Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Here we add a unit to directly charge the 12V battery from Solar. And add a lithium (LFP) battery to take over the majority of the recurrent charge and discharge cycles to relieve the 12V Lead acid battery and extend its life. No need for an expensive AGM lead acid version either. A normal one is 1/3 of the price.
The Fisker Ocean 12V battery often only lasts a year or two due to the hard life it has with repeated discharge / charge cycles. Even with expensive AGM versions of Lead Acid batteries. The discharge amounts can often be down to less than 70% SOC = State Of Charge, which shortens the battery life. The changes in this video divert the repeated discharge/charge cycles away from the Lead Acid 12V battery and towards the new LFP battery which is better suited to repeated and deep discharge cycles. Note: A larger LFP was not used to replace the 12V Lead Acid as LFPs do not charge below 0 Centigrade. Heated versions become inefficient and do not heat evenly. People have tried sodium batteries, but these are expensive and have been problematic.
Here is a doc with further details on tests, results and system changes (update app’x 2): dropbox.com/scl/fi/4q6xv9u8lq2san6el78pk/FiskerOceanBatteryAnalysis.pdf?rlkey=l3c22fs2jtrnd9cmomguefgyt&st=tbu9mj8o&dl=0
Also 10 days at airport test (no HV % loss!):
dropbox.com/scl/fi/qf5zs6ykh8e50vn65i55s/FiskerOceanBatdrain.pdf?rlkey=ie5juagqkp7jqp10rx8m5dz3g&st=ytzztv9b&dl=0
BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO YOU ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY VEHICLE CHANGES YOU DO. NO LIABILITY ACCEPTED. THIS IS JUST MY STORY
So here are the parts I used, from Amazon. Using these links will not cost you any more than going there without using these, but it does earn me some few coins and saves you a bit of time.
As an Amazon and eBay Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Victron isolated 12/12V charger unit:
amzn.to/48PGjER
Resistors used, high power, two 0.5 ohm connected in parallel:
amzn.to/4pSQsGW
For LFP battery, this is what I bought, but there are plenty of options on Amazon £30 or $30:
amzn.to/4apvpa5
For current monitoring in/out of the 12V Lead Acid battery as well as voltage and accurate SOC etc, use a Vectron shunt bluetooth monitor:
amzn.to/4p9RWvk
Some high current capacity cables are need for the shunt:
amzn.to/3Y3U8t8
For just voltage monitoring a lot of people use these:
amzn.to/4qjZoEV
Switches:
amzn.to/4ap7kjF
Multimeter for testing voltages: amzn.to/4mCVXrI
Screwdriver set: amzn.to/4oIcD2e
Soldering iron kit: amzn.to/3HFLDzS
Tool set: on Amazon: amzn.to/4bsBS1i
Subscribe here:
youtube.com/subscribe_widget?p=comeinhandynow
click on the bell too!
More videos here: youtube.com/user/comeinhandynow
Donations: paypal.me/comeinhandy
Chapters
02:29. Connecting to the Solar panel +/- cables
05:20 Showing the 12V current drain when the solar is on
06:46 What power does the Solar Panel deliver?
08:08 Getting cables to the cabin from the engine bay
12:24 The Solar Panel to 12V charging unit
20:50 Testing the solar chqrging unit, dim conditions
22:55 Switch panel for Solar
23:47 Shunt Monitor and solar unit placement (RHD)
25:22 A look at other power wastage
27:14 Adding an additional LFP 12V battery
30:50 Position of LFP battery and series resistors (0.25 Ohm)
31:22 Now about zero current drain from the 12V Lead acid battery
35:04 RESULT: Now about zero ‘Vampire Drain’
36:44 Appendix 1: Spurious BM200 bluetooth battery monitor volts
38:10 Appendix 2: BMS/IBS charging voltage behaviour
Useful stuff:
Face mask: Amazon: amzn.to/2IHmip1
Rubber gloves: Amazon: amzn.to/3cdwjpD
I’m on Facebook here: facebook.com/comeinhandynow
The video is about my personal opinion and experience and contains no paid for product placements. No responsibility is accepted for any perceived recommendation for or against a product or feature nor any consequential damage or harm since this video is just my personal experience. You accept by watching this video that you accept any responsibility for any subsequent actions or decisions that you take.
Note on copyright / licensing: This video was created using Apple iMovie and as such any music or video content is fully licensed by their terms and conditions for free publication and distribution.
See the Apple iMovie software license agreement at:
images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iMovie.pdf
Which states "all Sample Content included in the Apple Software may be used on a royalty-free basis in your own video projects"
Additional background music free used royalty and copyright free (no copyright songs) from the following sources:
Song: “Just Be Active” - by Sasha Grey.
Music provided by AShamaluevMusic.
