charging NISSAN LEAF 2011 Service Manual

CHARGING THE 12-VOLT BATTERY
While vehicle is driven
The Li-ion battery charges the 12-volt battery as
necessary when the power switch is in the
READY to drive position.
While the vehicle is not in use
When the EV (Electric Vehicle) system is off, the
12-volt battery charges automatically for 5
minutes every 5 days.
The charge timing resets to 5 days without
charging the 12-volt battery if:
.The vehicle is placed in the READY to drive
position for more than 5 minutes.
. The Li-ion battery is charged for more than 5
minutes.
When charging the 12-volt battery, the charge
status indicator light on the instrument panel
illuminates. See “Charging status indicator
lights” in the “CH. Charging” section.
LI-ION BATTERY HEATER (if so
equipped)
CAUTION
The Li-ion battery heater does not
operate if the available Li-ion battery
charge is less than approximately 30%
and the charger is not connected to the
vehicle. To help prevent the Li-ion
battery from freezing, do not leave the
vehicle in an environment if tempera-
tures may go below -48F (-208C) unless
the vehicle is connected to a charger.
The Li-ion battery heater helps to prevent the Li-
ion battery from freezing and helps to prevent
significant reductions in the Li-ion battery output
when the temperature is cold. The Li-ion battery
heater automatically turns on when the Li-ion
battery temperature is approximately -48 F
(-208C) or colder. The Li-ion battery heater
automatically turns off when the Li-ion battery
temperture is approximately 148F (-108C) or
higher.
The Li-ion battery heater uses electrical power
from an external source when a charger is
connected to the vehicle. The Li-ion battery
heater uses electrical power from the Li-ion battery when the charger is not connected to the
vehicle.
NOTE:
.
Connect the charger to the vehicle and
place the power switch in the OFF
position when parking the vehicle if
temperatures may go below -48 F
(-208C) . This provides external power
to the Li-ion battery heater when it
operates and does not discharge the
Li-ion battery.
. The charging status indicator lights
illuminate in a specific pattern when
the Li-ion battery heater operates. The
charging status indicator lights use the
same pattern to indicate 12-volt battery
charging, A/C-Heater Timer (Climate
Ctrl. Timer) operation or Remote Cli-
mate Control operation. The charging
status indicator lights do not change if
the Li-ion battery heater operates at
the same time as the above features.
See “Charging status indicator lights”
in the “CH. Charging” section.
. The Li-ion battery heater uses Li-ion
battery power to operate, even if the
vehicle is connected to a charger when:
EV OverviewEV-5

ion battery is fully charged. Regenera-
tive brake is automatically reduced
when the Li-ion battery is fully charged
to prevent the Li-ion battery from
becoming overcharged. Regenerating
brake is also automatically reduced
when the battery temperature is high/
low (indicated by the red/blue zones
on the Li-ion battery temperature
gauge) to prevent Li-ion battery da-
mage.
. The brake pedal should be used to
slow or stop the vehicle depending on
traffic or road conditions. The vehicle
brakes are not affected by regenerative
brake system operation.
NOISE AND VIBRATION
You might experience the following noise or
vibration as a normal characteristic of this
vehicle.
.Traction motor noise from motor compart-
ment.
. Noise and vibration when releasing and
applying the electric parking brake.
. Water pump and radiator fan noise while
charging. .
Compressor and radiator fan noise when the
A/C-Heater Timer (Climate Ctrl. Timer) or
remote climate control is used.
. Relay operation noise and vibration at start-
up and shut-down of the EV (Electric
Vehicle) system (power switch placed in
the ON and OFF position) .
. Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) .
WARNING
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system uses a
high voltage current. Failure to follow
the proper handling instructions may
cause serious injury or death. Be sure
to read the “CH. Charging” section and
follow the procedures and guidelines
described.
LIFE WITH AN EV (scene guide)

Charging
Precautions on charging .................................................... CH-2
Types of charge and how to charge the
Li-ion battery ......................................................................... CH-5How to normal charge .................................................. CH-9
How to trickle charge ................................................ CH-11
How to quick charge (if so equipped) .................. CH-15
Charging methods ............................................................ CH-18 Charging timer ............................................................. CH-18 Charging related remote function ......................... CH-24
Charging related indicator lights .................................. CH-26 Charging status indicator lights ............................ CH-26
EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
control box indicator light ....................................... CH-28
Charging troubleshooting guide ................................... CH-30

