The NorthStar AGM Battery + Voltage Booster Upgrade

**Assuming the charger has an AGM mode

 

So throwing it on an AMG trickle once a week would be sufficient?

 

Overnight 1x a week should be more than sufficient.

 

I'm curious if this actually changes what the ECU sees, or is a different approach to the alt-s circuit. It looks like all the vehicles listed as compatible are mid-2000s original platform date, which would likely be an alt-s circuit type. ECU control didn't typically come till later. Do you have posts/links that prove this works on 3rd Gen? Would be great to have a plug and play option without ECU tuning. If you can make the voltage adjustment in-between the alternator and ECU it is entirely possible for the design to work.

 

For schmos like me with a vehicle listed as compatible, what is your level of confidence with the device? I was thinking of giving it a try.

 

Unknown. But, if you were to spoof the ECU you'd need to do so right off the alternator, so the actual voltage isn't read anywhere by the ECU before being adjusted. This device design does look to have the potential to do that.

 

I’ve been trying to decide if I go with oval (what my truck and stock alternator have) or square (what my replacement alternator expects) and I think I’ll go oval and replace the alternator side with my square connector. Then it will also serve as the requisite adapter. But I have no idea what the 4th signal wire is about.

 

I've not spent any time with 3rd Gen alternators to comment.

 

This would be the 2002 Tundra, a reasonably close sibling of 2nd Gen Tacoma.

 

Bought the oval with switches to dial it in if need be.

My main concern is if this will add additional strain to the alternator and shorten its lifespan. Has anyone had any failures that would be considered premature?

 

Do a cost analysis of premi failure of the battery vs the alternator. Given that alternator output depends on amp draw it has to work at least a little bit more to top out at the higher voltage. You also have to realize that a dead battery can ruin an alternator prematurely so

Do a cost analysis of replacing a battery vs replacing the alternator. The alternator is $100, the battery $300+ , which would you want to last longer?

 

I understand what you're saying. My worry isn't really the price of the alternator, the battery or the voltage fuse/adaptor. I've never really had an alternator die a slow death (that I've managed to catch). The two that I have dealt with were I went to start and dead battery and it turned out the alternator was dead. Not looking to get stranded.

But it seems it will add minimal extra work for the alternator to top off with the adaptor vs a battery that is never fully charged and an alternator that may be constantly trying to top it off.

 

@crashnburn80 Sir any update on this; Northstar 27F still superior to an Optima 27? Looking to upgrade my battery this winter.

 

Why would you pick the Optima over a Northstar or X2?

 

Definitely no on the Optima. Northstar was acquired a while back by the same company that owns Odyssey (another very high end brand), but nothing has changed that I am aware of. There was some talk they may discontinue the 27F in Pro series (Batteries Plus X2 Power), but it is still listed as available on Northstar's website. In short all the info is up to date.

 

Not sure but I don’t think it works that way. The alternator supplies the required amp draw. There’s no battery draw once battery voltage equals alternator output voltage so it’s just what’s needed to generate spark and run auxiliary systems. The alternator can’t “sense” the additional capacity of the agm that it isn’t charging so it’s not trying to top it off. As far as the alternator can tell, the battery IS topped off.

 

Gotcha. Just confirming this is the one you’re referring about?

 

Correct.

 

If weight is a concern the Northstar 24f is 58lbs, 840 CCA, and 160 reserve amps. Halfway between the stock 27f at 48lbs and the Northstar 27f at 68lbs but more than the halfway point for CCA and reserve amps.

 

Thank you!