OBD charging

[Stoner65]

Hi all, I have a 2012 focus 2.0D Titanium X.

I'd like to know if charging through the OBD port is possible.

I recently bought a solar panel by the AA on amazon. I have a choice of connecting to OBD or directly to battery. I tried the it though the OBD but won't work so am wondering if it's an option that needs to be activated at a dealer or if a fuse is missing.

Thanks for any help

 

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[Dee_82]

well, there will be some 12v feeds in there  which should allow you to charge it but I'm not all that sure id want to plug something like that in to it. that's a proper bum clenching moment if there ever was one. theres nothing to activate that I'm aware of 

[Micro]

What do you mean by "it wont work"? How are you measuring it charging?

[Stoner65]

well, there will be some 12v feeds in there  which should allow you to charge it but I'm not all that sure id want to plug something like that in to it. that's a proper bum clenching moment if there ever was one. theres nothing to activate that I'm aware of 

Here listing on amazon
AA Solar-Powered Car battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AC1LLQY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

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[Stoner65]

What do you mean by "it wont work"? How are you measuring it charging?

Using a meter to measure battery output before I plug it in and after. If I use croc clips directly to battery it charges perfectly

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[Dee_82]

1 hour ago, Stoner65 said:

Here listing on Amazon
AA Solar-Powered Car Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AC1LLQY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

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you mean this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Solar-Powered-Car-Battery-Charger/dp/B00AC1LLQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514301516&sr=8-1&keywords=AA+Solar-Powered+Car+Battery+Charger

its an interesting idea,

first things first, check the PIN out on the solar panal and make sure juice is coming out of pin 16 on the OBD plug. that's the battery live so it should be coming out of that.

Then check the Pin 16 on the OBD socket itself, perhaps the car turns off the OBD sockets power after a period of time or in various states of ignition on, check your getting 12v from the battery on pin 16.

it needs to be grounded as well, to check that see if there is continuity between the panel and the pin on the plug (that gets you the pin its using, it'll be PIN 4 or 5) then check continuity between the ground pin on the socket and the battery / chassis

if that's all working as it should then I dunno, unless their is some circuit that's preventing it from working further down the line.

 

 

 

[Micro]

Is the solar panel outside or inside the car for both tests? The glass will diffuse the light before it reaches the panel, and in this winter weather, may not output so much current.

Why are you trying to charge your battery with this device? It may be prudent to fix any faults first.

[south_bound]

I've been thinking of getting something similar for my vehicles which sometimes I leave standing around for a while between uses, but most of them charge through the 12V socket or straight onto the battery terminals.  I don't think that the glass should cause any problems if placing the unit on the dashboard as most solar panels have glass covers anyway.  The amazon link doesn't state what power the device is (that I can see) so maybe it is very low powered and not enough to make much difference - I believe you need at least 10W to overcome the consumption of the various electronics in the car?  I bought a RAC branded car vacuum a while back and it was utter crap so I am am careful about trusting this kind of branding/marketing now and would prefer to get a more reputable brand. 

[Stoner65]

Is the solar panel outside or inside the car for both tests? The glass will diffuse the light before it reaches the panel, and in this winter weather, may not output so much current.
Why are you trying to charge your battery with this device? It may be prudent to fix any faults first.

It's not weather proof so... but I have tried it on the roof and it does put out a much better voltage. Despite the instructions saying it will work on the dashboard on an overcast winters day, got wildly varying readings on the meter 10v to 11.3v which is no good.
Because goods not as described, am going to return it

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[Stoner65]

you mean this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Solar-Powered-Car-Battery-Charger/dp/B00AC1LLQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514301516&sr=8-1&keywords=AA+Solar-Powered+Car+Battery+Charger
its an interesting idea,
first things first, check the PIN out on the solar panal and make sure juice is coming out of pin 16 on the OBD plug. that's the battery live so it should be coming out of that.
Then check the Pin 16 on the OBD socket itself, perhaps the car turns off the OBD sockets power after a period of time or in various states of ignition on, check your getting 12v from the battery on pin 16.
it needs to be grounded as well, to check that see if there is continuity between the panel and the pin on the plug (that gets you the pin its using, it'll be PIN 4 or 5) then check continuity between the ground pin on the socket and the battery / chassis
if that's all working as it should then I dunno, unless their is some circuit that's preventing it from working further down the line.
 
 
 

Spend some time with the meter yesterday testing all scenarios, the pins were correct but because its not weatherproof, leaving it on dashboard does reduce voltage to be of any use on an overcast day, despite instructions saying it will maintain a battery. So going to return it

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[Stoner65]

Using a meter to measure battery output before I plug it in and after. If I use croc clips directly to battery it charges perfectly

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Realised when I used croc clips I had panel outside car so much better voltage

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[Dee_82]

Solar is crap at the best of times in our region of the world so I wouldn't feel too bad about it. 

just out of interest, why where you thinking of doing it in the first place? she not turning over as well as she should?

