1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

The NorthStar AGM Battery + Voltage Booster Upgrade

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by crashnburn80, Apr 14, 2019.

  1. Nov 30, 2019 at 8:44 PM
    #361
    Green Jeans

    Green Jeans 6MT AC TRD OR 1GR-FE FTMFW

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2012
    Member:
    #88143
    Messages:
    1,462
    Oregone
    Vehicle:
    '13 TRD Off-Road
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2019
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
  2. Dec 5, 2019 at 11:55 AM
    #362
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Member:
    #85133
    Messages:
    16,663
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rob
    Concordia
    Vehicle:
    12 TRD Sport DCLB 4x4 Supercharged
    Boosted
    I have to also add that Ford makes a 1 amp one way diode as well which is a 100% direct fit for our trucks for those looking for alternatives to GM and Littelfuse. I just got mine today. There is no need to trim anything on the housing to fit it in and it fits 05-14 Mustangs Econoline and various other vehicles.

    20191205_115340.jpg

    20191205_115326.jpg


    Just to add on to how easy this mod is, it dropped right in and imediately boosted me up to 14.7-14.8 volts at initial start. In Ford I trust. :laugh:

    20191205_132804.jpg

    20191205_132846.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
    opentibfib, HandOfGod, Sna and 2 others like this.
  3. Dec 5, 2019 at 1:00 PM
    #363
    crashdb

    crashdb I break chainsaws

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2017
    Member:
    #226954
    Messages:
    9,699
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Manassas, VA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Toyota Matrix
    Rollin' hydrocarbons!
    Questions for yous electrical guys: Will an alternator change make the 3rd gens work? I've been talking to a couple of high output alternator sellers. So far I have three that make one for the 3rd gens. Of course the amperage output is much higher, but no one seems to be saying anything about the voltage. I've sent in emails to them asking, but nothing yet. One of the companies did give me a sales spiel stating that the voltage range fell within what's needed, but it also goes lower than needed.

    I'm playing with an incomplete deck here and figured I'd get some thoughts from those with much higher IQs than this dumb redneck.
     
    MattCowsmasher and Rome604 like this.
  4. Dec 5, 2019 at 1:20 PM
    #364
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Aftermarket high output alternators give higher amp charging ability, the voltage is still regulated by the ECU in the case of the 3rd Gen so it would remain basically unchanged. When you run a very high electrical load, such as a winch that exceeds the amp production capacity of the alternator, it then starts pulling power reserve from the battery while the alternator is peaked out at max amp production. The high output alternators have greater amp production and often are able to produce significantly more amps at idle, so that when huge electrical demands are applied, the alternator has the ability to produce the power required without causing significant drain on the battery, or is at least able to minimize the drain by being able to supply a much greater percentage of the power demand.

    Voltage boosting as covered in this thread is not achieved with a high output alternator, it may be able to produce more voltage than stock, but it is still controlled by the ECU. If the alternator itself was modified for higher voltage, it would cook standard flooded batteries.
     
  5. Dec 5, 2019 at 1:50 PM
    #365
    TireFire

    TireFire Superunknown Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2016
    Member:
    #177349
    Messages:
    7,662
    Olympic Peninsula
    You could look into just putting a smaller pulley on your alternator instead of shelling out for an aftermarket part.
     
    12TRDTacoma likes this.
  6. Dec 5, 2019 at 2:37 PM
    #366
    crashdb

    crashdb I break chainsaws

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2017
    Member:
    #226954
    Messages:
    9,699
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Manassas, VA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Toyota Matrix
    Rollin' hydrocarbons!
    You pretty much validated all the figurin' going on inside the head. Appreciate ya.
     
  7. Dec 5, 2019 at 6:39 PM
    #367
    MonkeyProof

    MonkeyProof Power Top

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2008
    Member:
    #9774
    Messages:
    12,792
    SoCal- SGV
    A 5 dollar diode and voltage sense wire relocate is one would ever need to sufficiently provide the proper voltage to maintain an AGM battery(s)...

     
    whatstcp, Torspd, scleaf and 5 others like this.
  8. Dec 10, 2019 at 2:18 PM
    #368
    blind cowboy

    blind cowboy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Member:
    #182345
    Messages:
    431
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    Auburn CA
    Vehicle:
    2002 TRD XC 5sp
    Just got the .5volt booster fuse and installed it today. 14.2 was most I've seen before, now at 14.7

    Edit: thanks OP for the heads up.

