Hi,

Is there anywhere that you can find the car battery voltage in any of the menus or on the dash anywhere? It should be simple but I can't find it. The dash is full of so much information but the SOC of the battery I can't find.

 

Thanks

It’s possible on some versions of Octy 3, but the VCDS settings don’t work on Superb 3.

At leat, I haven’t found them yet. 😕

That’s strange. So much information at you fingertips in this car but something as basic as the car battery voltage is missing. Seems like a gross oversight?I’

55 minutes ago, GWCTas said:

That’s strange. So much information at you fingertips in this car but something as basic as the car battery voltage is missing. Seems like a gross oversight?I’

 

5 hours ago, GWCTas said:

Hi,

Is there anywhere that you can find the car battery voltage in any of the menus or on the dash anywhere? It should be simple but I can't find it. The dash is full of so much information but the SOC of the battery I can't find.

 

Thanks

 

A few years ago some Skoda cars could display SOC but it was promptly removed with a software update from Skoda.

 

Sensible really as the majority of owners won't understand the complex charging strategy used in Stop/start equipped cars. They would simply question why is my car only ever showing 70% or 80% SOC or panic when it shows 60% SOC. All perfectly normally in the micro hybrid way of handling energy saving and recovery. They would constantly be complaining to dealers and Skoda that surely it should be 100% and so there must be a fault.

 

As for battery voltage, again due to micro hybrid operation, battery voltage is up and down all the time, press your foot on the throttle and the battery voltage falls as the alternator turns down, go onto the overrun and it shoots right up as energy recovery (recuperation) takes place, so what use is a battery voltage indicator? Battery voltage while the engine is running tells you absolutely nothing about the battery SOC.

 

Many people would complain their alternator is faulty because it should be showing 14.3 volts all the time and not flip/flopping between less than 12 volts and up to 16 volts.

 

A better idea might be an energy flow meter indicating power drawn and recovered ± on the fly. They have these on EV's basically to help people eek out some extra range from their weedy batteries and overcome anxiety.

 

But putting them on ICE vehicles would only start endless questions to dealers and forums...but why this, why not that......

 

 

 

Edited 6 April, 20206 yr by xman

I wish the rev counter would go the same way as the voltmeter. Both useless gauges my opinion.

1 hour ago, facet edge said:

I wish the rev counter would go the same way as the voltmeter. Both useless gauges my opinion.

Agree entirely for DSG cars. I did find it useful on my previous manual as part of my "partial panel" cross-checks (x000 rpm in x gear = x mph, and if it doesn't, I have a problem). Learned many years ago when I had a speedo cable break, and never unlearned. But it takes too long to calculate with the DSG to be useful, and we have (or can enable) backup speedos in the car or using apps on the phone. I suspect my next car will have virtual cockpit (it will definitely have DSG). If so, I won't be in a rush to put a rev counter on it.

12 hours ago, xman said:

 

 

A few years ago some Skoda cars could display SOC but it was promptly removed with a software update from Skoda.

 

Sensible really as the majority of owners won't understand the complex charging strategy used in Stop/start equipped cars. They would simply question why is my car only ever showing 70% or 80% SOC or panic when it shows 60% SOC. All perfectly normally in the micro hybrid way of handling energy saving and recovery. They would constantly be complaining to dealers and Skoda that surely it should be 100% and so there must be a fault.

 

As for battery voltage, again due to micro hybrid operation, battery voltage is up and down all the time, press your foot on the throttle and the battery voltage falls as the alternator turns down, go onto the overrun and it shoots right up as energy recovery (recuperation) takes place, so what use is a battery voltage indicator? Battery voltage while the engine is running tells you absolutely nothing about the battery SOC.

 

Many people would complain their alternator is faulty because it should be showing 14.3 volts all the time and not flip/flopping between less than 12 volts and up to 16 volts.

 

A better idea might be an energy flow meter indicating power drawn and recovered ± on the fly. They have these on EV's basically to help people eek out some extra range from their weedy batteries and overcome anxiety.

 

But putting them on ICE vehicles would only start endless questions to dealers and forums...but why this, why not that......

