Dual-Battery Power Isolation for Parasitic Drain Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery power management systems fail to effectively conserve battery charge in vehicles and premises when not in use, while ensuring continuous power to essential components, and struggle with power loss when the recharging source is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A battery power management apparatus and method that includes a primary vehicle battery, a main cutoff switch, a vehicle ignition/On switch, and an auxiliary battery, allowing for the disconnection of non-essential loads from the primary battery when not in use and providing power to essential loads through the auxiliary battery, with alternators for continuous recharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the primary battery is disconnected from all loads when the vehicle is not in use, then battery charge is conserved, but essential systems that require continuous power are deprived of power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical loads into two segments: essential loads (ignition system, anti-theft system, RF systems, electronic command computers) that require continuous power, and non-essential loads that can be disconnected. This segmentation allows the primary battery to be disconnected from non-essential loads while maintaining power to essential systems through the secondary battery, resolving the contradiction between charge conservation and continuous power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a secondary battery as an intermediary component between the primary battery and the electrical loads. When the primary battery is disconnected, the secondary battery acts as a mediator to provide continuous power to essential loads, thereby preventing power loss to critical systems while allowing the primary battery to be isolated for charge conservation.
2Loss of energy
If the battery is disconnected to prevent parasitic drain, then battery charge is preserved, but vehicle systems requiring power when the engine is off cannot operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical system into essential systems (anti-theft, RF systems, electronic command computers) that remain connected to the secondary battery for continuous operation, and non-essential systems that are disconnected with the primary battery. This allows essential systems to operate when the engine is off without causing parasitic drain on the primary battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary battery serves as an intermediary power source that specifically supports systems requiring operation when the engine is off. It provides power to these systems during engine-off periods without creating parasitic drain on the primary battery, thereby maintaining ease of operation for essential systems while preventing energy loss.
3Device complexity
If a single battery system is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot simultaneously conserve charge and provide continuous power to all loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery system into two separate batteries: a primary battery for starting the engine and a secondary battery for continuous power to essential loads. This segmentation enables independent management of each battery's charge, allowing the primary battery to be disconnected for charge conservation while the secondary battery maintains power to essential systems, solving the charge management problem despite increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary battery acts as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of continuous power management. It handles the function of providing uninterrupted power to essential loads, thereby allowing the primary battery to focus solely on starting functions and be disconnected for charge conservation without compromising overall system performance.
4Reliability
If the primary battery remains connected to all loads, then all systems have continuous power, but the battery depletes due to parasitic drain when the vehicle is not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical loads into essential loads connected to the secondary battery and non-essential loads connected to the primary battery. This segmentation allows the primary battery to be disconnected from non-essential loads during vehicle inactivity, preventing parasitic drain and charge depletion, while the secondary battery ensures continuous power to essential systems maintains reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary battery serves as an intermediary power source that takes over the responsibility of providing continuous power to essential systems when the primary battery is disconnected. This mediation prevents the primary battery from depleting due to parasitic drain while ensuring that essential systems maintain uninterrupted power supply, resolving both reliability and energy loss concerns.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution conserves battery charge by disconnecting non-essential loads from the primary battery, ensuring continuous power to essential components, and maintaining a maximum charge level for starting the vehicle, while also providing power to critical systems even when the engine is off, thus preventing battery depletion and ensuring operational readiness.
Implementation Method 1
an alternator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy to recharge the battery
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, including a first circuit containing an ignition system and first load which first load does not draw current from a first battery when the ignition system is not operating; a second circuit containing a second load which draws current from a second battery when the ignition system is not operating; a first switch capable of disconnecting the first battery from the first circuit; a second switch capable of connecting the first battery to the first circuit, wherein the first switch or second switch disconnects the ignition system from the first battery when the first switch or second switch is opened, wherein the first switch and second switch connect the first battery to the ignition system when the first switch and second switch are closed; and at least one alternator capable of recharging the first battery and second battery when the ignition system is operating.