Load Management: Notes

The power management function is designed to monitor the vehicle electrical load and determine when the battery is potentially in a high discharge condition. This is accomplished by using a high accuracy battery voltage and current reading by a current sensor as an indicator of battery discharge rate. The following 6 levels of load management will execute in the load management control algorithm when there is a high discharge condition:

1. The first action requests a vehicle idle speed increase to the engine control module (ECM) in order to raise alternator output.
2. The second action requests a greater vehicle idle speed increase to the ECM in order to raise alternator output.
3. The third action begins to shed vehicle loads in an attempt to remedy the heavy discharge condition.
4. The fourth action requests another vehicle idle speed increase to the ECM in order to raise further the alternator output.
5. The fifth action begins to shed further vehicle loads in an attempt to remedy the heavy discharge condition.
6. If the above 5 corrective actions fail, the sixth action of power management further sheds loads in a final attempt to remedy the high discharge condition.

Loads subject to reduction include the following:

• The A/C clutch
• The heated mirrors
• The heated seats
• The rear defog
• The HVAC blowers
• The interior lighting

For more information about load shedding, refer to Load Shed System Description and Operation .

Each load management function, either idle boost or load-shed, is discrete. No 2 functions are implemented at the same time. During each load management function, the power mode master (PMM) checks the battery temperature, battery voltage and amp-hour calculations and determines if the PMM should implement a different power management function.