    20191210_113839.jpg
     
  9. Dec 10, 2019 at 2:43 PM
    #369
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2011
    Member:
    #54903
    Messages:
    1,944
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Belton, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC 4x4 SCed
    TRD Blower, Ham Radio, DBA T2 Rotors
    having trouble with my battery, dont recall how long ive had it in truck. bro said its been having trouble starting when it gets cold.... so looks like i may have to up the charging voltage....
    any suggestions on which route to take to fix the charging problem...
    Just happy to be back stateside...
     
    MattCowsmasher likes this.
  10. Dec 10, 2019 at 2:55 PM
    #370
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    I wouldn't expect upping the charging voltage to fix a weak start. The NorthStar is rated to sit 2 years and hold a charge (granted that isn't at below freezing temps). But if it is a regular issue I'd get your alternator tested as it sounds like the battery isn't being sufficiently charged. And autoparts store can test is for free.
     
    Norton likes this.
  11. Dec 10, 2019 at 5:42 PM
    #371
    Sna

    Sna Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2015
    Member:
    #151425
    Messages:
    1,395
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    ‘15 trd sport 6MT dcsb, mostly stock?
    I’m not good with this stuff. I have two Odyssey AGM group 35 batteries. Would I be smart to do this?
     
  12. Dec 10, 2019 at 5:58 PM
    #372
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Yes. Either that or plug them into a battery maintainer once a month.
     
    Sna[QUOTED] and 12TRDTacoma like this.
  13. Dec 10, 2019 at 6:08 PM
    #373
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2011
    Member:
    #54903
    Messages:
    1,944
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Belton, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC 4x4 SCed
    TRD Blower, Ham Radio, DBA T2 Rotors
    will check what the volatages are tomorrow in the AM before and after starting.... just seems odd... he claims its been charging for less then a month after it happened. Check the voltage was no where what yall are seeing
     
  14. Dec 10, 2019 at 6:21 PM
    #374
    Sna

    Sna Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2015
    Member:
    #151425
    Messages:
    1,395
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    ‘15 trd sport 6MT dcsb, mostly stock?
    Should I be looking at the voltage booster in the OP or can I use the below?
    30A6EE41-4E45-4578-865E-D30FE2A88B1A.jpg
     
  15. Dec 10, 2019 at 6:55 PM
    #375
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    You’re looking for something to increase the voltage by +0.5v. I used a dedicated product specifically designed for this application that maintains the fuse function. Others have come up with different mechanisms to do it which can work too, you just don’t want to exceed 14.8v. I haven’t tested that one personally. Note that one time startup readings can vary depending on temperature and how long the truck has been sitting which is why I used data logging over time to track the solutions presented in this thread.
     
    SR-71A, 12TRDTacoma and Sna[QUOTED] like this.
  16. Dec 10, 2019 at 7:12 PM
    #376
    Sna

    Sna Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2015
    Member:
    #151425
    Messages:
    1,395
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    ‘15 trd sport 6MT dcsb, mostly stock?
    Thanks for the info. Just to confirm I’m looking for the below?
    https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Alternator-...258810?hash=item33e40b023a:g:TxAAAOSw2Ehang63
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
  17. Dec 10, 2019 at 7:14 PM
    #377
    Green Jeans

    Green Jeans 6MT AC TRD OR 1GR-FE FTMFW

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2012
    Member:
    #88143
    Messages:
    1,462
    Oregone
    Vehicle:
    '13 TRD Off-Road
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    Sna[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Dec 10, 2019 at 7:24 PM
    #378
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    I think it may have been slightly cheaper to order direct and cut out the eBay middle man, but yes.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    Sna likes this.
  19. Dec 10, 2019 at 8:29 PM
    #379
    Sna

    Sna Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2015
    Member:
    #151425
    Messages:
    1,395
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    ‘15 trd sport 6MT dcsb, mostly stock?
    Well I ordered the 0.5v booster. We’ll see how long it takes.

    From what I see in my truck (dual voltmeter) my dual AGM batteries are at 14.2v at startup. Will update once the booster is in.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
  20. Dec 10, 2019 at 8:33 PM
    #380
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,752
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Too low for AGM. 14.7v will be perfect.
     
    FastEddy59 and Sna[QUOTED] like this.

Products Discussed in

To Top