Vehicle Gateways (VGs) are designed to manage power usage while maintaining feature availability.
After a vehicle is turned off, the Vehicle Gateway transitions to lower power modes to conserve the vehicle battery. Default battery draw behavior varies by vehicle type and operating state, and the transition time can be extended by configuring power mode settings.
Use the following sections to understand common battery drain causes and how the Vehicle Gateway manages power when a vehicle is turned off:
A gateway in low power mode does not have an active Wi-Fi hotspot; therefore, drivers cannot log into the Samsara Driver App when the VG is in low power mode. If you use your VG as an ELD or for scheduling and monitoring trips and routes, enabling low power mode can impact the performance and accuracy of data. If your organization is subject to the ELD mandate, Samsara recommends a higher transition time.
Under normal circumstances, the VG will not affect a vehicle's battery life.
If you are experiencing unexpected battery drainage, use the following workflow to identify any obvious sources of drainage:
-
Ensure the battery connections are clean and secure. Tighten any loose connections and safely remove corrosion as necessary.
-
Use a multimeter to verify that the battery voltage is 12 volts or greater.
A battery voltage of less than 12 volts can indicate that the battery requires replacement.
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If the issue persists, review the Vehicle Battery Drain Causes to identify a source of the issue or have a qualified mechanic test the battery.
For your convenience, the following table summarizes some potential causes for vehicle battery drain to help you investigate your issue:
|
Cause |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Battery Age and Condition |
Older or worn-out batteries may have reduced capacity and are more susceptible to draining quickly. A weak or faulty battery can cause other components to work harder and draw more power. |
|
Short Trips |
Short trips prevent the alternator from fully charging the car battery. |
|
Infrequent Trips |
Infrequent trips contribute to battery sulfation which reduces charge retention and increases drain. |
|
Parasitic Drains |
Some vehicles have electrical systems or devices that continue to draw power even when the engine is off, such as clocks, alarms, remote starters, or third-party devices. |
|
Corroded or Loose Battery Terminals |
Corroded or loose battery terminals can inhibit the connection and lead to a drain. |
|
Extreme Weather |
Cold weather can reduce battery capacity and increase the load on the electrical system, impacting battery performance and potentially leading to drain. |
|
Electrical Accessories |
Leaving electrical accessories such as headlights, interior lights, radio, or charging devices on when the engine is not running can drain the battery over time. |
The Vehicle Gateway uses power modes to manage battery draw based on vehicle state and configured settings. While a vehicle is powered on and operating, the VG operates in Full power mode. After the vehicle is powered off, the VG reduces power draw by transitioning to lower power modes. This limited operation preserves vehicle battery capacity for smaller batteries and for vehicles that are not expected to power on or move for extended periods.
The timing of transitions between power modes depends on the vehicle type and the configured power mode settings. If the vehicle battery drops below 12.2V for one hour or longer while the vehicle is stopped, the VG automatically transitions to low power mode, regardless of the power mode setting. In all scenarios, the VG automatically returns to full power mode when it detects movement.
The following table describes the active features available in each phase of the battery power cycle:
|
Power Mode |
Vehicle State |
Active Features |
|---|---|---|
|
Full |
On |
|
|
Moderate |
Off < 4 hrs |
|
|
Low |
Off > 4 hrs |
|
You can modify the transition time between medium and low power modes. To configure the VG Low Power Transition Delay for your fleet or to apply a custom delay to specific vehicles, use the following workflow:
-
Select the Settings icon (
) at the bottom of your Fleet menu to view dashboard settings.
-
From Devices, select Configuration > Gateways.
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To adjust vehicle battery conservation mode settings, navigate to Vehicle Gateways and locate VG Power Mode Settings.
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Apply settings to All Vehicles or vehicles with Specific Tags.
When using tags, any unselected vehicles remain at the default setting.
-
Choose a duration for the Low Power Transition Delay.
Transition Delay is the minimum time after which a vehicle turns off before Low Power mode is activated.
For electric vehicles, this setting is not applied while the vehicle is charging.
-
Save to apply the new settings.
The VG receives configuration changes when it is within cellular range. Updates may take longer to apply in areas without cellular coverage.
Under normal circumstances, the VG will not affect a vehicle's battery life.
When a vehicle is powered off, the Vehicle Gateway manages battery draw by transitioning between power modes based on configured settings and operating conditions. When movement is detected, the Vehicle Gateway operates in Full power mode. After a trip is completed, the Vehicle Gateway remains in Full power mode for a default period before transitioning to lower power modes.
Transition timing depends on the following factors:
-
Configured Low Power Transition Delay
-
Vehicle Gateway model:
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VG55: After the vehicle has been off for approximately 1 hour, the Vehicle Gateway enters Moderate power mode. After 2 hours, it transitions to Low power mode.
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VG34 and VG54: The Vehicle Gateway enters Moderate power mode after approximately 3 hours of the vehicle being off and transitions to Low power mode after about 4 hours.
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The following table summarizes the default power mode timing and typical battery draw for each power state.
|
Vehicle State |
VG State |
VG Power Mode |
Typical VG Power Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
|
On |
On |
Full |
|
|
Off < 4 hrs |
On |
Moderate |
1.8 W Max |
|
Off > 4 hrs |
Off |
Low |
|
While a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) is charging, the vehicle’s electrical system supplies power to low-voltage components, including the Vehicle Gateway. The following are expected Vehicle Gateway behaviors during this time:
-
The Vehicle Gateway remains in full power mode while the vehicle is charging.
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The Low Power Transition Delay setting is not applied while the vehicle is charging.
-
The Vehicle Gateway transitions to a lower power mode only after charging is complete.
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