Ingineer
Well-known member
NOTE: Leaving a charge cord plugged into the Leaf, but not charging, can leave some of the Leaf's the ECU's (Electronic Control Units) in a state where they awaken and cause more than normal load on the 12v battery. DON'T DO THIS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!
If the Leaf is actually charging from the wall, then it will also charge the 12v battery. ALWAYS! (Main battery contactor closed)
Here are my recommendations if leaving the Leaf for 2 weeks or less:
Leave the charge at 50-80%. Do not leave anything connected to the charge port.
If you are leaving for longer, and the Leaf's Solar panel will not have direct sunlight, charge to 50-80% and then disconnect the negative lead on the 12v battery or add a "Battery tender" type trickle charger. (But DO NOT connect it to the negative terminal of the 12v battery directly!) If you are parked where the solar panel (if you have one) will get some sun, then there is no need to disconnect the 12v battery. Either way, the Leaf should be good for a year.
NEVER charge to 100% and leave the Leaf sitting for more than a day. If you accidentally do, then drive the car until 2-3 bars are gone, or leave the defrost on high with all the windows down for an hour or so, which should have the same result.
If you do accidentally discharge the 12v battery (Leaf will appear totally dead), you can jump start just like a normal car, but be ABSOLUTELY SURE the polarity is correct, and make the negative connection on the Leaf to the body or DC-DC junction box (you can see where the black ground wire connects on top).
NEVER connect anything to the Leaf's negative 12v battery terminal, EVER! (except of course the OEM connections as shipped)
The traction pack will hold it's charge for a long, long time, but you should try to store it mid-charge, and never empty or full.
The 12v battery can go dead in certain circumstances, so it's best to disconnect it or add a trickle charger if you are leaving for a long time.
If you must leave an EVSE connected, such as the "airport" scenario, then try to do as suggested and have your time charge a little each day. If the Leaf gets full, then it will no longer charge enough to keep the 12v battery healthy. Even on a "full" Leaf, you can activate remote climate control through CarWings, (provided the Telematics modem is still awake, it shuts down after 2 weeks) and while this is running it will charge the 12v system. This will also work without an EVSE connected, but will deplete the traction battery doing so. Of course if you leave a full Leaf for an extended period, you are a bad owner, :twisted: and will suffer accelerated battery degradation.
-Phil
If the Leaf is actually charging from the wall, then it will also charge the 12v battery. ALWAYS! (Main battery contactor closed)
Here are my recommendations if leaving the Leaf for 2 weeks or less:
Leave the charge at 50-80%. Do not leave anything connected to the charge port.
If you are leaving for longer, and the Leaf's Solar panel will not have direct sunlight, charge to 50-80% and then disconnect the negative lead on the 12v battery or add a "Battery tender" type trickle charger. (But DO NOT connect it to the negative terminal of the 12v battery directly!) If you are parked where the solar panel (if you have one) will get some sun, then there is no need to disconnect the 12v battery. Either way, the Leaf should be good for a year.
NEVER charge to 100% and leave the Leaf sitting for more than a day. If you accidentally do, then drive the car until 2-3 bars are gone, or leave the defrost on high with all the windows down for an hour or so, which should have the same result.
If you do accidentally discharge the 12v battery (Leaf will appear totally dead), you can jump start just like a normal car, but be ABSOLUTELY SURE the polarity is correct, and make the negative connection on the Leaf to the body or DC-DC junction box (you can see where the black ground wire connects on top).
NEVER connect anything to the Leaf's negative 12v battery terminal, EVER! (except of course the OEM connections as shipped)
The traction pack will hold it's charge for a long, long time, but you should try to store it mid-charge, and never empty or full.
The 12v battery can go dead in certain circumstances, so it's best to disconnect it or add a trickle charger if you are leaving for a long time.
If you must leave an EVSE connected, such as the "airport" scenario, then try to do as suggested and have your time charge a little each day. If the Leaf gets full, then it will no longer charge enough to keep the 12v battery healthy. Even on a "full" Leaf, you can activate remote climate control through CarWings, (provided the Telematics modem is still awake, it shuts down after 2 weeks) and while this is running it will charge the 12v system. This will also work without an EVSE connected, but will deplete the traction battery doing so. Of course if you leave a full Leaf for an extended period, you are a bad owner, :twisted: and will suffer accelerated battery degradation.
-Phil