Grid Charger Installation (& General Charging) Questions

1991 Views 27 Replies 10 Participants Last post by 1036Project, 8 d ago

CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · 11 mo ago

2

Now that (I hope) I’ve got my engine stuff sorted, I want to start working on my battery. Bought a used Hybrid Automotive charger/discharger from another member and am trying to install atm. However, I can’t get past the very first step of removing that right screw (Step 10 in the HA instructions).

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Whatever is there on the underside of the bolt I think is keeping it from coming out. It just spins with is. Dad tried holding onto it with vise grips while I unscrewed up top, but no go.
Any suggestions on removing that or an alternative method to installing the grid charger without removing it?
Thanks!

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julianachos

· #2 · 11 mo ago

I wouldn't worry about that bolt. You can try another one, if need be.

When you lay the harness in place, the ring terminal that is zip tied on is near where said bolt is. It's just for mounting purposes.

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Honda hybrid442

· #3 · 11 mo ago

Bypass it. You dont need to route under there.

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WRobRich

· #4 · 11 mo ago

CherryBomb said:
Now that (I hope) I’ve got my engine stuff sorted, I want to start working on my battery. Bought a used Hybrid Automotive charger/discharger from another member and am trying to install atm. However, I can’t get past the very first step of removing that right screw (Step 10 in the HA instructions).
View attachment 97673
View attachment 97672 Whatever is there on the underside of the bolt I think is keeping it from coming out. It just spins with is. Dad tried holding onto it with vise grips while I unscrewed up top, but no go.
Any suggestions on removing that or an alternative method to installing the grid charger without removing it?
Thanks!

Those fasteners with the underside "nut" exposed to wet roads, are notorious for galled threads and spinning nuts.
The other posts are correct. Use any available location to anchor the GC harness. When the time comes to absolutely having to undo that bolt, just wring it off or cut it off and replace with a SS self tapping screw tightened only firmly not really tight. Best would be another SS or aluminum bolt and nut but then you'd have to have a wrench on both sides.

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CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #5 · 11 mo ago

Oooh, gotcha! I didn’t realize it was just for mounting. Thanks guys!

CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #6 · 11 mo ago

Why can’t crap just work 🥲 So, got her hooked up today. Followed Hybrid Automotive instructions verbatim but when I plugged it in for the initial test with ima off, it’s not working. Screen does not turn on, both fans barely move for a second, shut off, barely move, shut off. I plugged the charger into the wall by itself and it turns on fine. Something must be shorting it out? How can I test this? I haven’t tried turning on IMA while charger is plugged in. I figured if it’s not working now, it won’t work with it on. My ima has been bypassed for several months. Should I start the car up with the IMA on before trying to charge it? I’m glad y’all are so patient and ready to share knowledge. I’m getting tired of asking so many questions about every little thing 😒🙂

Balto

· #7 · 11 mo ago

Show me how you have it hooked up. I'm the one that removed that charger from the car, so I know it was working when pulled.

[Edit]: Actually here is a picture of it working and charging a pack!

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CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #8 · 11 mo ago

3

@Balto Oh, cool! Yea, I didn’t doubt the charger. I know it’s not the problem. Ive got the piggy back connector down there, the negative to negative up top, and the fans wires spliced and connected, blue to blue, yellow to black. I didn’t have any snap wire connectors, so with the help of bro (electronics guy of the fam), got them rigged up as shown. Those fan connectors were my first area of doubt, but even if the those wires weren’t making good contact or smth, the charger screen should at least turn on, right? The picture below of the charger is while it is plugged in and the fans stalled.

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(Edit): Also, since I’ve had it bypassed, I did make sure I plugged the bcm connectors back in before trying to plug the charger in.

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Balto

· #9 · 11 mo ago

Just flip the pack on and see what happens. It all looks correct to me.

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CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #10 · 11 mo ago

Balto said:
Just flip the pack on and see what happens. It all looks correct to me.

I’ll give that a go and report back. Thank you!

Balto

· #11 · 11 mo ago

What happened? Did the car blow up? Did it charge? The world may never know 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #12 · 11 mo ago

Balto said:
What happened? Did the car blow up? Did it charge? The world may never know 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

Lol! Well, I’m still alive so that’s good. Flipped the pack on, no go. Same thing- sporadic fans, no screen display. This pack has been dormant since January, does that mean anything?

Balto

· #13 · 11 mo ago

Not really... So it works fine when it's not plugged into the harness, and as soon as you plug in the harness, it wigs out?

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CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #14 · 11 mo ago

Balto said:
Not really... So it works fine when it's not plugged into the harness, and as soon as you plug in the harness, it wigs out?

Yep, exactly.
Own a weird car they said. It would be fun they said… 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #15 · 11 mo ago

Also, isn’t the HV battery supposed to make a “whirring” sound when on? I started the car with it on and it successfully started on the IMA motor, and started charging the battery, but I didn’t hear anything coming from the back. Weird right?

Natalya

· #16 · 11 mo ago

Multimeter on the pack... how many volts does the whole stack have? (With charger off.)

Arbus

· #17 · 11 mo ago

CherryBomb said:
Also, isn’t the HV battery supposed to make a “whirring” sound when on? I started the car with it on and it successfully started on the IMA motor, and started charging the battery, but I didn’t hear anything coming from the back. Weird right?

If you don't hear a battery fan when the charger is turned on and plugged in do not charge the pack!

What @Natalya said. Also, what current is it feeding, or trying to feed to the pack? Careful, now, there a bit of juice in there, y'know...

CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #18 · 11 mo ago

Well, I’m confused. Just had a chance to get back there again, and the pack isnt reading anything? Must be doing smh wrong, right?? What is the proper way to read the voltage? 😅

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^^This is how I was doing it.

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Bull Dog

· #19 · 11 mo ago

When the car is fully off. You won't, and shouldn't, read any voltage across those two terminals.

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CherryBomb

Discussion Starter · #20 · 11 mo ago

🤦🏻‍♀️ So I should do this with the car started? I feel dumb, but I just don’t know anything about this side of things.

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