WARNING
.If you use any medical electric
devices, such as an implantable
cardiac pacemaker or an implanta-
ble cardiovascular defibrillator,
check with the electric medical de-
vice manufacturer concerning the
effects that charging may have on
implanted devices before starting
the charge operation. Charging
may affect the operation.
. If you have an implantable cardiac
pacemaker or an implantable cardi-
ovascular defibrillator, while the Li-
ion battery is charging:
— Do not stay inside the vehicle.
— Do not go inside the vehicle, for
example to remove or place an
item in the passenger compart-
ment.
— Do not open the rear hatch, for example to remove or place an
item in the cargo area.
Charging may affect the operation
of electric medical device and result
in serious personal injury or death. .
Make sure there is no water or
foreign materials in the charge port,
charge connector or electrical plug,
and that they are not damaged or
affected by rust or corrosion. If any
of these conditions are noticeable,
do not charge the Li-ion battery.
This may result in a short circuit or
electric shock and could cause a fire
which may result in serious perso-
nal injury or death.
. To avoid serious personal injury or
death when the Li-ion battery is
charging, be aware of the following
precautions.
— Do not touch the metal contacts
of the charge port, charge con-
nector or electrical plug.
— Do not touch the vehicle and charger when there is lightning.
A lightning strike may back feed
into the charger causing da-
mage and possible personal in-
jury or death.
. Make sure the charge connector is
removed from the charge port be-
fore starting your vehicle. If the
charge connector is only partially engaged and the connector latch is
unlocked, it is possible to place the
EV (Electric Vehicle) in the READY
to drive position.
. Do not plug in or unplug the plug
with wet hands and do not stand in
water, liquid or snow. This may
cause an electric shock which may
result in serious personal injury or
death.
. Do not disassemble or modify the
charge port or the EVSE (Electric
Vehicle Supply Equipment) . This
may cause a fire.
. If you notice an unusual odor or
smoke coming from the vehicle,
stop charging immediately.
. Be careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or get caught in, the
traction motor cooling fan. The cool-
ing fan can start at any time during
charging.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHARGING

.Pass the lower side belt of the EVSE
(Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
case securely through the fastener
on the bottom of the luggage board.
If the case suddenly becomes loose,
it may cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
.To prevent damage to the charging
equipment:
— Do not close the charge port lid
without closing the cap. — Do not subject the charging
equipment to impact.
— Do not pull or twist the charge cable.
— Do not drag the charge cable.
— Do not store and use charging equipment in locations where
the temperature is over 1858F
(858C) .
— Do not place the charging equip- ment close to a heater or other
heat source.
. Make sure the cap is closed on the
charge port when charging is fin-
ished. If the charge port lid is closed
when the cap is open, water or
foreign materials may enter the
charge port.
. Do not charge when a vehicle body
cover is in use. This may cause
damage to the charge connector.
. Do not attempt to perform a jump
start on the 12-volt battery at the
same time that the Li-ion battery is
being charged. Doing so may da-
mage the vehicle or charging equip- ment and could cause an injury. See
“Jump starting” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section.
. Trickle charging is performed using
the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) provided with the vehi-
cle. NISSAN recommends using an
AC 110 - 120 volt, 15A, dedicated
electrical circuit and outlet. The
dedicated circuit is used to help
prevent circuit damage or the circuit
breaker from tripping due to the
high draw of charging the Li-ion
battery. If the dedicated circuit is
not used, the circuit may cause
adverse interference on MCB
(Moulded Circuit Board) and house-
hold electrical appliances such as
televisions and audio systems. If the
circuit is shared, and another elec-
trical device is being used at the
same time the vehicle is charging,
the breaker may trip. A licensed
professional electrician should in-
stall a dedicated circuit if one is not
already available.
ChargingCH-3

.Check by using a cellular phone, smart
phone or personal computer. See LEAF
Navigation System Owner’s Manual.
. Check by using the charging status indicator
light. See “Charging status indicator lights”
later in this section.
NOTE:
. During the charge operation, charge
continues when the power switch is
placed in the ON position.
. The Li-ion battery cannot be charged if
the quick charge connector and the
normal charge connector are con-
nected at the same time. If another
charge connector is connected mid-
charge, charging will stop.
. For safety reasons, it is not possible to
switch to the READY to drive position
while a charge connector is connected.
. During charging, it is possible that the
radio may be inaudible due to noise by
the electromagnetic wave.HOW TO NORMAL CHARGE
WARNING
.If you use any medical electric
devices, such as an implantable
cardiac pacemaker or an implanta-
ble cardiovascular defibrillator,
check with the electric medical de-
vice manufacturer concerning the
effects that charging may have on
implanted devices before starting
the charge operation. Charging
may affect the operation.
. If you have an implantable cardiac
pacemaker or an implantable cardi-
ovascular defibrillator, while the Li-
ion battery is charging:
— Do not stay inside the vehicle.
— Do not go inside the vehicle, for
example to remove or place an
item in the passenger compart-
ment.
— Do not open the rear hatch, for example to remove or place an
item in the cargo area.
Charging may affect the operation
of electric medical device and result in serious personal injury or death.
. Be sure to follow the precautions
for using the charger that can be
installed in your home. Failing to do
so could result in serious injury or
death.

