V60 Twin Engine 12V went flat while plugged into 230V

Rich306 · Apr 8th, 2020, 15:35

I have not used my V60 (early 2017 model D5 twin engine) since the start of the lockdown. It has sat there in my car port, plugged into the 230V with the drive battery charged and ready to go when I might need it.

After 13 days my Volvo On-Call app told me that the alarm had been triggered. In reality it had not been triggered, the 12V starting battery had gone flat. Car would not unlock or respond in any way. It was totally dead. I levered off the left hand door handle cap, opened the door with the key and opened the bonnet.

I jump-started the car using another vehicle and started to look into the voltage of the 12V circuit.

(1) I ran the engine for a while (by pressing the power switch) and the voltage was over 14V- ie. it was charging the battery.
(2) I switched to 'pure' and the voltage stayed over 14V so, the drive battery was clearly capable of charging the 12V battery without the engine running.
(3) I switched off the car (12V battery was now around 11V). Then I plugged in the 230V and I see that the charging of the 12V battery also started at close to 13V. Indicating that the 12V was also charged from the 230V supply.

So, I am left with the questions:
(a) at what point does the 12V charging from the 230V switch off?
(b) what is the best way to trigger it to start charging again?
(c) why is this not automatic?

Any ideas?

Rich

steadvex · Apr 8th, 2020, 16:34

It's strange, if you leave it plugged in it seems to drain the 12v, oddly enough if you turn off the wall charger if it's type 2, I had to turn it on /off at the consumer unit, a few hours later it had put enough charge in to the 12v to start.

From what I can understand it'll only charge the 12v whilst charging the traction battery, once that's full it stops charging the 12v, but seems to drain the 12v system if left plugged in

Rich306 · Apr 8th, 2020, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by steadvex

It's strange, if you leave it plugged in it seems to drain the 12v, oddly enough if you turn off the wall charger if it's type 2, I had to turn it on /off at the consumer unit, a few hours later it had put enough charge in to the 12v to start.

From what I can understand it'll only charge the 12v whilst charging the traction battery, once that's full it stops charging the 12v, but seems to drain the 12v system if left plugged in

So, if I understand you correctly, merely leaving the cable plugged in once it is fully charged, the cable somehow drains the 12V battery.

Once the on-call app tells me the main battery is full, if I go out and remove the charging cable then it should last longer?

I am also wondering if I put a timer on the charging cable to disconnect it for a few hours each morning, would it solve it?

It all seems a bit daft, doesn't it?

steadvex · Apr 8th, 2020, 17:29

No idea why but seems to do so, its always advised not to leave electric cars plugged in for some reason.

After 7 days I think the car goes into standby, mines was 2 weeks unplugged and no issues with it going flat.

Wierdly unplugged I think the traction battery will topup the 12v if needed, although would need someone who knows better to confirm.

Apr 8th, 2020, 15:35	#1
Rich306 New Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2024 07:55 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Winchester	V60 Twin Engine 12V went flat while plugged into 230V I have not used my V60 (early 2017 model D5 twin engine) since the start of the lockdown. It has sat there in my car port, plugged into the 230V with the drive battery charged and ready to go when I might need it. After 13 days my Volvo On-Call app told me that the alarm had been triggered. In reality it had not been triggered, the 12V starting battery had gone flat. Car would not unlock or respond in any way. It was totally dead. I levered off the left hand door handle cap, opened the door with the key and opened the bonnet. I jump-started the car using another vehicle and started to look into the voltage of the 12V circuit. (1) I ran the engine for a while (by pressing the power switch) and the voltage was over 14V- ie. it was charging the battery. (2) I switched to 'pure' and the voltage stayed over 14V so, the drive battery was clearly capable of charging the 12V battery without the engine running. (3) I switched off the car (12V battery was now around 11V). Then I plugged in the 230V and I see that the charging of the 12V battery also started at close to 13V. Indicating that the 12V was also charged from the 230V supply. So, I am left with the questions: (a) at what point does the 12V charging from the 230V switch off? (b) what is the best way to trigger it to start charging again? (c) why is this not automatic? Any ideas? Rich Last edited by Rich306; Apr 8th, 2020 at 15:39.

Apr 8th, 2020, 16:34	#2
steadvex Master Member Last Online: Jul 30th, 2023 19:01 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cardiff View Photos By: steadvex	It's strange, if you leave it plugged in it seems to drain the 12v, oddly enough if you turn off the wall charger if it's type 2, I had to turn it on /off at the consumer unit, a few hours later it had put enough charge in to the 12v to start. From what I can understand it'll only charge the 12v whilst charging the traction battery, once that's full it stops charging the 12v, but seems to drain the 12v system if left plugged in

Apr 8th, 2020, 17:29	#4
steadvex Master Member Last Online: Jul 30th, 2023 19:01 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cardiff View Photos By: steadvex	No idea why but seems to do so, its always advised not to leave electric cars plugged in for some reason. After 7 days I think the car goes into standby, mines was 2 weeks unplugged and no issues with it going flat. Wierdly unplugged I think the traction battery will topup the 12v if needed, although would need someone who knows better to confirm.

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