Music Link: youtu.be/984XRjfcjXM
Here we add a unit to directly charge the 12V battery from Solar. And add a lithium (LFP) battery to take over the majority of the recurrent charge and discharge cycles to relieve the 12V Lead acid battery and extend its life. No need for an expensive AGM lead acid version either. A normal one is 1/3 of the price.
The Fisker Ocean 12V battery often only lasts a year or two due to the hard life it has with repeated discharge / charge cycles. Even with expensive AGM versions of Lead Acid batteries. The discharge amounts can often be down to less than 70% SOC = State Of Charge, which shortens the battery life. The changes in this video divert the repeated discharge/charge cycles away from the Lead Acid 12V battery and towards the new LFP battery which is better suited to repeated and deep discharge cycles. Note: A larger LFP was not used to replace the 12V Lead Acid as LFPs do not charge below 0 Centigrade. Heated versions become inefficient and do not heat evenly. People have tried sodium batteries, but these are expensive and have been problematic.
Here is a doc with further details on tests, results and system changes (update app’x 2): dropbox.com/scl/fi/4q6xv9u8lq2san6el78pk/FiskerOceanBatteryAnalysis.pdf?rlkey=l3c22fs2jtrnd9cmomguefgyt&st=tbu9mj8o&dl=0
Also 10 days at airport test (no HV % loss!):
dropbox.com/scl/fi/qf5zs6ykh8e50vn65i55s/FiskerOceanBatdrain.pdf?rlkey=ie5juagqkp7jqp10rx8m5dz3g&st=ytzztv9b&dl=0
BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO YOU ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY VEHICLE CHANGES YOU DO. NO LIABILITY ACCEPTED. THIS IS JUST MY STORY
So here are the parts I used, from Amazon. Using these links will not cost you any more than going there without using these, but it does earn me some few coins and saves you a bit of time.
As an Amazon and eBay Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Victron isolated 12/12V charger unit:
amzn.to/48PGjER
Resistors used, high power, two 0.5 ohm connected in parallel:
amzn.to/4pSQsGW
For LFP battery, this is what I bought, but there are plenty of options on Amazon £30 or $30:
amzn.to/4apvpa5
For current monitoring in/out of the 12V Lead Acid battery as well as voltage and accurate SOC etc, use a Vectron shunt bluetooth monitor:
amzn.to/4p9RWvk
Some high current capacity cables are need for the shunt:
amzn.to/3Y3U8t8
For just voltage monitoring a lot of people use these:
amzn.to/4qjZoEV
Switches:
amzn.to/4ap7kjF
Multimeter for testing voltages: amzn.to/4mCVXrI
Screwdriver set: amzn.to/4oIcD2e
Soldering iron kit: amzn.to/3HFLDzS
Tool set: on Amazon: amzn.to/4bsBS1i
Subscribe here:
youtube.com/subscribe_widget?p=comeinhandynow
click on the bell too!
More videos here: youtube.com/user/comeinhandynow
Donations: paypal.me/comeinhandy
Chapters
02:29. Connecting to the Solar panel +/- cables
05:20 Showing the 12V current drain when the solar is on
06:46 What power does the Solar Panel deliver?
08:08 Getting cables to the cabin from the engine bay
12:24 The Solar Panel to 12V charging unit
20:50 Testing the solar chqrging unit, dim conditions
22:55 Switch panel for Solar
23:47 Shunt Monitor and solar unit placement (RHD)
25:22 A look at other power wastage
27:14 Adding an additional LFP 12V battery
30:50 Position of LFP battery and series resistors (0.25 Ohm)
31:22 Now about zero current drain from the 12V Lead acid battery
35:04 RESULT: Now about zero ‘Vampire Drain’
36:44 Appendix 1: Spurious BM200 bluetooth battery monitor volts
38:10 Appendix 2: BMS/IBS charging voltage behaviour
Useful stuff:
Face mask: Amazon: amzn.to/2IHmip1
Rubber gloves: Amazon: amzn.to/3cdwjpD
I’m on Facebook here: facebook.com/comeinhandynow
The video is about my personal opinion and experience and contains no paid for product placements. No responsibility is accepted for any perceived recommendation for or against a product or feature nor any consequential damage or harm since this video is just my personal experience. You accept by watching this video that you accept any responsibility for any subsequent actions or decisions that you take.
Note on copyright / licensing: This video was created using Apple iMovie and as such any music or video content is fully licensed by their terms and conditions for free publication and distribution.
See the Apple iMovie software license agreement at:
images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iMovie.pdf
Which states "all Sample Content included in the Apple Software may be used on a royalty-free basis in your own video projects"
Additional background music free used royalty and copyright free (no copyright songs) from the following sources:
Song: “Just Be Active” - by Sasha Grey.
Music provided by AShamaluevMusic.
Music Link: youtu.be/984XRjfcjXM
