The NorthStar AGM Battery + Voltage Booster Upgrade

Should edit topic and add 2nd Gen ONLY

 

Haters, Crash has always shared the wealth. Glad he is not an ass hat.

 

I've had some recent email communicationes with the guys over at Off-Grid Enginering and they say there are no "issues" with using their dual battery systems for AGM batteries on the Gen3. They said theyv'e been installing these since 2017 and no complaints. Anyone do jut a straight forward install with the system and AGM batteries?

 

I got my dual battery kit from Off Grid in 2017 and installed two Northstar AGM batteries in Dec 2016 on the 2017 Tacoma. No issues at all. I just ran them through the test and recondition on my CTEK charger and it went right past the desulphation step and that can take up to 8 hours.

 

Good input Glenn. Just to confirm, you don't ever have to put your AGM batteries on a charger?

 

I started this thread as a reference to what is "the best battery" and to make people aware of the charging differences required by AGMs, and the solution I came up with to correct the issue. Not to be 1st/2nd/3rd Gen specific, hence posted in the technical section. In speaking with reps at NorthStar, they called out Toyota specifically as being notoriously bad for their batteries as Toyota charging voltages are lower than other manufactures (I have not substantiated that claim, but it was interesting to hear that when I had not mentioned anything Toyota specific). It is basic chemistry that the life and performance of an AGM will be reduced if not charged at the specified voltage, as the battery will slowly sulfate and reduce in performance over time. This doesn't mean that it won't work for years, but if you are paying top dollar for a premium battery, you'd expect the premium long lasting performance. To get that requires charging the battery as the manufacture specifies.

While I like the HKB booster as a purpose made product for my truck, it unfortunately doesn't work for 3rd Gen. It sounds like OVTune may finally have something in the works, which would be great. I think it is helpful to include all the Gens, even if the current answer for 3rd Gen is a wall charger. I should update the original post with a wall charger recommendation for 3rd Gen as recommended by NorthStar, I dropped the ball on that phone call with them on that topic a while back. While many 3rd Gen owners may ask if it works for their truck, labeling the thread 2nd Gen would make it so 3rd Gen owners wouldn't read it and may be unaware of the charging differences or the relevant battery information provided. Hopefully OVTune has a solution for 3rd Gen, and when they release such a fix the original post will be updated for an on-board 3rd Gen solution.

 

I bought the CTEK with the intent to put my batteries on the charger ones a month and run it through the recondition profile. I have not done that until this month. They both went through the cycle without a hitch. If I get over 5 years out of these I will be happy. I knew when I put them in I was not going to be charging them at the preferred voltage. My truck puts out about 13.8 volts at 2000RPM and higher. I hope @OVTune will look at making away to updating the ECU to 14.6 volts, selectable.

@crashnburn80 thanks for your support on TW. No matter what we drive you have always been a great asset to the forum.

 

Thank you @crashnburn80 and @Glenn_R, great insight from both of you on this topic.

 

Yes, very much appreciated.....even from us 3rd geners.

 

Looks like VF Tuner from OVTune will have options to modify alternator voltage and duty cycle (see link below). Thoughts on modifying these parameters for an AGM batt using the OEM alternator? Would you recommend a HD alternator?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vf-tuner-for-the-3-5l-tacoma.662948/page-9#post-23245827

 

The tow package comes with a bigger alternator, I think? Will need to check that out as I can't remember for sure.

 

Not sure about 3rd Gens, but 2nd Gen Tow Package included a "130-amp alternator." As mentioned previously, however, the issue is one of voltage, not amperage.

 

yep, that's the same on the 3rd gens w/ tow package

 

Looks like you will need to modify duty cycle to increase voltage, which shouldn't be a problem as long as duty cycle does not exceed the OEM rating. I'm not sure what the OEM rating is. Based on some non-Toyota charge tables I've seen in HP Tuner threads, it looks like duty cycle needs to increase ~10% for a 0.5v bump. That is an apples to watermelon comparison as it isn't a Toyota alternator, but should help to give a ballpark of the values we are looking at.

Trucks with the tow package already come with the factory HD 130A alternator. Non-tow 3rd Gen I believe use a 100A alternator, and 2nd Gen an 80A alternator. An HD alternator gets you more amps, not more volts. The only reason to go with an aftermarket HD alternator is if you want to pull some serious electrical loads for extended periods of time, like doing heavy winching without allowing battery recovery time. Your battery is the power reserve and with the NorthStar battery, that reserve is significantly improved over stock. So even winching off the stock alternator, you are using the power reserves from the battery that the alternator then replenishes at a slower rate. Most don't have high power draws long enough that the power reserve is depleted beyond what the alternator can replenish, requiring an alternator upgrade. If you've never seen the battery alarm come up on your dash while the alternator is in max charge, an aftermarket HD alternator likely isn't going to do much. And typically aftermarket alternators are less reliable than OEM. If my 2nd Gen came with an 80A alternator I'd certainly consider getting the OEM 130A one, but few need the typical 270A+ aftermarket HD alternators.

 

Great, thanks for the input!

 

I put in the diode from digikey and it threw up the dummy light that's a battery. I removed it immediately. Fortunately, I got my little package from Australia. I popped in the new booster fuse, and everything is good. I haven't put a volt meter on it. I'm just happy to know I'm doing right by my battery.

 

Did you try reversing the digikey one? They only work one way, if you put it in backward the battery dummy light will come on.

 

That must've been it. I didn't try, but that would explain the arrow on it. The HKB unit was already on order so I just waited another week or so and it showed up.

 

OVtune sent out a test file today, and successfully adjusted the setting in vFtuner where you can adjust it. So looks like 3rd gen guys with the tune and vFtuner will be stoked.

 

Be curious to see any posts from someone who has done it and validated the results. If there is a source page/post for the release I’ll update the original post with the info for 3rd Gen.