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your reply. I understand what you are saying. I am involved in electrics and battery technology in my day to day routines however, EFB batteries are new to me. I am not concerned about the voltage fluctuations when driving. My concern is that the battery at rest is showing <12.5 volts, often 12.2v, even after a long drive and my understanding is that EFB batteries are not meant to be left at below 12.5v. Is that correct? See the chart attached.If this is "normal" then I'm happy to accept and move on. 

@GWCTas

 

  

On 23/03/2020 at 15:09, MartiniB said:

similar to this shows almost correct values

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32953919395.html

just +0.1v to values reported from car computer trough OBDeleven

and +0.12v to multi meter values directly on battery's + and -

 

few winter time measures (use Google Translate)

https://www.drive2.ru/l/553005421577634100/

after which i got battery warranty replacement

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/454623-what-have-you-done-to-your-superb-iii-today/?do=findComment&comment=5370984

 

9 hours ago, GWCTas said:

My concern is that the battery at rest is showing <12.5 volts, often 12.2v, even after a long drive and my understanding is that EFB batteries are not meant to be left at below 12.5v. Is that correct?

 

It varies with temperature and individual batteries but the chart below gives you an idea of SOC vs resting voltage. (EFB = WET)

 

Bear in mind the battery in your car is not open circuit but supplying between 7 and peaks of 50+mA in standby (my measurements)

 

Normal target SOC for the micro hybrid charging is 70 - 80% percent afaik

 

 

EFB has deeper cyclic capability without damage than older standard batteries. Often said to be 3x as many cycles though manufacturer's don't publish specific detail.

 

I have personally seen a Yuasa EFB taken completely flat (<1 volt) stood for over a year in a garaged Toyota Auris. I recharged it for 48 hours using a 5A Lab supply. It started the Toyota first touch and everything was fine from then on. I was stunned, and never expected that. But then thats a Toyota for you.

 

See the chart attached.If this is "normal" then I'm happy to accept and move on.

 

Yes, I'd think that's looks reasonably normal. Thr car is switching from energy saving mode during acceleration/normal driving with alternator not charging and using battery energy only, to energy recovery using the alternator on braking/overrun. The profile will change further if you turn on heavy electric consumers. The charging scheme will be SOC driven to control the alternator output and monitoring charge flow and SOC using the current sensor built into the negative battery terminal connector.

 

One final comment, after you turn off the car, the battery voltage can appear depressed for quite a while because

 

a) It takes several minutes or more for all electronic modules to switch into standby

 

b) the battery will be warm even hot due to the charge pumping and engine bay.

 

So measure the resting voltage after the car is stood a couple of hours and totally cold.

 

Edited 7 April, 20206 yr by xman

@xman Thank you for the comprehensive reply. The dealer actually swapped out my battery under warranty. They did a load test and deemed it faulty. However, since then they have called me and have had a change of mind and want my car back for an overnight test. It'll have to wait until after COVID-19.

Interesting, did they hint at what they think the issue might be? Could potentially help others who find themself in a similar situation...

11 hours ago, silver1011 said:

Interesting, did they hint at what they think the issue might be? Could potentially help others who find themself in a similar situation...

 

@silver1011 Nothing to report until the car goes in, which will be after the tightening of the COVID-19 restrictions here in Tasmania.

Yes a bit disappointing to see the normal voltage level then the "charge cramming" on the over run/braking - seeing is believing!  

 

I think that these EFBs would last longer if they were helped along with an overnight charge now and again, if you look for the battery stats in the CAN-Gateway they do tend to point to early grave for some of these EFBs, maybe worth swopping for an AGM when it is battery changing time.

 

Edit:- it would be good to see the active curser moved onto one of the higher charging points.

Edited 14 April, 20206 yr by rum4mo

On 14/04/2020 at 22:46, rum4mo said:

Edit:- it would be good to see the active curser moved onto one of the higher charging points.

Here are a couple of other screenshots -

I thought the peaks might have been even higher than that, it is a long time since I checked using a DVM but I'd believe a 'scope measured value for that shape of waveform over a DVM.