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

[poldim]

Thanks. What's the JavaScript that you added?

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[godfodder0901]

Thanks. What's the JavaScript that you added?

I didn't use any. The Shelly reports directly to Home Assistant.

 

[poldim]

Here's an official response from Rivian Service regarding parasitic drain. My question asked simply what the normal level of parasitic drain for a 2024 R1T was. I have not responded to the Service reply, but intend to push back on 5% being normal absent special circumstances. I suppose I should be happy that the official reply does not echo the "up to 12% is normal" statement another tech made.

Having 6+ kWh used by the car during sleep is wild, this is clearly poor system design. And their is borderline criminal. Imagine an ice engine used half a gallon of gas just sitting there...

 

[poldim]

Mine is a single battery, so just connected to one. No need to open the frunk. The cable hangs from my garage ceiling a few feet off the ground (as does the primary charging cable), so connecting and disconnecting is quick.

How is this connector holding up since you've installed it? And how often are you connecting to it?

 

[josh0]

I finally got around to wiring up the Cascadia solar panel directly to the battery! I'll leave the truck unplugged for as long as I can to see if and how it affects the VD. It's a 94 W panel (I think, would have to check the label), and even in partial shade where I have it parked right now it reported that it was charging the battery at nearly 5A. I ended up running the wires from the solar panel to a panel-mount Anderson connector with an MC4 adapter, and then a similar panel-mount SAE connector with a long SAE to ring terminal cable leading to the batteries. I considered switching everything to Anderson, but I think I like the unambiguity of having the the connection that actually goes to the truck's 12V system be a different connector, and that's what the charge controller was using there. I do still intent to eventually put a battery and DC to DC charger in between the charge controller and the truck so that it can continue to charge overnight as well as just adding capacity for high-draw accessories like a powered freezer, but this is at least a good step in that direction and will let me make sure it all works before investing any more in it.

 

[josh0]

Well, I lost 1% off my SoC since yesterday, however I didn’t get the panel set up until the afternoon, and it never got full sun, so it wasn’t a great test. The panel is currently in full sun, at a decent angle, and generating 65.9W. I wish it gave better info on the charging performance, but at least I know it is charging (the battery’s at 14.2V compared to the 14.0 it showed yesterday). Tonight should be a better test; hopefully with a full charge the 12V system won’t lose enough to trigger charging off the HV battery before the sun comes back up and takes care of it.

 

[Herb]

Well, I lost 1% off my SoC since yesterday, however I didn’t get the panel set up until the afternoon, and it never got full sun, so it wasn’t a great test. The panel is currently in full sun, at a decent angle, and generating 65.9W. I wish it gave better info on the charging performance, but at least I know it is charging (the battery’s at 14.2V compared to the 14.0 it showed yesterday). Tonight should be a better test; hopefully with a full charge the 12V system won’t lose enough to trigger charging off the HV battery before the sun comes back up and takes care of it.

Do you have a charge controller between the panel and the battery?

 

[josh0]

Do you have a charge controller between the panel and the battery?

Yes, the Cascadia 4x4 branded box in the picture in my post from yesterday. Cables from the solar panel are routed into the frunk to the controller, then another set of cables is running to it from the 12V battery.

This is a photo the setup being tested before I routed all the wiring.

 

[Herb]

Sorry I missed that, looks fancy and may have temperature compensation. It looks like it's cooking where you parked. Lead acid batteries don't like to receive full voltage when hot and this could damage the battery if done repeatedly. Good charge controllers adjust the charging voltage accordingly. Also be aware that a solar panel's output diminishes with temperature (e.g. 0.3%/'C is pretty common). E.g. a 100W panel might, maybe, make that at 20'C (and perfect angle, etc.) At 60'C panels temp you are down 12% just due to temperature. (60'C is "hot to the touch", you don't want tp keep your hand on for more than a few seconds). With the panel laying directly on the hood, I bet it gets smoking hot. I am working on a similar idea with a small LifePo battery that charges during the day and trickles the truck battery during the night (and during the day). Vampire drain is a bit of a misnoma, as drain also happens during the day, we just don't pay as much attention to it. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your results.