HOW TO TRICKLE CHARGE
WARNING
.If you use any medical electric
devices, such as an implantable
cardiac pacemaker or an implanta-
ble cardiovascular defibrillator,
check with the electric medical de-
vice manufacturer concerning the
effects that charging may have on
implanted devices before starting
the charge operation. Charging
may affect the operation.
. If you have an implantable cardiac
pacemaker or an implantable cardi-
ovascular defibrillator, while the Li-
ion battery is charging:
— Do not stay inside the vehicle.
— Do not go inside the vehicle, for
example to remove or place an
item in the passenger compart-
ment.
— Do not open the rear hatch, for example to remove or place an
item in the cargo area.
Charging may affect the operation
of electric medical device and result in serious personal injury or death.
. In order to avoid an electric shock or
fire due to a short circuit, connect to
GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) cir-
cuit breaker and use a waterproof
electrical ground socket.
. The NISSAN Genuine EVSE (Electric
Vehicle Supply Equipment) charging
device provided with your vehicle
draws 12amps continuously while
charging the Li-ion battery. Do not
plug in to any electrical circuit un-
less it is inspected by a licensed
electrician to confirm that the elec-
trical circuit can accept a 12 amp
draw. Any electrical circuit has a
much higher likelihood of being
compromised in the following con-
ditions listed below.
— Improper use of the charger may
result in a fire and serious injury
or death.
— Do not use this charger in struc- tures more than 40 years old.
— Do not use this charger in struc- tures using fuse-based circuit
protection. Use only with elec-
trical circuits protected by circuit breakers.
— Do not use this charger on electrical circuits with two-prong
outlets.
— Do not use charger if outlet appears damaged or will not
hold plug firmly.
— Discontinue charger use imme- diately if plug or outlet becomes
hot to the touch or if you notice
any unusual odors.
— Do not use charger if other devices are plugged into the
same circuit.
— Never use extension cords or plug adapters with charger.
— Do not operate with a damaged cord.
— Always unplug the charger when not in use.
— When unplugging, be sure to pull by the plug and not the cord.
— The device has parts that may spark inside. Do not use it where
gasoline, paint, or flammable
liquids are used or stored.
ChargingCH-11

— Do not use if a malfunctionoccurs or if charger has been
damaged in any manner. Return
to a NISSAN certified LEAF deal-
er for replacement.
— The charger contains no user serviceable parts. Do not at-
tempt to repair the charger,
doing so will void your warranty.
CAUTION
. Only charge using a standard 110 -
120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical
outlet (For example do not use an
electric generator) . Failure to do so
may cause charging to fail and could
cause damage to the Li-ion battery
charging equipment due to power
surges.
. NISSAN recommends using genuine
NISSAN charging equipment to
charge the vehicle. Using non-
NISSAN equipment could cause
the Li-ion battery to not charge
correctly and may damage the Li-
ion battery.
. Trickle charging is performed using an AC
110 - 120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical
outlet using the EVSE (Electric Vehicle
Supply Equipment) provided with the vehi-
cle.
. The genuine NISSAN EVSE (Electric Vehi-
cle Supply Equipment) charging equipment or trickle charge cable performs a commu-
nication function with the vehicle before Li-
ion charging starts. If this communication
does not occur because other equipment is
used, the Li-ion battery will not charge.
. Immediate charge, charging timer and re-
mote charge can be performed in the trickle
charge mode. See “Charging timer” and
“Charging related remote function” later in
this section.

4. Store in its case.NOTE:
Perform the following procedure to
store the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) in the case.
a. Wind the charge cable into a sizethat will allow it to be stored in the
case (approximately 9.8 in (250 mm)
in diameter) .
b. Place the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) control box into
the back of the case.
c. Place the charge cable and charge connector into the case in front of the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) control box.
WARNING
WARNING
.
Always use a quick charger that is
compatible with the LEAF. Using an
incompatible quick charger may
cause a fire or malfunction resulting
in serious personal injury or death.
. Before starting the quick charge,
carefully read the instructions pro-
vided on the quick charger and
make sure the quick charge con-
nector is properly connected and
locked. Failure to connector or op-
erate the quick charger correctly
could cause damage to the vehicle
or the charging equipment.
ChargingCH-15

To start charging:
1. Push the P position switch to place thevehicle in the P (Park) position and apply the
electric parking brake.
2. When charging the Li-ion battery, place the power switch in the OFF position. When the
power switch is in the ON position, the Li-
ion battery will not start charging.
3. Open the charge port lid and charge port cap. See “Charge port lid” and “Charge port
cap” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
CAUTION
.Be sure to insert the charge con-
nector straight into the quick charge
port right up to the base. Failure to
do so may result in the Li-ion battery
not charging or could cause damage
to the charging equipment.