[Stoner65]

Solar is crap at the best of times in our region of the world so I wouldn't feel too bad about it. 
just out of interest, why where you thinking of doing it in the first place? she not turning over as well as she should?

Doin it to maintain batt, I'd need to spend a few hundred to charge a batt but it's a car I'm driving not a motorhome. I have to charge her up every month anyway, dealer says nothing wrong with car but... Me thinks they just want my money. It's just so handy to reach round and pull out panel from back of passenger seat (it completely disappears into pocket back of passenger seat) plug into OBD and stick panel on dash lock her an walk away

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[Stoner65]

I've been thinking of getting something similar for my vehicles which sometimes I leave standing around for a while between uses, but most of them charge through the 12V socket or straight onto the battery terminals.  I don't think that the glass should cause any problems if placing the unit on the dashboard as most solar panels have glass covers anyway.  The Amazon link doesn't state what power the device is (that I can see) so maybe it is very low powered and not enough to make much difference - I believe you need at least 10W to overcome the consumption of the various electronics in the car?  I bought a RAC branded car vacuum a while back and it was utter crap so I am am careful about trusting this kind of branding/marketing now and would prefer to get a more reputable brand. 

Just search "solar car battery charger" on amazon there are loads. I've seen a few suitable for what you want, scrutinize the specs. I believe if your disconnecting a batt from vehicle so you can connect to solar panel it shouldn't cost allot to maintain batt, even the panel I have should no problem keeping it topped up.
My prob is my car is a drain on the batt while I have panel connected.

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[Micro]

What car is it, and how often do you drive it?

As an extreme measure, if you're not driving the car for super long periods of time, you could fit a battery isolation switch / contactor which would isolate the car right after the battery. Batteries however do self-discharge at a certain rate so even then your battery may end up flat.

[Stoner65]

What car is it, and how often do you drive it?
As an extreme measure, if you're not driving the car for super long periods of time, you could fit a battery isolation switch / contactor which would isolate the car right after the battery. Batteries however do self-discharge at a certain rate so even then your battery may end up flat.

True. A 10mm spanner would remove the positive terminal in a few seconds, But then I'm stuck cos I was using the OBD terminal to connect solar panel to batt, panel and wires all inside car.
Trying to take the easy way out.
Have spotted panel made by Oxford, weatherproof so it'll get full power outside the car and gives 10ma/h to 100ma/h depending on weather... Looks promising

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[Micro]

37 minutes ago, Stoner65 said:

True. A 10mm spanner would remove the positive terminal in a few seconds, But then I'm stuck cos I was using the OBD terminal to connect solar panel to batt, panel and wires all inside car.
Trying to take the easy way out.
Have spotted panel made by Oxford, weatherproof so it'll get full power outside the car and gives 10ma/h to 100ma/h depending on weather... Looks promising

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You also get quick release battery terminals, no need for a spanner.

How often are you using the car? Mine has sat for over a week and been fine when i've come back to it. Have you investigated the parasitic draw?

[Stoner65]

You also get quick release battery terminals, no need for a spanner.
How often are you using the car? Mine has sat for over a week and been fine when i've come back to it. Have you investigated the parasitic draw?

At least every second day. Dealer said nothing wrong with car, no fault codes either. Have her 5 years now on second batt

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[Micro]

Just now, Stoner65 said:

At least every second day. Dealer said nothing wrong with car, no fault codes either. Have her 5 years now on second batt

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Really short journeys? What voltage is at the battery when the car is running?

If a car is used regularly, I wouldn't expect to have to put the battery on charge at all.

[Stoner65]

Really short journeys? What voltage is at the battery when the car is running?
If a car is used regularly, I wouldn't expect to have to put the battery on charge at all.

Had no probs with previous cars. But this nu one has all the gizmos, self parking, xenon lights, led daytime lights, heated windshield. Just opening the door has the parking lights and all the interior lights come on.
I know the battery is getting low when the parking lights flicker with engine running. It's just she's not driven long enough to keep batt up

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[Dee_82]

aye but that shouldn't happen, the battery is irrelevant when the engine is running, if the lights are flickering with the engine on then your problems are either alternator or grounding in nature,

[Stoner65]

aye but that shouldn't happen, the battery is irrelevant when the engine is running, if the lights are flickering with the engine on then your problems are either alternator or grounding in nature,

Yup agree with you. My problem is lack of trust with main dealer cos they're only interested selling new cars. And the right man for the job never has time for ye

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[eddie eastwood]

Take it to an independent garage or an auto electrician and have it checked out.

[Stoner65]

Take it to an independent garage or an auto electrician and have it checked out.

There only one fella local trustworthy and booking with him is like winning the lotto

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[Ratters]

Mine always does short journeys..... Work, parents, kids, shopping, gym are all within 2.5 miles & (touchwood) no issues with battery/charging. Now the battery on the Escort which never gets used much unless it's sunny is a different story........