disable smart charging

[Chrisp74]

Hi all.
Can anyone help me disable the smart charging on my 2016 Transit custom 2.0 Panther. (no start stop)
I'm struggling with short journeys at the moment and having to charge the battery (1 fitted) after a few weeks. The van has had the battery replaced, its been tested by a couple of trusted people and there feedback is "just needs a charge"
I have done a search on the forum, found reference to a Ford loom that allows you to ground a wire to disable the smart element of charging, but not anyone that has actually done the job.
I can't access the BEMM because of the e-mail restrictions.
Anyone done it?

[Eveshamhardcore]

Sounds like it would be simpler to just add a 10 minute "raz" into your daily commute?

swapping smart charge to normal sounds like a big deal to me

[Altransit]

I'm not sure what disabling the smart charge will achieve Short journeys will kill a battery no matter how it's charged up, I used to get the same problem when I did short drop deliveries down in London, and none of my vans had smart charging back then.

As said above, you either need to add some time to your journey, or connect up a battery charger once a week

[Chrisp74]

Cheers guys. My thoughts were disabling the smart charging was straightforward so an easy test.
I was thinking the alternator would then charge the battery in a more conventional way. As in start van, battery voltage goes to 14ish volts and stays there.
Top up battery charging is a good call.

[BHM]

I have a plug-in battery voltage monitor on mine, I drive predominantly short journeys (local heating engineer) and my smart charging never comes on. 14.9volts all the time.

However I also have a couple of glow-plugs down (according to Forscan), so there is a little less consumption overall.

I did buy the cable kit from Fords to enable switching the Smart charging off but the BCM looked a pain in the but to access so I never fitted it.

BHM 2.2 155 Trend

[Mike]

Surely smart charging is smart enough to charge the battery until it's charged, then ease off a bit? IMO smart charging isn't causing your problem.

[Chrisp74]

Thanks guys. I’m not sure I actually have a problem. The alternator appears to be working with the engine running. Over maybe a 2 week period of short trips I slowly notice the van behave differently after key off. (Interior lights switch off after 30 seconds, radio similar on accessory key position). It’s a Halfords battery. It’s like it can’t charge that last 10% or so.

[Altransit]

It's a problem that I've come across many times, you are simply not running the engine for long enough to replace the juice taken from the battery at startup etc, so the battery is gradually running down to near empty. This isn't good for a starter battery because they like to be topped up all of the time, and hate being discharged, so it will gradually weaken the battery.
Contrary to popular belief, a bigger alternator, or a higher charge rate isn't the answer, because these batteries will only charge at a certain rate for a short time, which will drop quite quickly after a few minutes, a smart charger actually maintains that rate for a longer time.
An overnight boost trickle charge once a week (or a fortnight) will replenish the battery, and keep it in good condition, that's what I do

[bortaf]

The issue is the way a lead acid battery charges, it likes a bulk charge then a slow absorbtion charge and finaly a float cvharge, absorbion is the important bit and it takes a while, with short trips you will get the bulk but the absorbtion will be too short so every trip your only recharging to 90% ish and eventually all that 90% state of charge catches up (or adds up) and the battery is too low a state of charge to turn the starter.
Most commercial applications like ambulances, recovery and police vehicals have a run lock fitted where the engine can carry on running without the key in the ign so you can lock the doors and it can't be driven (engine cuts out if the handbrake is released) to avoid the issue your having, if your doing short trips with long periods in between solar is an option ? but obv no good at night or bad weather
for a run lock have a look here to give you some idea ?

https://vehicletechstore.co.uk/product/run-lock/
https://www.maplefleetservices.co.uk/product/key-out/

[Chrisp74]

All good options.
I wondered about fitting a posh battery. I think with some work I could get a optima battery in the hole. Strong money though.

[glenandemm]

I remember reading something a while ago about earthing a certain wire out to make it charge like a normal 14 volt alternator but never found the post again!!

[Mike]

viewtopic.php?f=65&t=190501

[Chrisp74]

Thank Mike. That where I have ended up.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford ... 635-2958-0
Think this is the part. It’s a large connector. I’m assuming the (C3) socket is currently not populated on the BCM.