The NorthStar AGM Battery + Voltage Booster Upgrade

FYI the booster that plugs into the fuse box WILL NOT WORK on a 3rd gen truck.
the ECU flash works from a tune i here.

 

^This is correct. 2015 and earlier only have the necessary alt-s fuse. 3rd gen needs to be done in an ECU flash.

 

D'oh! Of course you are correct, it's Friday and I forgot how simple addition works. Math is hard!

Regarding the 0.5v booster I'll let you know but it will be a while before I part with it. MK4 going to take a while on that boat across the ocean. Don't you have a stockpile of every single version from your previous testing? I always picture your garage to look like the wardrobe to Narnia with endless lights & electro-gizmos as far as the eye can see.

Double D'oh! Again you are right, I am wrong. Apparently my reading and maths comprehension are shot for the day. I'll edit my post then go crack a beer and stop typing before it turns to complete gibberish lol.

 

Which Noco would do the job best and most Efficient. Secondly how often would you think I should be charging to full capacity? 2-3 months?

 

Oh, it definitely is for lighting products and test gear and a lot of other vehicle parts. But I didn't hang onto the boosters.

 

just the micro blade fuse replacement. Ordered back in June and got it in October

 

Revisiting my setup with the charge voltage and trickle voltage.

Modified my current setup where I use a timer to switch in my diode for 30 minutes after I start the vehicle then cut the diode out to go to float charge voltage.

Used one of these https://timers.shop/6V-28V-10-Amp-Timer-Wi-Fi-configurable-via-phone_p_44.html

It has multiple functions you can use and handles multiple voltages and functions. I have to go back in and document my circuit, but you can certainly adjust the timing to reprogram with the app. Just have to turn off the ignition, short the programming pin and use the app to set the delay and function. I wanted something to monitor the voltage better and not always charge at 14.23v. so

Here is my scenario
Start my truck 14.23-14.37v for 30 minutes
Cut out the diode 13.83v for the duration of my trip
Turn off my truck resets the timer.

Anyone have any scientific phenomena that tells me to charge longer or shorter

After looking through this thread again I may make the timer more like 2 hours as that is the length of a frequent trip I take. and that would also cover me for the around town runs. so any longer trips would eventually cut the voltage to 13.8 after two hours of running.

Now I remember I used two of the wires, one is high while the timer is engaged and then drops out, this is the one with a 3A diode on it, then when the timer drops out the regular voltage is pass through to the charge fuse and the diode blocks any voltage going back into the timer. My failsafe is if the timer messes up I always have the voltage pass through and if both mess up I get a battery light.

 

Weird. 2nd NorthStar battery is to do in less than 10yrs... first one is dead before the end of the warranty, prorated then the current one is dead in less than 4yrs. Guess ill settle for a AGM from Costco.

 

That’s not encouraging!

 

Technically that was my 3rd that died. The 2nd one is in my current daily driver. It was in my FZJ80 previously. SOLD the TLC, replaced with flooded battery. The daily driver is a Mits Evo X. Knock on wood it's still going well..... But I totally charged it at a different voltage... than what the Taco set it at... I have the same HBK Voltage booster in my Evo X but it bumped it to a higher voltage. Then the one in the Taco.... I dunno what's going on...

 

That’s a major disappointment.

 

Agreed, but it differs from my and my son's experience with our Northstar batteries. My 27F is still running strong, almost six years since I installed it and his 24F also remains solid at (as I recall) about five years since he installed it.

 

Does anyone monitor their voltage over a few days when parked? I installed a LVD on one of my batteries but seems like my batteries are not holding 13v when off. Not sure what the discharge is when no load should be but feels like the LVD may be draining draining the batteries over time. Also I am going to adjust my charge voltage to be for 2 hours after an engine start or maybe 4 hours, but unless I take a longer trip it will no ever hit the limit. Since I used my winch to pull out some trees this weekend I need more charging. Possibly going to hook up a small solar panel to maintain the batteries better. Or install a charger on the truck so when it is sitting for a few days I get a full charge in the driveway.

Had one fail after a year but more my fault because I was running a small computer with a stereo camera installed. (experimental or just mental)

 

Costco didnt have any AGM batteries.... Ended up with regular flooded acid...

 

Has anyone had issues ordering through HKBs website?

When I try to check out it says paypal is currently unavailable try another method. I don't see any other way to pay or input a credit card number. I'm new to paypal but know I'm logged in on this device and have allowed cookies and such for their website thinking it was an issue with that, but I'm still unsuccessful.

I tried last night via mobile and then again today on my laptop. Also sent them an email and waiting for a reply.

 

Posted in my 1st Gen thread, but thought I’d share here too. Picked up the X2Power Northstar 24F today and installed the HKB +0.5v voltage booster in my 1st Gen.



Booster swapped into the Alt-S circuit


This has been on my to-do list ever since picking up the 1st Gen this summer. I googled for a Batteries Plus coupon and found AUTO10 to get $40 off the battery with buy online and pickup in store.

I had the same issue. Couldn’t get it figured out, so I ordered off of eBay instead and payment went right through.

Boosters are back in stock:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3226507128...JW2BIbGQi6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Glad I'm not the only on that had issues with it.

Thanks for letting us know, I just ordered one

 

Has anyone used the MK4 unit with a CS144 alternator and if so, wondering if it works with the sense-ignition-lamp harness adapter needed to make the 4-pin CS144 compatible with the 3-pin Toyota harness? https://store.alternatorparts.com/w...cs-style-plug-to-toyotal-oval-style-plug.aspx
With the CS144 I typically see between 14.0 and 14.3 volts with the engine on (depending on outdoor temps) and a resting voltage of 12.6 volts on both the main and aux battery- both are AGM. Certainly better than the upper 13 volts some are reporting, so maybe it's not needed for my setup?

 

The alternator nor adapter help. You need 14.4-14.8 runtime voltage per Northstar specs. You are 0.5v low, which is exactly what the +0.5v booster is designed to correct.

 

Understood, I just don't know how the adapter is wired which allows the GM CS144 (4-pin/wire) to be compatible with the Toyota charging system (3-pin/wire) configuration. I'd assume the fused "sense" circuit still performs the same regardless and the MK4 would not cause any issues though it'd be nice to know if anyone with the CS144 alternator has tried this. Most everyone in this thread seem to have a completely stock charging configuration.