Gen 1 Vampire Drain (Possibly) Solved (or Hacked)

[Riviot]

I’m passing it through the passenger window. My car is garaged.

What I mean is there's a firewall between the front of the cabin and where the batteries are behind the trunk, passing a line through that (pretty sure I've seen at least one unused passthru) so you can connect the trickle charger external to the cabin.

I understand you could just do this straight to the batteries which are external, but for us 2-battery owners, that might get tricky.

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[Tim-in-CA]

What I mean is there's a firewall between the front of the cabin and where the batteries are behind the trunk, passing a line through that (pretty sure I've seen at least one unused passthru) so you can connect the trickle charger external to the cabin.

I understand you could just do this straight to the batteries which are external, but for us 2-battery owners, that might get tricky.

I’m using the OBD2 to Battery Tender method, see previous post. I’m connected directly to the drivers side OBD2 port.

 

[Riviot]

I’m using the OBD2 to Battery Tender method, see previous post. I’m connected directly to the drivers side OBD2 port.

Good copy, what I'm contemplating is the same, just not running through the window to plug into the battery tender. Instead I'm thinking of routing it through a pre-made hole that exists in the truck from the cabin to the trunk area that currently has silicon plugging it. My idea is have it be an easy access on the outside of the vehicle, as I've seen someone else did in the windshield, but using OBD2 instead of wiring to the battery.

Who's on first.

 

[JerseyGreens]

Dumb question is there an easy way to tell if we have one or two 12v batteries? I'm a Mar '23 delivery so right on the edge

 

[jplblue]

What I mean is there's a firewall between the front of the cabin and where the batteries are behind the trunk, passing a line through that (pretty sure I've seen at least one unused passthru) so you can connect the trickle charger external to the cabin.

I understand you could just do this straight to the batteries which are external, but for us 2-battery owners, that might get tricky.

Since I think the OBD2 port only connects to 1 battery, you should only need to connect to one battery (the "primary" closer to the driver side) to the trickle charger. I might test it out, but can't do it this weekend.

 

[racekarl]

Good copy, what I'm contemplating is the same, just not running through the window to plug into the battery tender. Instead I'm thinking of routing it through a pre-made hole that exists in the truck from the cabin to the trunk area that currently has silicon plugging it. My idea is have it be an easy access on the outside of the vehicle, as I've seen someone else did in the windshield, but using OBD2 instead of wiring to the battery.

Who's on first.

What would be the benefit of connecting to the OBD port in the cabin but running the connector back out through the firewall to where the 12v batter is vs. just connecting directly to the 12v battery in the frunk?

 

[Riviot]

What would be the benefit of connecting to the OBD port in the cabin but running the connector back out through the firewall to where the 12v batter is vs. just connecting directly to the 12v battery in the frunk?

I didn't realize OBD2 only charged one battery, I thought it did both, so no benefit.

 

[mudito]

Dumb question is there an easy way to tell if we have one or two 12v batteries? I'm a Mar '23 delivery so right on the edge

It should be fairly easy to pop the cowl cover in the frunk and have a look. Don't know what if there's another way

 

[Yossarian]

I'm thinking of adding to the experimental data that folks have posted to this thread using some existing 12v charging components that I have access to. This would be a solar-only charging experiment using a Renogy 100w suitcase solar system connected to the R1T's 12v battery via an inexpensive OBD II memory saver connector that I have laying around.

The Vmp/Voc rating of the suitcase PV panels is 20.3 and 24.3 volts respectively, which is delivered through a 12v, 20 amp PWM controller. The controller auto-detects and selects among lead acid battery types, and should have no problem finding the R1T's AGM battery. It can be manually selected should auto-detect fail though. I haven't checked the frunk, but since the truck is a mid-2024 build, I'd think it's a single battery.

I'm assuming the suitcase can keep the Rivian battery topped up, at least when it's sunny. Are there any cautions you'd make about trying this, or suggestions for set up?

 

[JerseyGreens]

I didn't realize OBD2 only charged one battery, I thought it did both, so no benefit.

In theory even using this method should lower VD overall even if the OBD2 only connects to one battery.

I'm curious if someone tries the OBD2 method on a dual battery setup and shares their findings.

 

[Nixapatfan]

Dumb question is there an easy way to tell if we have one or two 12v batteries? I'm a Mar '23 delivery so right on the edge

You'd have to open the panel under the hood to tell, it pops right out. If the passenger side battery block has a ground at the right most position it is dual battery, if positive then single battery. Single battery pictured.

 

[NY_Rob]

I parked my R1T on Sunday afternoon after backing the boat into it's shelter. I had 152 miles range indicated. I immediately plugged in my NOCO dual bank (I have two 12V batts in my R1T) charger and haven't touched the truck till just a few min ago which means it sat idle/on the trickle charger for approximately 2.5 days. I was happily surprised to see this morning it now indicated 153 miles range

Of course the tiny 5 amp NOCO charger can't actually add range, but at least it's keeping up with VD losses at this point!

 

[mudito]

I parked my R1T on Sunday afternoon after backing the boat into it's shelter. I had 152 miles range indicated. I immediately plugged in my NOCO dual bank (I have two 12V batts in my R1T) charger and haven't touched the truck till just a few min ago which means it sat idle/on the trickle charger for approximately 2.5 days. I was happily surprised to see this morning it now indicated 153 miles range

Of course the tiny 5 amp NOCO charger can't actually add range, but at least it's keeping up with VD losses at this point!

I imagine you just plug the primary battery on the driver's side. Correct?

 

[NY_Rob]

I imagine you just plug the primary battery on the driver's side. Correct?

I have two 12V batts, so I charge both.. I wrote up a post with photos of my install here:

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...bly-solved-or-hacked.31506/page-9#post-604664

 

[SSteveEV]

I have not changed any of the settings, except for the color of the interior accent lighting.

Well don't leave us hanging!! Which color solved the problem?? ?

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