Here begins my uninformed questions :) Larger Capacity 12v Battery?

Hi all

My first few posts I'm just going to keep apologising for not possessing a deep grasp of the German language... I feel I'm about 'ankle deep' at this point. haha

To those who might not have seen my very first post where I figured out my OMVS finally, I'm Jeff, 35 and from California, who lives/works in Freiburg. If you're around and wanna chat Twizy, say hi I'm very much ignorant to the ins and outs of how the Twizy operates, I've still got lots to learn.

My car is as much practical as it will be 'project. It's got a small handful of issues that need to be addressed, some sooner than others (which I'll probably make as a later post regarding "help solve all my Twizy problems"). I'd like to do a few things relatively soon- mainly an upgrade to the stereo (likely 3D modeling a sound-bar to fit larger 130mm speakers, which I'll print on my in-house printer), LED headlights, and some the inclusion of some LED driving lights.

One thing that seems a little too obvious, so there must be an obvious answer, is- Can you cram a higher capacity 12v battery to reduce the draw from the larger battery, in order to allow for a larger accessory current draw without affecting range?

Or is the Twizy set up that the main battery is always topping up the smaller battery, so it makes no difference if you have a bigger 12v supply because whatever accessory draw is constantly being drawn from the Main to top up the 12v?
I notice that just driving with the headlights on quickly takes 10-20km off the range estimate. Perhaps LED lighting could improve that, but I'm sure once I put in a small amplifier, and maybe a compact subwoofer, and a couple of driving lights my range is going to drop dramatically.

And honestly... I started this post optimistic I could have a solution, but as I wrote the last few sentences, I realise it's probably not a solution, and I might have provided my 'obvious answer'... ha.

In light of my mid-post revelation....
If I am, in fact, staring reality in the face that what I think could work doesn't... Is it possible to tap into the charging system for a secondary, external 'accessory' battery that either drives the accessories directly, or trickle charges the 12v system during use, but can still be re-charged normally when the vehicle is plugged in?
If so, that would mean you wouldn't need to draw off the main battery until you had depleted the secondary 12v supply.

Side note. Twizy is awesome. Haven't even thought to drive my 74 BMW 2002 since I got it. Twizy is just too much fun.

-J

Hi in general the on-board charger works similar to a car generator, it uses the main battery to power all the systems of the Twizy when you are driving. The charging behaviour for the 12V battery depends on the model year of your Twizy. Older chargers only charge 12V during driving or when the main battery is charged, the newer ones have trickle charge ability. It is possible to fit a 12V battery with a bit more capacity, the limiting factor here is the size of the battery .. which is quite small. You might also need adapters for the battery connectors (there are several threads here which describe the battery replacement and give links to manufactures/shops for non-Renault batteries).
I have replaced the headlights with LED units, unfortunately the power consumption is just a little bit less than the normal bulbs, but they are street legal I can give you a link to the shop where I got them, and you need adaptors (there is a thread somewhere where I posted the .stl file for the ones I created)

2002Scoob schrieb: I notice that just driving with the headlights on quickly takes 10-20km off the range estimate.

With light you lose about 500 m, with LED maybe 300 m.

But ,you can drive another 50W heating blanket in the winter since the DC/DC now hase some amperage to spare:-)

But 5 Amps on the 12V is like one fast "Ampelstart" to the high volt system.

I have replaced the headlights with LED units, unfortunately the power consumption is just a little bit less than the normal bulbs, but they are street legal I can give you a link to the shop where I got them, and you need adaptors (there is a thread somewhere where I posted the .stl file for the ones I created)

Yah! I'd love to take a look at what you're running. I think I might have already seen a thread about them, but I don't remember where or when I'm looking for that blacked out, projector-style look.

in general the on-board charger works similar to a car generator, it uses the main battery to power all the systems of the Twizy when you are driving. The charging behaviour for the 12V battery depends on the model year of your Twizy. Older chargers only charge 12V during driving or when the main battery is charged, the newer ones have trickle charge ability. It is possible to fit a 12V battery with a bit more capacity, the limiting factor here is the size of the battery .. which is quite small.

^^ This is what I was concerned with. I have a 2013 Twizy, and I forget if the previous owner did replace the charger or not. I know he replaced the 12v battery but I'll need to ask about the charger again.

If I have the older style, then it sounds like I'm in a 'two buckets' situation. Therefore, no matter how big my 12v 'bucket' is, it doesn't make a difference how big that bucket is if the 'big battery bucket' is constantly filling it- Because it's constantly topping it up.

But, correct me if I'm wrong.... If I had a newer charger, then that could allow me to add a 3rd 'accessory bucket' which could then trickle-charge the 12v battery bucket to where it is either less dependant, or doesn't draw from the 'big battery bucket'. Or... even act as a 'range extender'? Which would be AWESOME.

Thanks for the replies!!!
-Jeff

Something like this gets me thinking.... It really fits the bill, except the price.

www.amazon.de/dp/B08634MQ5K/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_i_J.ulFb5YQ41T0?th=1

My basic idea was a Pelican-style case with a cord I could plug into the car, packed with LIPO batteries/BMS that would support the 12v system, or maybe even act as a range extender by supporting the main battery.

Just out of curiosity, what's the typical 12v current draw for all accessories of a typical Twizy? For example, If I were to run standard headlights, crappy little Parrot Audio at full volume (I notice this too affects range!), and it's raining at night so I have my windscreen heater and wipers running full-speed?

Like I said, I'd plan to probably add on a couple compact LED driving lights, and a I have a Focal IBUS 2.1 combination subwoofer/2channel amp in my BMW now that I think could be made to fit behind the back seat that would make for a very nice listening experience in the Twizy
www.focal.com/sites/www.focal.fr/files/s...document/ibus21-specification-sheet2.pdf