Phantom / Vampire Drain Solution Works! Using 12v Battery Tender

[HyperionMark]

Love how everyone on here is acting like all these things haven't been tried ad nauseum.

Sponsored

 

[mudito]

Yes, I heard this on the forum and I am running a 2-week test in this mode now. I put in shipping mode, locked the truck and closed the app (swiped off phone). Its in about a 40degF location.

Mind you, if you have your phone nearby the truck with Bluetooth enabled, it might wake it up nevertheless. Make sure to disable Bluetooth for the app (iPhone) or Nearby Devices for the app (Android). While that helps, the sol presence of my phone close to the truck sometimes it still wakes it up

 

[Tim-in-CA]

Mind you, if you have your phone nearby the truck with Bluetooth enabled, it might wake it up nevertheless. Make sure to disable Bluetooth for the app (iPhone) or Nearby Devices for the app (Android). While that helps, the sol presence of my phone close to the truck sometimes it still wakes it up

I can confirm that this happens. I have BT access to the app denied (iOS), and STILL if I walk into the garage with my phone, the car will sometimes wake up to "confirm" that the BT device it saw should unlock the vehicle. And then it's a crap shoot if the car will go right back to sleep or decide to stay away for 2 to 3 hours even though I have a Battery Tender attached! LOL

 

[mudito]

I can confirm that this happens. I have BT access to the app denied (iOS), and STILL if I walk into the garage with my phone, the car will sometimes wake up to "confirm" that the BT device it saw should unlock the vehicle. And then it's a crap shoot if the car will go right back to sleep or decide to stay away for 2 to 3 hours even though I have a Battery Tender attached! LOL

100% true

 

[Singletracker]

I haven’t read through all 8 pages of posts, so please excuse me if this has already been addressed.

I have to wonder why bother with a battery tender? If the car is not plugged into a dedicated charger, one can always use the Rivian included cable that plugs into a standard 120v outlet. As far as VD is concerned, wouldn’t that pretty much accomplish the same thing as a trickle charger plugged into the same 120v outlet. The only advantage I can see with the trickle charger is that it may offer better long term 12v battery health benefits, preventing the battery from going through unnecessary cycles.

At the end of the day, neither system eliminates VD. It’s like taking Advil to ease pain. It doesn’t cure the injury. Just masks the symptoms.

 

[zymolysis]

I haven’t read through all 8 pages of posts, so please excuse me if this has already been addressed.

I have to wonder why bother with a battery tender? If the car is not plugged into a dedicated charger, one can always use the Rivian included cable that plugs into a standard 120v outlet. As far as VD is concerned, wouldn’t that pretty much accomplish the same thing as a trickle charger plugged into the same 120v outlet. The only advantage I can see with the trickle charger is that it may offer better long term 12v battery health benefits, preventing the battery from going through unnecessary cycles.

At the end of the day, neither system eliminates VD. It’s like taking Advil to ease pain. It doesn’t cure the injury. Just masks the symptoms.

Read a page or two, to understand - you won't need to read all 8 pages.

 

[zymolysis]

Has anyone tried a desulfator/charger, like a BatteryMinder?
https://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDe...742671398&sprefix=battery+min,aps,215&sr=8-27

 

[mudito]

Has anyone tried a desulfator/charger, like a BatteryMinder?
https://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Model-2012-Maintainer-Motorcycles/dp/B005EKY1EM?crid=1BFWZA8X4EFSS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.flZKKnvU-NdJgBgQH87Rcqa8w5L_O7DM7Repapf5WLCd-drPyqIXBb1lkLyzm9XdtWznGNTz3aELzSvtbARidCCze4tDpn5z8XHJkWvHGD_aM1YEsF6HdUDXECVeaGowlL7tbM-XrBUUIqMqMzz5FE1hxuew9qwYd4Gq55SDk_JKl9SyvhArGXQFbgXfe6Qlza3uSVrZm7LcWJrj1uNqLvnn5cE5QNYlC_dwCNROXcy4UHYFac4VpVALXnAerJRB8e7vryTg8i3YMS1b6v6SqxqHjphZc3RYS90_UDjR8YzqLxL6MYg9xwuYKkA0VrRyb5SZ7gjfS3emcfS1EnEl1G3uqmABjY5ar8R-paMIjbc8EKmgeb_G4vPic05oeYwn_F9nWKE79rSQwihtOkLDOXP_UJGzbAcARv7M76T9ngvEpqeK5i1_d_pQC8p3ttMp.PpEZqNUr3AwW5HWc5ptNj2uXyza8czn9iX_MVUeyc6g&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery+minder&qid=1742671398&sprefix=battery+min,aps,215&sr=8-27

Yes. Noco does that as well, and I run this every so often and I could clearly see my sleep/wake times improved immediately after running a full cycle and lasting several weeks in that state.

