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Upt'North ¹ said :-
I believe it's a 60 amp battery Glyn. I just want to eliminate the seemingly regular issue with HEV cars of the 12V battery being borderline for extended rest periods. If we had to leave it on charge through the optimate for a day or more upon our return then it would be fine.
Our Hyundai Mild Hybrid 48V is a little temperamental and after 2 weeks or so whilst it will start all the menu's, of which there are many, reset and leave you scratching your head to reset the same.
Thanks for the 5 amp information, you're a very helpful chap. I'll buy you a drink later.
Upt.
11/03/2026 16:49:31 UTC
nab301 said :-
Upt , your post sent me down a few rabbit holes on mild hybrids, including some sort of a regen button if the 12v battery discharges after lay up. what does the car manufacturer suggest in terms of the " 12v static battery life" ? It would be interesting to know what the acceptable parasitic drain is. I know that the optimate literature states a max of 5 amps through the obd port but also the optimate email mentions Toyota while you mention Hyundai! Afaik Toyota hybrids like the prius don't have a 12v battery.
Nigel
13/03/2026 13:47:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I think, being a bloated plutocrat, he has 2 cars Nigel......
13/03/2026 15:38:30 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Someone once said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".
I have just sold the Royal Enfield HNTR.
Some of you will remember, I have been here before.
Same reason as selling the Suzuki Inazuma, 20 bhp just restricts my riding.
Although having two bikes is nice, I only really need one.
Wait; what do I know. I am clearly insane!!
13/03/2026 16:54:29 UTC
nab301 said :-
Rod , did you sell it to Ren, he's been without two bikes for far too long now !
Nigel
13/03/2026 17:17:54 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I think 20bhp would be a bit low for Ren, especially as Sharon is going for bigger and more powerful bikes.
And of course it is not a Honda.
13/03/2026 22:02:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nidger, we have a mild hybrid Hyundai 48V. This certainly struggles after a couple of weeks of lay up. The Toyota has got the 1.5 litre HEV 177V set up. They both have 12V running batteries. From the interwebthingymabob it would seem that lots of hybrids struggle on lay ups and I'm hoping that a trickle charge to Er'Indoors Toyota will make all the difference as and when a longer period of none use occurs. Manufacturers will only tell you that regular use is required.
I am also hoping that our use of fewer but longer runs may negate the need for extra charging but time will tell. We seldom do journeys of less than 15 miles each way.
My opinion so far is that the Hyundai uses an over complicated, clunky and probably unnecessary 48V system to achieve mid 50's mpg; the Toyota which we've only had a week makes better use of the larger volt system, it's better thought out with EV only use and potentially achievable 70 mpg plus.
I wouldn't run either without a manufacturer's warranty, 5 years for the Hyundai and 10 for the Toyota.
Upt.
13/03/2026 23:39:12 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I wonder whether there is a parasitic drain on the 12 volt battery, perhaps connected (pun intended) by its being somehow feeding into the electric drive system? I don't know whether it would be possible to temporarily put an ammeter in the main battery connection and see if that shows anything amiss?
14/03/2026 10:01:14 UTC
Glyn said :-
Is the 12 volt battery (in this case) a standard lead acid unit or something far more fancy? As Ian says, there must be some small leakage current if it drains when left. I would expect a standard lead acid battery to remain charged for weeks without going flat. Perhaps the security locking system works off of it.
15/03/2026 16:58:11 UTC
Glyn said :-
If you don’t have an ammeter you could always put a 12v bulb in series with one of the cables “DONT TURN ANYTHING ON” and see if the bulb lights up. If it does, regardless of how dimly, then there is a current drain.
15/03/2026 17:07:24 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
To clarify boys, I can't say what the Toyota will do on the 12V front, it's too soon. Just trying to cover the bases before the oh crap moment.
The Hyundai does struggle after 2 weeks plus of inactivity, but there is no drain as far as I am aware and if you check the forums (God help us) it's not unheard of for full hybrids to have no 12V's after only a few days. The manufacturers answer is to use the vehicle fir longer and more often or use a solar charger all of which won't happen.
I will check on the type of battery, it's on the to do list......when I can find it.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
15/03/2026 21:52:49 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I found it, it wasn't easy.
39 Ah.
Upt.
18/03/2026 16:07:53 UTC
Glyn said :-
That is a standard Lead/acid battery. It can supply 240Amps for engine cranking. If you replaced it with a similar sized 90Ah it would last twice as long before it went flat. There must be a small drain to discharge that battery in 2 weeks. It must be maintaining a computer chip or two in one of the systems. The Optimate ( other types available) is likely to take care of that just fine.
18/03/2026 16:41:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Thanks Glyn.
I have been reading up on the batteries and performance and also spoken to two neighbours who have a Yaris and Corolla HEV's. They haven't had issues other than one dashboard warning saying 12V battery was low. This is over 6 or 7 years and they often sit for a week or so.
Toyota also advise putting vehicle into Ready Mode and in Park after a longer lay up, the 177V battery will then trickle charge the 12V. There's no information on charge rate or duration but it seems a sensible precaution after a bike tour type period of none use to carry out the above procedure.
Now I've seen the battery is lead acid I will obtain a lead for charging.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
18/03/2026 17:14:07 UTC
nab301 said :-
Upt , 2 weeks seems poor for a 12v battery , as mentioned already there may be an excessive parasitic drain , amp clamps are handy for measuring parasitic drains without disconnecting the battery, maybe your local friendly garage person has one, and some sort of a graduated discharge test might reveal that the battery isn't performing correctly if the voltage drops too much too quickly. (maybe sitting unused in a showroom for too long and sulphated) , also , apparently a lead acid battery can lose 40% of its cranking ability at 0°C compared to 27°C.
Nigel
18/03/2026 17:52:14 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Life's an edumication, in't it.
Found out what a blum dowel and blum screw were today. Who knew I wanted 50 of them to make my life complete?
More DIY Ed, sorry.
Upt.
19/03/2026 16:40:46 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
All advice appreciated Nidger.
19/03/2026 16:37:54 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
On the Toyota Hybrid front after 250 or so miles it has returned over 72 mpg without trying. Also on the fuel front just bought some garden E5 petroleum and it was only 4 new pennies more than E10.
Strange world innit.
19/03/2026 16:40:28 UTC
nab301 said :-
72 mpg is economical motorcycle territory !, The only issue locally for me is petrol (and more so diesel which I don't use) is heading to 2022 prices , over €2 euro per litre...
Nigel
19/03/2026 17:02:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Diesel was £169.9 Nidge. That's got to be around 2€ I would think.
Glad I ain't got the Beemer anymore although to be honest we don't do that many miles anyway. I'm just keeping my tanks brimmed just incase.
19/03/2026 17:25:58 UTC
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