How do you know when the battery cells are balanced?

[Markybhoy1888]

Hi. Charging my MG5 LR as we speak at home. Want to “balance the cells” but how do you know when this is completed? Is there a way of telling or a specific length of time you need to leave it for? Thanks

 

[MarkLynn]

No length of time, dash will say Connected uncharged as opposed to Finished. If it says finished leave it on charge it could take up to 3 hours to complete if on a granny charger or quicker in 7kw

 

[Markybhoy1888]

Brilliant, thanks

 

[Jomarkh]

You can monitor it on your IHD from your smart meter as during the balance it draws 300-500w

 

[Markybhoy1888]

You can monitor it on your IHD from your smart meter as during the balance it draws 300-500w

So it’s finished now?

 

[MarkLynn]

Is that off your smart meter. I look at the dash on my car if smart meter is not showing any demand above normal

 

[Markybhoy1888]

Is that off your smart meter. I look at the dash on my car if smart meter is not showing any demand above normal

It is, yeah. I looked on the dash and it says “connected, uncharged” so assuming it’s done ??

 

[MarkLynn]

It's done yes

 

[Ozzie1989]

It could take up to 3 hours to complete if on a granny charger or quicker in 7kw

There is no difference. Any AC charger can complete the balancing phase and the time taken depends on how unbalanced your cells are, not what charger you use ?

 

[Lguk]

Worth noting I connected to a disabled rolec unit and it displayed "connected uncharged" which is the message you see when it's balanced.. Makes me think it's possible to be misled when connected after a scheduled charge period.

 

[Lovemyev]

If you have a home energy meter, you can plot the balance process on the screen as @Jomarkh correctly states.
Below about 97% SOC the car will demand about 7.0 Kw's from a wall box, then at around 98% the car will throttle back the demand to around 3.6 Kw's.
When the car hit's 100% fully charged, it will throttle back the demand to about 500 Watts to start with, then it will step down again to 300 Watts and down to around 175 Watt's just before it completes.
As the balance process is only pulling 500 Watt's max - then it makes no difference in time if you are balancing on a A/C wall box or a Granny.
Goes with without saying, you can't perform a balance cycle on a D/C ( Rapid ) unit.
And why would you want to !

 

[5teep]

Worth noting I connected to a disabled rolec unit and it displayed "connected uncharged" which is the message you see when it's balanced.. Makes me think it's possible to be misled when connected after a scheduled charge period.

My car always shows this before a charge session starts.

 

[Kayged]

Hi. Charging my MG5 LR as we speak at home. Want to “balance the cells” but how do you know when this is completed? Is there a way of telling or a specific length of time you need to leave it for? Thanks

I have the ZS and the MG logo flashes while charging and then has a solid light during balancing. The light goes off when balanced. Hope that helps.

 

[Ozzie1989]

I have the ZS and the MG logo flashes while charging and then has a solid light during balancing. The light goes off when balanced. Hope that helps.

As this is the MG5 forum I doubt it will no ?

We are envious of your flashing lights!

 

[Kayged]

As this is the MG5 forum I doubt it will no ?

We are envious of your flashing lights!

Doesn't the MG5 give you any externalindication that it is charging? I have never parked next to an MG5 whilst it was charging but most of the EV's I have observed have had a light in the vicinity of the charge socket that indicates it is charging.

 

[Kithmo]

Doesn't the MG5 give you any externalindication that it is charging? I have never parked next to an MG5 whilst it was charging but most of the EV's I have observed have had a light in the vicinity of the charge socket that indicates it is charging.

If it has buttons on the door handles for keyless entry then anyone can press the button and see the charging progress on the display on the dash.

 

[Lguk]

The 5 doesn't have any external indication.
The exclusive will show you on pressing the door button, if the keys out of range. The excite is even less easy to see.

I keep my key in a 2 compartment faraday pouch. Front pocket unblocked back pocket blocked. This allows me to easily check and also keep the key permenantly in the pouch, no chance of forgetting it.

 

[Kayged]

If it has buttons on the door handles for keyless entry then anyone can press the button and see the charging progress on the display on the dash.

Never knew that, only had the car 10 months lol. Quite a lot of other bits I don't know but when the wife gets her Trophy LR on Monday I may get a few more chances to drive mine and find out all these extra things that the car does.

 

[Lovemyev]

The face lift Trophy has a much improved charging indicator than the original model.
You can even plot the charging progress via your phone.

 

[Geo68]

Not having a home charger or a smart meter that works done my first balance charge today on a public charger, been on for 6 hours or so, fortunately its only a half hour walk home and a half hour back. ?