Understanding Caretta Power Management & Charging

1. On-the-Bike Operation (Cradle Power)

When docked in the Cradle on a 12V vehicle system, Caretta is powered directly by the motorcycle.

• Battery-Bypass Mode: In this state, the internal battery is completely bypassed. Caretta runs entirely on the bike’s power, meaning the internal battery is not drained at all while riding.

• Battery-Free Operation: Caretta is designed to operate without a battery. Even if the internal battery is physically removed, the device will power up and work normally as long as 12V power is supplied to the Cradle inputs (subject to the voltage thresholds below).

• Thermal Protection: To maximize lifespan, the internal battery is only charged when ambient temperatures are optimal. The battery might not charge 100% of the time while riding, which is completely normal.

• When does the battery drain on a bike? The only time the internal battery drains while on the motorcycle is if you stop for a break and power to the Cradle is cut, forcing Caretta to switch to its internal battery.

    Summary: The internal battery is strictly needed only for off-bike use.

2. Smart Voltage Thresholds (Bike Battery Protection)

The Caretta Cradle features a fully digitally controlled power delivery system. To prevent draining your motorcycle's battery, the Cradle will only draw power when it is safe to do so.

By default, the Cradle only enables power to the Caretta when the input voltage exceeds 13.2V—which typically indicates the engine is running and the alternator is charging.

This prevents your bike's battery from draining if the Cradle is wired directly to the battery or to an always-on auxiliary port. On lightweight bikes, charging a completely flat Caretta battery from a standstill could drop your bike's voltage too low to start the engine. The Caretta GPS kit is designed to prevent exactly that. 

3. Customizing Thresholds via Next-gen HUD (NGH)

Starting with NGH version 1.29, you can modify these voltage thresholds to match your specific bike setup. Go to Settings > Caretta Setup to choose between three modes:

When to use the "Disabled" setting:

1. Emergency Charging: When the bike is parked and you prefer minor bike battery drain over the Caretta turning off.

2. Low-Voltage Systems: If your bike's charging system is unable to consistently maintain more than 13.2V under load.

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: If you set the threshold to Disabled, you must not leave the Caretta docked in the Cradle for extended periods while the engine is off. Doing so will eventually deplete your motorcycle battery completely.

4. Off-the-Bike Charging

To charge Caretta when it is away from the motorcycle, simply use any standard USB-C charger, including Quick Charge (QC) wall adapters.