12v sockets in plug-in hybrids

[TurboNelly]

Hi all,

Looking at getting a plug in hybrid (Volvo V60 T8 Polestar) and wondered about the 12v sockets. Do they run off the normal battery that powers the starter motor, or do they run off the 11Kw battery that drives the car?

If we took it camping for example, could I run a cooler box from the 12v when the car is off without fear of draining the starter motor battery?

Cheers,

Neil.

[Scrump]

In the Mitsubishi PHEV I used to run they ran off the normal 12v battery.
I recall reading that the car monitors the 12v battery and would charge it from the main drive batteries if required, but I never put this to the test.

[stumpage]

TurboNelly said:

Hi all,

Looking at getting a plug in hybrid (Volvo V60 T8 Polestar) and wondered about the 12v sockets. Do they run off the normal battery that powers the starter motor, or do they run off the 11Kw battery that drives the car?

If we took it camping for example, could I run a cooler box from the 12v when the car is off without fear of draining the starter motor battery?

Cheers,

Neil.

I have just ordered one of those. Wanted to be a bit different from the sea of 330e/530e in the company car park.

[JonnyVTEC]

If they ran off the hybrid battery they wouldn’t be 12V ..

Run the 12V down and without enough voltage the HV stuff won’t wake up either.

[Mr Squarekins]

JonnyVTEC said:

If they ran off the hybrid battery they wouldn’t be 12V ..

Run the 12V down and without enough voltage the HV stuff won’t wake up either.

^This.

[TurboNelly]

JonnyVTEC said:

If they ran off the hybrid battery they wouldn’t be 12V ..

Surely transformers are used to convert voltage for various requirements in every car? For example, USB ports in a car aren't 12v.

[andy43]

What I’ve done is get a 12v to 240v inverter with a 3 pin UK socket on it that plugs into the fag lighter.
Then when I’m low on charge and nowhere near a charging station I can plug my brick charger in for a quick battery boost.

[JonnyVTEC]

TurboNelly said:

Surely transformers are used to convert voltage for various requirements in every car? For example, USB ports in a car aren't 12v.

Yea the DCDC will drop 300v to 12V problem will be you can assume that will get you out of jail of the 12V runs lows. The 12V needs to have enough voltage to turn all the HV systems on for that to work.

[DuncanM23]

Everything that normal cars have (dashboard, stereo, lights etc) runs off the 12V system. This means that the parts can be standard across the whole range of different vehicles, and also means that the high voltage system can be kept isolated and reduce risk of accidental shocks.

On a pure EV, there is a DC-DC converter that can charge the 12V battery from the HV system, but you need there to be enough juice in the 12V to be able to turn everything on and close the connectors that isolate the HV system. I assume that PHEVs that have reasonable EV range use this sort of system, and regular HEVs might just stick to alternators, so it's worth checking the spec for exactly how your particular car works.

[TurboNelly]

JonnyVTEC said:

Yea the DCDC will drop 300v to 12V problem will be you can assume that will get you out of jail of the 12V runs lows. The 12V needs to have enough voltage to turn all the HV systems on for that to work.

Thanks Jonny. Probably best not to risk it!

[TurboNelly]

DuncanM23 said:

Everything that normal cars have (dashboard, stereo, lights etc) runs off the 12V system. This means that the parts can be standard across the whole range of different vehicles, and also means that the high voltage system can be kept isolated and reduce risk of accidental shocks.

On a pure EV, there is a DC-DC converter that can charge the 12V battery from the HV system, but you need there to be enough juice in the 12V to be able to turn everything on and close the connectors that isolate the HV system. I assume that PHEVs that have reasonable EV range use this sort of system, and regular HEVs might just stick to alternators, so it's worth checking the spec for exactly how your particular car works.

Cheers Duncan.