanks! Just what I was trying to find out -- can't believe I haven't learned that in 12 years of owning this car.

No, we don't shut off the water, ever. Why?

A water leak can run up a big water bill or even flood your house. I have more than one house and first thing I check is to feel the water line for flow when I go into them even after a few days. There is a shut off valve that will automatically shut off the water if it detects a constant flow.

 

[Jarichus]

I have observed the same thing over the past two days. I've had the Leaf on jack stands reminding myself why skilled mechanics are worth all the dollars/hour that I can't afford to pay. Both days I heard the "clunk, clunk" and then the third light (right side looking from the front) flashed for five-ish minutes, then "clunk, clunk" and then light went out.

I took it as a sign that I should plug in the battery trickle charger for the night so that the Leaf is ready for a test drive tomorrow to see if the new suspension will allow the car to pass MA annual (re-)inspection. The ball joints on what I think were the original control arms were completely gone, which was causing the noise that led to the failed inspection. Interestingly, the crusty and rusty sway bar links, which are a common point of failure (and noise), and which also appeared to be original (2014, 79K miles) feel identical to the replacements I purchased. But, I figured that since I lost roughly 7-8 years of lifespan from the pain and frustration of struggling to remove the originals that I should replace them anyway. I've said it here before, but the engineer who decided that the bottom nut on the sway bar links should face in towards the motor instead of out towards the DIY idiot trying to remove it should burn in hell.

Engineers are not good mechanics!

 

[Bombastinator2]

A water leak can run up a big water bill or even flood your house. I have more than one house and first thing I check is to feel the water line for flow when I go into them even after a few days. There is a shut off valve that will automatically shut off the water if it detects a constant flow.

I’ve got water detectors around my hot water tank. They’re literally incomplete connections waiting for water to connect the circuit and register water.

 

[Bombastinator2]

Engineers are not good mechanics!

Not so much lately. They used to be fine though. I blame computer 3d modeling. It’s too easy to design unrepairable systems that way.

 

[Jarichus]

Not so much lately. They used to be fine though. I blame computer 3d modeling. It’s too easy to design unrepairable systems that way.

My dad got to be 97 years old and he always wanted to strangle an engineer!

 

[Jarichus]

I’ve got water detectors around my hot water tank. They’re literally incomplete connections waiting for water to connect the circuit and register water.

Do these sensors shut off the water in case of a leak? A leaky toilet can use a lot of water over time. We pay more to get rid of the water then we do for the water!

 

[Tony 240]

1. The leaf control system does charge the 12V battery using energy from the HV Pack for about 5 minutes every 24 hours. It turns itself on to energize the DCDC Converter, then shuts off.

2. It also charges the 12V battery while the HV Pack is being charged when the EVSE is plugged in to the charge port. After the HV Pack is fully charged the EVSE will be cut off and the 12V will be "maintained" as described in 1.

This is what it has been doing when you left it plugged in in the past, and it worked just fine, as designed and intended.

Do you shut off your water line at the meter when you leave for a month?

From what I understand the DC/Dc Convertor does not go up to 14.4 volts like a ICE car unless the load is large eg. wipers or ventilation fans. This does not let the 12 volt battery fully charge which reduces the Battery Life

 

[Bombastinator2]

My dad got to be 97 years old and he always wanted to strangle an engineer!

That might be it. 3d modeling started in the 80’s. Im remembering the oil filter on a 1920’s dusenberg though which was literally a reach in and grab it affair. At the time they COULD do it but it didn’t mean they actually DID do it. When 3d modeling came in it was often near impossible. I had a 2007 GTI that cost $1000 to change a headlight bulb because you had to remove the front bumper to do it. Im kinda with your dad there.

 

[Bombastinator2]

Do these sensors shut off the water in case of a leak? A leaky toilet can use a lot of water over time. We pay more to get rid of the water than we do for the water!

No afaik. They just beep. One is connected to the wall though. It might. These are hot water tank things. A leaking toilet you can hear, and usually leaks at the flush valve which says you need a toilet kit. I used to be a landlord so jumping on leaking toilets was high priority.

 

[Jarichus]

No afaik. They just beep. One is connected to the wall though. It might. These are hot water tank things. A leaking toilet you can hear, and usually leaks at the flush valve which says you need a toilet kit. I used to be a landlord so jumping on leaking toilets was high priority.

I like the idea of a unit that can shut off the water even if no one is around. I did read about a valve that will shut off if it detects a flow longer than normal, but never bought one. I had three houses now two, (across the street) and I would shut off the water and turn the gas water heater down in the third one when I was not there. I have managed rentals and helped manage an apartment complex, but my wife never wanted to be a landlord. Everybody was happy until the bed bugs showed up and nobody wanted to do what it took to get rid of them!

 

[Bombastinator2]

I like the idea of a unit that can shut off the water even if no one is around. I did read about a valve that will shut off if it detects a flow longer than normal, but never bought one. I had three houses now two, (across the street) and I would shut off the water and turn the gas water heater down in the third one when I was not there. I have managed rentals and helped manage an apartment complex, but my wife never wanted to be a landlord. Everybody was happy until the bed bugs showed up and nobody wanted to do what it took to get rid of them!

These are quite literally water detectors placed inside a barrier and designed to beep BEFORE it fills. As it’s literally an electro conductive switch it wouldn’t be hard to make one. There should also be some sort of valve that detects any water flow so such a thing could be arranged if you really want one. These are I suspect some sort of code compliance as they are specifically around the hot water heater.

 

[cornbinder89]

My experience with failed water heaters is they don't "burst" but crack.
This means that a hydraulic fuse will not prevent water damage. Flow is not great, but any amount of flow outside the intended water plumbing is a problem.
Also leaving the water heater "on" without pressurized water at the inlet can cause a failure if some water leaks out and the top of the heated chamber has an air pocket.
Turning it to "pilot" will keep from having to re-light, keep a little heat in the water, but not cause any damage if the heater gets air in it.
It is especially important when the water heater isn't in the lowest place in the plumbing.

 

[Bombastinator2]

My experience with failed water heaters is they don't "burst" but crack.
This means that a hydraulic fuse will not prevent water damage. Flow is not great, but any amount of flow outside the intended water plumbing is a problem.
Also leaving the water heater "on" without pressurized water at the inlet can cause a failure if some water leaks out and the top of the heated chamber has an air pocket.
Turning it to "pilot" will keep from having to re-light, keep a little heat in the water, but not cause any damage if the heater gets air in it.
It is especially important when the water heater isn't in the lowest place in the plumbing.

I have no idea how well the system works. I kinda just walked in on it. It’s in a 2005 condo I bought and moved into. I figured it was code stuff but it might just be idiot former owner I guess. I have no way to differentiate and it looked like it made sense. The lip is only a few inches tall. If the water heater suddenly drops its entire load of water theres no way it won’t overwhelm it. My limited experience with electrical building code says code is good. It was effectively written in blood. Someone had to die before it got changed.

 

[cornbinder89]

The pressure switch on my well pump shuts off the pump if the pressure drops too low, and when it is high. You have to manually override to start a empty system.
Theory is: a burst pipe will drop the pressure enough to shut off the pump, instead of keep it pumping.
So far I have not needed to see how well it works!

 

[Bombastinator2]

The pressure switch on my well pump shuts off the pump if the pressure drops too low, and when it is high. You have to manually override to start a empty system.
Theory is: a burst pipe will drop the pressure enough to shut off the pump, instead of keep it pumping.
So far I have not needed to see how well it works!

lol yep. Safety stuff like that is best not experienced personally. When the **** hits the fan it’s best if someone else is in the room.