When discussing the latest advancements in Mercedes Sprinter vans, a common question arises regarding the integration of supercapacitors. Specifically, owners of the 2020 Mercedes Sprinter and similar models are keen to understand if they can benefit from this technology, often found in newer iterations. Let’s delve into the feasibility of adding a supercapacitor to a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter.
It’s generally understood, based on community insights and observations rather than official documentation for VS30 models, that Mercedes introduced supercapacitors around the 2022 model year Sprinter. This upgrade aimed to enhance the vehicle’s electrical system, particularly for functions requiring reliable power even during brief power interruptions.
Now, the burning question for many 2020 Mercedes Sprinter owners is: can this supercapacitor system be retrofitted? While a definitive “yes” or “no” is elusive without rigorous testing and official Mercedes-Benz parts compatibility information, we can explore the potential and challenges involved in adding a supercapacitor to a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter.
One primary concern revolves around the electronic compatibility. Modern vehicles like the 2020 Mercedes Sprinter are equipped with sophisticated sensing electronics. Would these systems seamlessly integrate with a supercapacitor, which behaves differently from a traditional battery? A crucial initial step to investigate this would be to assess the vehicle’s reaction to the absence of the standard auxiliary battery. A practical test involves temporarily removing Fuse #32, which is often associated with the auxiliary battery circuit. If the 2020 Mercedes Sprinter operates without significant issues or errors in this configuration, it could suggest that the existing electronics might tolerate the supercapacitor’s unique discharge characteristics. This test could provide a preliminary indication of whether electronic compatibility is a major hurdle.
Another significant factor to consider is the charging aspect. Supercapacitors, when completely discharged, can exhibit a rapid in-rush of current upon connection to a power source. The charging circuit in a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter, designed for a small auxiliary battery, might not be engineered to handle this instantaneous current demand. This could potentially lead to blown fuses, like Fuse #32, or even damage the charging circuit itself.
A potential workaround to mitigate the in-rush current issue when installing a supercapacitor in a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter involves incorporating a carefully selected low-ohm resistor in series with the supercapacitor. This resistor would act as a current limiter during the initial charging phase, ensuring a safer and more gradual charge. However, this resistor must be chosen judiciously. It needs to restrict the in-rush current to a safe level for the existing charging system, but it also needs to allow the supercapacitor to effectively discharge and supply sufficient current when needed, for instance, to power the transmission controller during a power interruption.
To illustrate, if we aim to limit the in-rush current to approximately one amp in a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter, using Ohm’s Law (R=V/I), a minimum resistance of 12 ohms would be required in a 12V system. Conversely, when the supercapacitor is discharging, and we need to ensure minimal voltage drop (e.g., not below 10V while supplying 1 amp), the resistance should ideally be much lower, perhaps around 2 ohms or less to prevent a significant voltage drop. A clever solution to address both charging and discharging requirements could involve using a diode in parallel with the 12-ohm resistor. This diode would allow unrestricted current flow from the supercapacitor during discharge while the 12-ohm resistor limits the in-rush current to the supercapacitor during charging.
In conclusion, while directly swapping in a supercapacitor into a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter is not a straightforward, officially supported upgrade, initial analysis suggests it might be possible with careful consideration and some additional components. However, this remains speculative and would require thorough testing and experimentation to validate. There are no guarantees of success, and any modifications would be undertaken at the owner’s risk. Further investigation into the electrical system specifications of the 2020 Mercedes Sprinter and potentially consulting with automotive electrical specialists would be prudent before attempting such a modification.
