Camper tank heating pads for battery pack?

[TMND]

RVers use these to keep their liquid tanks from freezing up in subzero temperatures all the time. How easy would it be to slap a few of these on the battery pack and just plug it in like a block heater and how effective might that be?

this whole preconditioning thing in my climate is just not feasible you can only program in two departure times a day and I’m never driving more than a mile so I don’t need it fully warmed up for Max range but having a stone cold battery can’t be great for it either. I would rather just maintain a sub optimal, but not freezing temp.

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[RickLightning]

RVers use these to keep their liquid tanks from freezing up in subzero temperatures all the time. How easy would it be to slap a few of these on the battery pack and just plug it in like a block heater and how effective might that be?

this whole preconditioning thing in my climate is just not feasible you can only program in two departure times a day and I’m never driving more than a mile so I don’t need it fully warmed up for Max range but having a stone cold battery can’t be great for it either. I would rather just maintain a sub optimal, but not freezing temp.

Bad idea to do that.

It is FINE driving a cold battery. If the battery needs to warm itself, it will tell you. And, even then, it still runs.

These vehicles were tested in outrageously cold places. Norway is the country with the highest per capita EVs. Relax, stop worrying about it.

 

[Grumpy2]

Just what Rick said. Differential heating of the cells within the pack with such a pad is not good. The cells are not harmed by the low temperature, they just will provide less power, less range.

 

[TMND]

Fair enough, I just saw the guy who went though the trouble of plumbing in a diesel heater, got me thinking about these and also this in-line heater for coolant system systems. These rely on just heat rising and cool sinking to circulate and are actually really effective around here. I imagine with the pump system these trucks have probably wouldn’t work.

or this

 

[Maquis]

I didn’t buy a truck so I could cobble up a bunch of shit trying to optimize it.

 

[TMND]

Every vehicle I’ve owned if it didn’t already have a block heater I had to install one. Wouldn’t call that “cobbling up”. Just adding accessory that improves function

 

[potato]

For short drives, you don't need preconditioning. Full stop.

For longer drives, we need a one-time departure time option. Ford is trying to be "smart" about everything with the schedules etc. and failing miserably. Just give us some manual controls. Along the same lines, a manual "precondition now" button would solve so many questions/complaints about preconditioning for DC fast charging.

 

[Heliian]

I would rather just maintain a sub optimal, but not freezing temp.

As long as you're plugged into 220v the truck does this automatically.

Preconditioning then brings it up higher to the "ideal" temp for range.

 

[RickLightning]

Every vehicle I’ve owned if it didn’t already have a block heater I had to install one. Wouldn’t call that “cobbling up”. Just adding accessory that improves function

Don't add anything. The truck is designed to be used in cold weather. Keep it plugged in to 240v and set a departure time. Use heated seats and set HVAC on Auto, 1 speed, and as low a temp as you are comfortable with.

 

[Firn]

You are doing this for why?

Not to be crass, but why are you doing this? Do you need the full range? Need the full power all the time?

You don't need to condition the batteries "just because".

If you really want to burn energy just leave the truck running. The batteries will be nice and conditioned all the time.

 

[TMND]

Well, for one I’m not doing it. just entertaining ideas and getting other thoughts. I’ve seen online in other forums people that have done it or something similar. Also, someone on here that added a diesel heater to their coolant lines that kind of sparked me thinking about this. Other than that, the reason I’m thinking about these things is -40 degrees …..it happens here.

 

[Zprime29]

Inconsistent heating/cooling is your biggest problem when trying to help out the truck maintain battery temp. Ford is well aware of operating temperatures around the US. I'm mildly concerned about the extreme heat here ruining the battery. Especially after our resident (recently retired) expert shared info about the cells degrading more rapidly in temps that I see every summer. But I trust the truck to take care of itself. Two summers down and everything looks good here.

 

[rockhead]

I think the OP should go ahead with this and make sure to get a video of the ensuing battery fire

 

[Firn]

Well, for one I’m not doing it. just entertaining ideas and getting other thoughts. I’ve seen online in other forums people that have done it or something similar. Also, someone on here that added a diesel heater to their coolant lines that kind of sparked me thinking about this. Other than that, the reason I’m thinking about these things is -40 degrees …..it happens here.

I mean, if you have power available why not just leave the truck "running" and plugged in? You have a huge heater already fully integrated into the system. If you can find power for heating pads then you can find power for the truck itself.

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