Voltage Booster Pro

Check this out. I purchased the Voltage Booster PRO for my 06 Tacoma to boost the charging voltage to my AGM batteries to the recommend range. My charging system consists of two AGM batteries and a power bastards 220A alternator. The system normally operates between 13.7V to 13.9V depending on the load. The AGM battery manufacturer recommends 14.1V to 14.7V to fully charge the batteries and get the full life out of the batteries. I did a little research and came across the Voltage Booster PRO website but they didn't offer a product for our Tacomas so I reached out to them. They responded the next day and told me that they have the first batch of the Tacoma version ready but it's not on their website yet. The Voltage Booster PRO has two settings high and low. Low raises the voltage by 0.4V to 0.5V while the high setting raises it by 0.8V to 1.0V. I ordered one for $89 with shipping and it came a week later from Texas. Like a kid, I couldn't wait to install it.

Super easy and awesome instructions. Just pull the 7.5A fuse out, install the fuse into the Booster, and install the Booster into the 7.5A fuse position in the fuse box. The instructions called for a beer so I did just that. A 1/2 a beer later, it was installed. I started the Booster on the low setting and saw between 14.3V to 14.4V. I didn't try the high setting as I was concerned of over voltage at or near 15V. Over voltage can damage the electrical system and batteries. It is recommended to not switch the booster setting while the engine is running. Here are the photos of the Booster with voltages before and after.

 

Thanks for the info OP. I definitely need to get this.

 

I’ve had one of these installed in various Toyotas using their other voltage pro models and it works well. The high setting is goofy to have so to run the low setting.

 

That's not even weather sealed. It's just a bare PCB which is going to corrode at the solder points and cause issues in short order.

Run the Ford or GM diode in place of the 7.5 amp fuse. It accomplishes the same thing. Less BS.

 

have a link to these?

 

It has a coating on the pcb.

Running the diode in place of the fuse defeats the purpose of having a fuse. i.e. overcurrent protection.

 

the coating on the PCB cant be great... those solder points look like bare metal.

You could do the GM diode inline with a fuse extension (so you are fused and get the diode voltage drop to increase charging voltage) for under $20 on parts from Amazon.

 

I can't speak to the type of coating used but I'm confident it will work great.

The GM solution is another great option.

 

Uh... It's been a long time...






Just to add on to how easy this mod is, it dropped right in and imediately boosted me up to 14.7-14.8 volts at initial start. In Ford I trust.

Overcurrent from the alternator? That's why it has a voltage regulator built into it. I've been running the Ford Diode for at least 4 years now. I even upgraded to a 250 amp alternator and never touched the diode. It has never caused me a single issue not with the stock 140 amp (or was it a 130? I can't remember) alternator, and not this 250 amp one either. Voltage always stays around 14.4-14.5 volts. Sometimes I see 14.7-14.8 volts but since I have the AGM it's really not a big deal.

When the truck is off I plug it into a 4.5 amp tender to avoid parasitic draw from the EVAP, LTR pump circuit and the PCM.

I didn't know it was coated. It didn't seem like it from the picture but if it is, even better!

 

Just installed one on my 09 Tacoma. Works as advertised.

 

It’s even cheaper when you source the diode fuse thing from mouser or digikey. I think I got 5 for what ford wanted for the part

 

Is this Ford diode simultaneously also a fuse?

 

@crashnburn80 any input?

 

No idea brotha. Lol.

 

+0.4-0.5v and fused should be good. +0.5 is the sweet spot in my testing of using a voltage logger app in the PNW environment (heat/cold play a small factor). Best to test voltage after sitting overnight on a cold start as that will have a lower charge state and the highest current draw. If you test immediately before and after install, the numbers will not be the most accurate. Even better is to us a voltage logging device to plot and track voltage over time which can be tracked on your phone, they can be picked up for ~$30 on Amazon. Using an in-cab voltage display will also provide the information over time, just keeping an eye on it. What you are looking for over time is in colder temps and cold starts, not exceeding that 14.8v limit, while also staying as close as possible in the peak charge voltage of 14.4v-14.8v.

The +0.8-1.0v setting should definitely not be used. That will overcharge an AGM battery and kill it very quickly. It would be more ideal to have one that can do +0.4v and +0.6v, as then voltage could be tuned for max performance by season or if you live somewhere cold vs hot. +0.5v splits the difference and is a nice set and forget setting.

It is not fused. You'd need to know the failure current point of the diode to determine if it could be sacrificial and act as a fuse, but itself it is not fused.

 

Can the Ford diode voltage mod work on a Gen 1?

 

How does this device compare to the hkb product(which I can't find in stock anywhere). Anyone have a link?

 

It’s a multilayer board, there aren’t even any traces on the outer boards
It will be fine for decades

Does seem a bit expensive

 

Is the Voltage Booster Pro worth the money or is the Ford diode safe and effective enough to charge the AGM?

 

Think I’ve had mine 3-4 years maybe longer. Ford diode btw, you’ll feel dirty and guilty after entering and leaving Ford dealership.