[Marginal]

Hello.

Could anyone please tell me what is that noise that comes from my Smart Fortwo ED3 2014 right after I plug the charging cable into her?
Also, it is important to notice that the noise comes on even if the EV charging station is switched off.
Please help.

Regards.

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

The battery pack is liquid cooled. The cooling system will run while charging.

 

[Marginal]

The battery pack is liquid cooled. The cooling system will run while charging.

Sure, BUT the pump starts running BEFORE I turn the charging station on ...
And keeps on running permanently, even if I don't switch the charging station on.

 

[Marginal]

The battery pack is liquid cooled. The cooling system will run while charging.

What I suspect is, that after I turn the charging station off (in the morning after I see on the display the HV battery is charged a 100%) and a couple of hours or more pass, the battery starts discharging because of the coolant pump running.
Sometimes when I start the car for the first time in the day, the HV battery is charged only about 97-98% which could be due to the discharging of it after I turn the charging station off and that parasitic pump draining the HV battery ...

 

[hallcp]

Just a thought, could it be the vacuum booster charging up? Since there's no engine vacuum an electric pump has to pump down the booster. Usually the noise stops in a few seconds, but if there's a vacuum leak it will run more. This noise is more like a tick-tick-tick on my ED2.

 

[Marginal]

Just a thought, could it be the vacuum booster charging up? Since there's no engine vacuum an electric pump has to pump down the booster. Usually the noise stops in a few seconds, but if there's a vacuum leak it will run more. This noise is more like a tick-tick-tick on my ED2.

I'll check that out.

Thank you.

 

[Yinzer]

Hello.

Could anyone please tell me what is that noise that comes from my Smart Fortwo ED3 2014 right after I plug the charging cable into her?
Also, it is important to notice that the noise comes on even if the EV charging station is switched off.
Please help.

Regards.

This is normal. The coolant pump runs pretty much all the time the pack contactors are closed and the DC-DC converter is on - either when the keyswitch is on or a charging plug is inserted. Normally that pump is pretty quiet - I only know it is running if I look in the coolant overflow bottle under the front service flap.

BTW, the primary thing that is being cooled during charging is not the battery pack (the 10-or-so amp charging rate of N. American ED's is too low to need that) but the on board charger is liquid cooled and it does get quite warm in use.

 

[Marginal]

This is normal. The coolant pump runs pretty much all the time the pack contactors are closed and the DC-DC converter is on - either when the keyswitch is on or a charging plug is inserted. Normally that pump is pretty quiet - I only know it is running if I look in the coolant overflow bottle under the front service flap.

BTW, the primary thing that is being cooled during charging is not the battery pack (the 10-or-so amp charging rate of N. American ED's is too low to need that) but the on board charger is liquid cooled and it does get quite warm in use.

Thank you.

Very helpful information indeed.
Even though my hearing is not what it was before, I hear that noise loud enough ...
Is it possible that the pump keeps on running after the charge has reached 100% thus causing the charge to drop @ 97% in the morning in some cases?

 

[Yinzer]

Thank you.

Very helpful information indeed.
Even though my hearing is not what it was before, I hear that noise loud enough ...
Is it possible that the pump keeps on running after the charge has reached 100% thus causing the charge to drop @ 97% in the morning in some cases?

I have not observed that in my ED. And come to think of it, I think the pump normally shuts off after charging is completed.

But yes, once the charging is completed, it does take a few percent discharge for it to restart charging. I tested that by running the heater after charging was complete.

I did look up the Sofia weather and noticed it is getting incredibly hot (especially for eastern Europe). Are you in Bulgaria?

 

[Marginal]

I have not observed that in my ED. And come to think of it, I think the pump normally shuts off after charging is completed.

But yes, once the charging is completed, it does take a few percent discharge for it to restart charging. I tested that by running the heater after charging was complete.

I did look up the Sofia weather and noticed it is getting incredibly hot (especially for eastern Europe). Are you in Bulgaria?

Well, in my case what happened three times is, the charge was @ 97% after an overnight charging.
I haven't used any of the charge of the HV battery prior.

Yes in Bulgaria, but in the south. Even hotter here.