Ohmmu Announces BT19 Sodium 12V Batteries for Rivians: Thoughts?

[freshpow]

I hate lead-acid and change them out to lithium every time one fails. I have a 30-40 year old charger, which I use on them. It is perfectly fine. As said above, these go into systems that don't know they are charging a lithium. Car charging systems are pretty bad all around, but these batteries work fine. The BMS knows what it's going to face.

One thing that is definitely detrimental is using any of the "restorer" modes or chargers. A neighbor destroyed his RV lithium with that.

Do tell. Does that mean I should avoid using my Noco Genius 5 on the Ohmmu sodium when it arrives or is that ok since it's not lithium?

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[SwampNut]

Do tell. Does that mean I should avoid using my Noco Genius 5 on the Ohmmu sodium when it arrives or is that ok since it's not lithium?

Don't use the restore function. Just normal charging, at the highest voltage which will be AGM. I spoke to the Ohmmu guys twice, at different car events. (Side note, they gave me an awesome ratcheting 10mm wrench and a nice shirt.). They said to treat sodium as you would lithium, so that's what I typed above. But I should have been more clear. I guess it's every battery with a BMS, can just be treated the same way.

 

[mkhuffman]

Just put my order in for a set and the battery monitor. First sodium batteries so did a quick search and see a link to OHMMU video saying to use a regular battery charger and set to AGM. Unclear to me if they are referring to the sodium batteries though. Any thoughts on the right battery charger? I have a regular 6/12 low/hi/start charger and an AGM Optima Redtop charger/maintainer.

I second what others have said.

The Ohmmu is designed to simulate a AGM battery, so use the AGM setting on your charger. And definitely don't use the "restore" or desulfation settings, as others have said, because that could definitely damage the internal BMS or the battery itself. Here is what I mean by desulfation:

https://batteryskills.com/battery-desulfation-methods/

BTW - I try to desulfate my AGM batteries yearly to help them last longer. I guess it is time to do that on my R1T.

 

[SwampNut]

On the restorer things... Renaissance chargers do miracles. My brother and I have salvaged thousands of dollars in "dead" batteries. He's running a home made, off grid solar at his house from "dead" monster UPS batteries that were not just free, they paid to have them removed. The Noco restorers may do something on some batteries, but not most. Two neighbors have them, zero success. Gave me their batteries and the Renaissance fixed them.

 

[DuoRivians]

Today, I noticed my seat preferences weren’t loading properly.

So, in the RIDE menu, I ran both calibration groups (one for seats, windows, steering wheel; the other for hvac vents). That fixed the seat preferences issue.

It seems like replacing the 12V batteries requires these calibrations to get things all back to normal.

 

[Goose]

I'm ready for my batteries to be here tomorrow. I have left the R1T plugged in for the last 5 days to prevent it discharging and bricking itself (we're staying at my in-laws beach house right now). Rivian wouldn't be able to get to me until July 2nd (I'm only 120 miles from the Raleigh service center) and they want $750 to replace the batteries. In the last 5 days the R1T has sucked up 26kW due to these 12v's. This is my first real issue with the truck and I'm flabbergasted how Rivian thinks this is normal and just "meh".

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I'm ready for my batteries to be here tomorrow. I have left the R1T plugged in for the last 5 days to prevent it discharging and bricking itself (we're staying at my in-laws beach house right now). Rivian wouldn't be able to get to me until July 2nd (I'm only 120 miles from the Raleigh service center) and they want $750 to replace the batteries. In the last 5 days the R1T has sucked up 26kW due to these 12v's. This is my first real issue with the truck and I'm flabbergasted how Rivian thinks this is normal and just "meh".

Just curious... You have a '23 and you have two? What's your build date? Apology if you've already mentioned that in a different post. Mine is 5/30/23 and it has a single 12V.

Service may appear nonchalant to you because all they do (and have visibility over) is strictly the service operation itself. They don't have visibility over why the 12V went bad and how long actual life expectancy is. And if they do have information from Engineering, they are probably not at liberty to disclose it. TBH, other brands are the same way. Some things are for internal consumption only.

I've had two 12V replacements so far. First, in January of last year as part of their preemptive campaign. It was added to an existing appoint for unrelated service request. Second time April of this year, as result of an email notification from Rivian that a replacement is needed. This second time, I asked SC what the cause is they said Rivian can monitor remotely and flag events that merit replacement. When pressed further for details, SC simply said "we don't know, they don't tell us, we just replace them when we're asked to replace them".

I installed the latest OTA at end of last week. No 12V warning yet. So this spate of incidents is either coincidental or limited to certain vehicles (of certain iteration of certain components).

 

[rodhx]

I'm ready for my batteries to be here tomorrow. I have left the R1T plugged in for the last 5 days to prevent it discharging and bricking itself (we're staying at my in-laws beach house right now). Rivian wouldn't be able to get to me until July 2nd (I'm only 120 miles from the Raleigh service center) and they want $750 to replace the batteries. In the last 5 days the R1T has sucked up 26kW due to these 12v's. This is my first real issue with the truck and I'm flabbergasted how Rivian thinks this is normal and just "meh".

