Reassurance and ecology progressed by visualization...Battery life judgment without relying on senses
Battery life is said to be 2-3 years on average, but it varies greatly depending on the type of battery and how the user uses the car. For example, if you repeatedly go shopping in the neighborhood for a short ride, drive at low speeds or idle a lot, or drive long distances in a year, the burden on the battery will be large and its life will be shortened.
On the other hand, even if the car is not driven for a long period of time, a minute current flows through electrical equipment such as clocks and security devices, so the battery gradually discharges and causes the battery to die. Regular charging management is required.
Battery deterioration varies depending on the user's usage. The only way to avoid battery trouble is to replace it as soon as possible, but replacing a battery that can still be used with a new one is a waste of money.
In-vehicle monitors have been added to Panasonic's "Life WINK", which tells you the life of the battery, which is difficult for ordinary drivers to judge.
Life WINK base unit lets you know the battery status by opening the hood
Panasonic's "Life WINK base unit" was developed to solve these problems. By attaching it to a Panasonic battery, it determines the life span and tells the user when to replace it.
The mechanism for judging the service life is to memorize voltage fluctuations when the engine is started when the battery is brand new, and then compare the voltage fluctuations each time the engine is started, making it possible to judge the service life with high accuracy. The voltage fluctuation pattern at engine start, which differs depending on the vehicle model, is standardized, and based on this, the vehicle and battery status is diagnosed by checking each time the engine is started, enabling more accurate diagnosis than a battery tester.
Even in the unlikely event that the battery runs out, it will determine whether it is "need to be replaced", whether it is recoverable due to "insufficient charging", or whether it is due to "vehicle abnormality".
Life WINK is based on when it is new, so it is assumed that it will be installed at the same time as replacing a new battery. Therefore, Life WINK cannot be attached to the battery currently in use from the middle.
This time, when I actually replaced the battery and installed Life WINK, the standard value was confirmed in about two weeks after installation if the car is used almost every day. If you remove Life WINK before confirmation, the data will be erased and it will be reset to the initial state, so be careful.
Data transfer via 12V wiring
Until now, Life WINK base units had to be installed with the battery, so you had to open the hood to check. , "Life WINK in-vehicle monitor" that can be checked from inside the car has been prepared.
How to use: Simply plug the Life WINK in-vehicle monitor into the cigarette lighter socket to start communication with the Life WINK base unit attached to the battery. display. One day, instead of suddenly notifying you of the life span, it will flash yellow when it reaches a level that requires attention, so you can respond to battery replacement with plenty of time.
Since communication is performed through the vehicle's power supply wiring, there is concern about whether it will affect the vehicle's electronic control systems such as ABS and stability control, but according to the manufacturer's representative, "We have tested various models. We have confirmed that there are no problems."
When using the Life WINK in-vehicle monitor, the cigar socket is blocked, but since a USB terminal that can be used to charge a smartphone is provided, there is no problem even if the cigar socket is left plugged in.
An advanced application is also available
In addition, if you want to know more detailed battery usage, the smartphone application "Car Battery Sensei" is prepared, and you can't tell from the LED display alone. You can also get information.
It's difficult for the average driver to determine battery life. By using the Life WINK base unit and in-vehicle monitor, it is possible to clarify when to replace the battery, which not only increases the user's sense of security, but also makes it possible to use the battery until the end of its life and improve economic efficiency.