 

[josh0]

Yeah, the temperature is definitely a concern. I already actually have the Lifepo battery that I’m planning to put in the middle, just haven’t had the time to get everything else sorted yet, and wanted to have this set up before I leave the truck in an airport parking lot at the end of the week, which should be the first real good test. I’m planning on using a Victron charger in the final setup, so temperature compensation should be doable.

 

[Herb]

Having 6+ kWh used by the car during sleep is wild, this is clearly poor system design. And their is borderline criminal. Imagine an ice engine used half a gallon of gas just sitting there...

That'd be 20 miles of drain. My daily work commute is 20 miles. Had I known, I would never have bought a Rivian.

 

[EV-CAL75]

Hey guys, starting to worry about my 12V as my 2023 single battery is only being monitored by a BT module. I've pretty much studied the discharge/recharge cycles every 3 and half hours. Looks like it will charge itself up no matter what state of charge. But that 3.5 hours is set to wake and charge 12V. I've had the 12V discharged as low as 12.2x Volts before it charges again. But yesterday I've installed a cheap battery tender on it and it looks like it's helping the battery somewhat with it being at 12.5x V before recharging. I may have plugged in the terminals incorrectly (will get picture later) or is there a specific M8 terminal that must use for these connections? The power seems to be only 0.5A (500mA) so it does make sense that whatever computing the system does requires more a minimum of 1A draw, it's slowed down my cycles about 50%. Hope my math is correct. For testing I also used a Ecoflow portable 266wh for the battery tender. The 12 hours since installed, seems to have used 66% of the battery. I plan on installing a Victron smart charger with a larger Lithium 12V in the frunk (not too big ) eventually to keep the discharging of the battery to a minimal. P.S. i do not have Gear Guard on and Proximity at home.

Small update and correction: It is still in sleep after 4 hours now but voltage is 12.32V this very moment. I'm waiting for it to charge up (think it will be 12.2x Volt)..which maybe over 5+ hours of sleep time.

 

[KootenayEV]

Yeah, the temperature is definitely a concern. I already actually have the Lifepo battery that I’m planning to put in the middle, just haven’t had the time to get everything else sorted yet, and wanted to have this set up before I leave the truck in an airport parking lot at the end of the week, which should be the first real good test. I’m planning on using a Victron charger in the final setup, so temperature compensation should be doable.

Have you continued to use this system and monitor its performance?

 

[josh0]

Have you continued to use this system and monitor its performance?

I have, but I don’t have great data yet. I recently left my R1T in long term parking at the Albuquerque airport for about three weeks. Unfortunately for our purposes (but generally a good thing), the parking is shaded, so I saw the normal ~2%/day drain.

While parked at home, where it gets direct sunlight, the drain does seem to be reduced, but not by a huge amount. I have purchased a secondary LiFePo battery to add to the system, with the intention that the panel will charge the secondary battery, and then a DC to DC charger will charge the primary from that. I still need to order the DC to DC charger, but I’m hoping I can get that all installed this month. I expect that should solve the problem, while also giving me a lot more power for accessories.

I just completed a 2,000 mile drive that I do fairly regularly, and I’m curious if the data might show a small improvement in range from the panel reducing the need to power the 12V systems from the main battery. (I literally just got home 1.5 hours ago, so I haven’t looked at it yet.)

 

[Cashcc]

Ford lightning owner here for the last two years.. Just bought my R1t 5 months ago.. the lightning from what I can tell so far is much more eifficient when it comes to the 12v battery.. and it all pretty much boils down to the fact it has a god dam on/off switch.. love the rivian so far... I want to turn my car off when I want to, and turn my car on when I want to.. this thing is constantly trying to sense if there is someone opening the door or sitting in the driver seat..of course there is going to be vampires drain.. gotta keep those sensors alive

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