So you're saying the 26kW includes ZERO actual main battery charging? just sitting there "fully charged" but with a 12V issue? In four years I have had to replace the 12V batteries three times, most recently as part of this clearly software driven epidemic that's hitting so many. I have always been able to drive the vehicle normally with the 12V warning and haven't noticed a huge charging impact due simply to the 12V warning.

 

[CharonPDX]

I know one person who had a bad experience with Ohmmu batteries:

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I know one person who had a bad experience with Ohmmu batteries:

Summary from my watching of the video (not AI): content creator suspects cause of failure (after 4 months) is their Lightning's BMS and how it "operated" with the sodium Ohmmu—because they did not do anything to reset their Lightning and inform that the 12V has been switched to another. As far as their Lightning is aware, it was still on the old standard battery Ford gave it. The take away is that failure isn't simply because the sodium Ohmmu itself is "wrong" or that particular battery chemistry/technology is wrong.

 

[Goose]

So you're saying the 26kW includes ZERO actual main battery charging? just sitting there "fully charged" but with a 12V issue? In four years I have had to replace the 12V batteries three times, most recently as part of this clearly software driven epidemic that's hitting so many. I have always been able to drive the vehicle normally with the 12V warning and haven't noticed a huge charging impact due simply to the 12V warning.

I have left the truck on the standard 70% SOC limit that I always do. Typically, I have very little phantom drain, maybe 0.5kWh in 24 hours. I have not driven the truck, the warning to leave it plugged in and range is decreased worried me. We have my wife's 4-Door Bronco with us so I've just been driving that around.

My app will randomly pop up frequently saying the truck is charging throughout the day. Looking at it now I'm a bit confused. The app says since parked, 145hr 8min, 13.3kWh's have been added to the battery. Then when I scroll down it says the last session duration: 3hr 57min 27.3kWh's have been added to the battery.

I feel like this last software update really messed things up!

 

[rodhx]

I have left the truck on the standard 70% SOC limit that I always do. Typically, I have very little phantom drain, maybe 0.5kWh in 24 hours. I have not driven the truck, the warning to leave it plugged in and range is decreased worried me. We have my wife's 4-Door Bronco with us so I've just been driving that around.

My app will randomly pop up frequently saying the truck is charging throughout the day. Looking at it now I'm a bit confused. The app says since parked, 145hr 8min, 13.3kWh's have been added to the battery. Then when I scroll down it says the last session duration: 3hr 57min 27.3kWh's have been added to the battery.

I feel like this last software update really messed things up!

I'm thinking the 4hr 27kWh was your last normal charging session. I wouldn't be afraid to use the vehicle as you normally would. That's based on both being through it three times and Rivian service personnel feedback during those events. With this latest issue I drove 160 miles to the SC with the 12V warning. Didn't notice any significant impact on range even though the warning language is certainly worrisome.

 

[mkhuffman]

I have left the truck on the standard 70% SOC limit that I always do. Typically, I have very little phantom drain, maybe 0.5kWh in 24 hours. I have not driven the truck, the warning to leave it plugged in and range is decreased worried me. We have my wife's 4-Door Bronco with us so I've just been driving that around.

My app will randomly pop up frequently saying the truck is charging throughout the day. Looking at it now I'm a bit confused. The app says since parked, 145hr 8min, 13.3kWh's have been added to the battery. Then when I scroll down it says the last session duration: 3hr 57min 27.3kWh's have been added to the battery.

I feel like this last software update really messed things up!

Maybe but also it could be the truck uses more power and sleeps less when plugged in. I have no data to prove that is happening, but it would make sense. If you have shore power, prioritize battery health. If you are on 100% battery, prioritize energy conservation (minimize vampire drain).

Maybe that is what is happening and you just noticed it? Antidotally it seems like my truck sleeps more when unplugged.

 

[Goose]

I'm thinking the 4hr 27kWh was your last normal charging session. I wouldn't be afraid to use the vehicle as you normally would. That's based on both being through it three times and Rivian service personnel feedback during those events. With this latest issue I drove 160 miles to the SC with the 12V warning. Didn't notice any significant impact on range even though the warning language is certainly worrisome.

Maybe but also it could be the truck uses more power and sleeps less when plugged in. I have no data to prove that is happening, but it would make sense. If you have shore power, prioritize battery health. If you are on 100% battery, prioritize energy conservation (minimize vampire drain).

Maybe that is what is happening and you just noticed it? Antidotally it seems like my truck sleeps more when unplugged.

Maybe y'all are right and it's not sleeping and prob is safe to drive. Since we have the Bronco I haven't been too concerned, we're actually going to take the doors off today. My new 12v's will be here today so I'm hoping everything can be cleared up after I make the swap.

 

[rodhx]

Be sure to update us on the DIY swap. Although... my most recent set of 12V was customer pay and have a two year warranty. Given my track record I should never have to buy another set!

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