 

[Aardvark]

Has anyone tried a desulfator/charger, like a BatteryMinder?
https://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Model-2012-Maintainer-Motorcycles/dp/B005EKY1EM?crid=1BFWZA8X4EFSS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.flZKKnvU-NdJgBgQH87Rcqa8w5L_O7DM7Repapf5WLCd-drPyqIXBb1lkLyzm9XdtWznGNTz3aELzSvtbARidCCze4tDpn5z8XHJkWvHGD_aM1YEsF6HdUDXECVeaGowlL7tbM-XrBUUIqMqMzz5FE1hxuew9qwYd4Gq55SDk_JKl9SyvhArGXQFbgXfe6Qlza3uSVrZm7LcWJrj1uNqLvnn5cE5QNYlC_dwCNROXcy4UHYFac4VpVALXnAerJRB8e7vryTg8i3YMS1b6v6SqxqHjphZc3RYS90_UDjR8YzqLxL6MYg9xwuYKkA0VrRyb5SZ7gjfS3emcfS1EnEl1G3uqmABjY5ar8R-paMIjbc8EKmgeb_G4vPic05oeYwn_F9nWKE79rSQwihtOkLDOXP_UJGzbAcARv7M76T9ngvEpqeK5i1_d_pQC8p3ttMp.PpEZqNUr3AwW5HWc5ptNj2uXyza8czn9iX_MVUeyc6g&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery+minder&qid=1742671398&sprefix=battery+min,aps,215&sr=8-27

Yes. I am using a Noco Genius 1 (1 amp) connected through the OBDII port. It is a charger + desulfator. I played it very conservative by going with the 1 amp model. But other posts in this forum state you can charge up to 3 amps through the OBDII port. I didn't want to take any chances.
I haven't used this setup very long on the Rivian so I can't give you any concrete results. But I've been using a charger/desulfator on an aircraft battery for a few years with excellent results. I had been replacing very expensive AGM aviation batteries every 2 years because of the amount of down time. I think I'm at 4 or 5 years now on the same battery since I started using the desulfator. It made a believer out of me.

 

[hammick]

I have been experimenting using a battery tender through the OBD2 port. With the latest update I have noticed that our G2 R1S is keeping the 12v battery at 14.4 volts even when sleeping. I can't imagine the battery will last long sitting at a high voltage. Float voltage for an AGM battery is between 13.2v and 13.6 volts. Attached pic is with no charger attached and car sleeping for over an hour. Anyone else notice this after the latest update?

 

[mudito]

I have been experimenting using a battery tender through the OBD2 port. With the latest update I have noticed that our G2 R1S is keeping the 12v battery at 14.4 volts even when sleeping. I can't imagine the battery will last long sitting at a high voltage. Float voltage for an AGM battery is between 13.2v and 13.6 volts. Attached pic is with no charger attached and car sleeping for over an hour. Anyone else notice this after the latest update?

Interesting and weird. I can see my Gen1 voltage dropping to ~12-ish while not charging and 14.3 when charging/awake.

I do measure directly from the leads on the battery though. Are you sure that your truck was sleeping even with the door open? I'd validate that with ElectraFi or with the app icon

 

[hammick]

Interesting and weird. I can see my Gen1 voltage dropping to ~12-ish while not charging and 14.3 when charging/awake.

I do measure directly from the leads on the battery though. Are you sure that your truck was sleeping even with the door open? I'd validate that with ElectraFi or with the app icon

I had the window down so I could measure the voltage without waking it up. Confirmed on the app that it was sleeping when I took the measurement. Before the latest update our G2 behaved exactly as what you experience on your Gen1.

My battery tender has a voltage display and when it went to float mode it was reading high voltage. That's what clued me in to the change.

Hopefully I can let it sit for a few days with the tender attached and see if the voltage ever drops. Maybe this is a special AGM battery that can handle a constant absorption charge.

I will also check directly at the battery to rule out the OBD2 port somehow having isolated high voltage. It's my understanding that the OBD2 12v positive is direct to the battery.

 

[mudito]

I will also check directly at the battery to rule out the OBD2 port somehow having isolated high voltage. It's my understanding that the OBD2 12v positive is direct to the battery.

Keep us posted.

 

[James Worden]

Yes. I am using a Noco Genius 1 (1 amp) connected through the OBDII port. It is a charger + desulfator. I played it very conservative by going with the 1 amp model. But other posts in this forum state you can charge up to 3 amps through the OBDII port. I didn't want to take any chances.
I haven't used this setup very long on the Rivian so I can't give you any concrete results. But I've been using a charger/desulfator on an aircraft battery for a few years with excellent results. I had been replacing very expensive AGM aviation batteries every 2 years because of the amount of down time. I think I'm at 4 or 5 years now on the same battery since I started using the desulfator. It made a believer out of me.

Wow, even a gas car lead acid battery lasts 5-8 years and it gets alot more abuse than a 12V battery in an EV should get! Rivian should fix this issue. If I do a "tender" idea, it'll be with a small solar module and 13.6V regulator to not overcharge the assumed 2V lead acid battery. Solectria EVs didn't even have a 12V accessory battery and worked just fine - with no 12V battery to fail.

 

[hammick]

Hard to know but maybe a constant voltage of 14.3 to 14.4 volts will allow these batteries to last longer than the constant drain and recharge approach. I'm very interested to know if the latest update changed how V1 vehicle behave.

I don't see any need to keep our R1S on a tender if it's getting a constant charge. In fact, the tender might be a bad idea

Sponsored